Cellar door tasting
a guest, from$25
- Five current wines at the tasting bar
- Poured by a member of the family or the cellar team
- Fee taken off a purchase of six bottles
Taste the wine where the grapes are grown
Hillcrest is a family vineyard on one south facing hillside. Book a seated tasting at the cellar door or a guided walk through the rows, then take home the bottles you liked best.
12hectares of vines
8wines at the cellar door
3generations on the hill
- Tastings Thursday to Sunday
- Groups of up to 12
- Wine sold at the cellar door
- Vineyard walks in the growing season
Tastings and vineyard tours
Every visit has a set start time, so the table, the guide and the glasses are ready when you arrive. Prices are per guest and include every wine poured.
Vineyard walk and tasting
a guest, from$45
- A walk through the rows with the grower
- Six wines on the terrace with a cheese and bread board
- Sturdy shoes recommended on the slope
Barrel room and reserve tasting
a guest, from$70
- Wine drawn straight from the barrel
- Three reserve wines from older vintages
- Small plates from the winery kitchen
Guests who are not drinking alcohol, drivers included, join any visit for $12 with grape juice and sparkling water. Everyone tasting wine must be of legal drinking age, which differs from country to country, and photo ID may be requested.
Wines at the cellar door
Bottles are sold at the cellar door only, during opening hours. Nothing is sold or shipped online, so taste first and take home what you enjoy.
| Wine | Style | Bottle |
|---|---|---|
| Sauvignon Blanc | Crisp and dry, with citrus and cut grass | $22 |
| Hillside Rosé | Pale and dry, pressed from Syrah grapes | $20 |
| Barrel Chardonnay | Fermented in oak, round and nutty | $32 |
| Pinot Noir | Light red with cherry and a little spice | $34 |
| Syrah | Full bodied, dark fruit and black pepper | $30 |
| Terrace Red | An easy blend made for the table | $18 |
| Late Harvest | Sweet white in a 375 ml bottle | $26 |
| Sparkling Brut | Traditional method, two years on the lees | $38 |
Any mixed case of six bottles carries 10 percent off. Prices are for 750 ml bottles unless stated.
Three generations on one hillside
The first vines went in when the family bought a neglected orchard on the hill, and the same slopes are still farmed by the same family today. Every wine on the list comes from grapes grown here, picked by hand and made in the winery at the top of the rows.
Each variety grows in a small block, so each wine is made in a small batch. The weather decides how much there is, which is why a few wines sell out before the next vintage is ready.
- Every grape grown on the estate
- Picked by hand at harvest
- Made and bottled on site
The terrace, for private events
The covered terrace looks down the rows to the river and seats up to 60 guests for long lunches, birthdays and small weddings. Events run from Monday to Wednesday, when the cellar door is closed, so the terrace is yours alone.
Wine comes from the cellar list, food comes from a local caterer we know well, and every event ends by 22:00.
- Seats 60, or 90 standing
- Wine from the cellar list at cellar door prices
- Viewings by appointment before you decide
A year at Hillcrest
Harvest, the barrel room and long evenings on the terrace.
From the visitors' book (example reviews)
The walk with the grower was the highlight: tasting grapes off the vine, then the same variety as wine on the terrace an hour later.
Our designated driver had the grape juice tasting and was looked after as well as the rest of us. A relaxed, unhurried afternoon.
Syrah straight from the barrel next to the same wine from an older vintage taught the two of us more than any book had.
Before you visit
Is there an age limit?
Everyone tasting wine must be of legal drinking age, which varies by country, and we ask for photo ID from anyone who looks young. Children are welcome on the vineyard walk with an adult and are poured grape juice, but they cannot join the barrel room tasting.
What about drivers?
Drivers pay $12 and taste grape juice and sparkling water with the group. Pours are small, there is a spittoon on every table, and staff will call a taxi for anyone who needs one. Legal limits for driving vary by country, and the safest amount to drink before driving is none.
Can we buy wine online?
No. Wine is sold only at the cellar door during opening hours, and we do not ship. Bottles bought during a visit can wait in the cool cellar until your tasting is over.
Do walks go ahead in the rain?
Light rain does not stop a walk, and there are umbrellas by the door. In heavy rain or a storm the walk moves to the barrel room and the tasting goes ahead as booked.
Is the winery accessible?
The tasting bar, the terrace and the toilets have level access from the car park. The vineyard walk crosses a grassy slope that is unsuitable for wheelchairs, so guests who cannot manage it are offered the reserve tasting at the walk price instead.
Can we change or cancel a booking?
Move or cancel up to 48 hours before your visit at no charge. After that the tasting fee is due for each booked guest, because the table and the guide were held for you.
Book a tasting or a tour
Choose the visit, the day and a start time, and tell us how many guests will be tasting. Within one working day the cellar team writes back with a confirmed time, or the closest one still open.
- The visit is booked once the cellar team confirms it
- Drivers and non drinkers join for $12
- Payment arranged directly at the cellar door
Finding the winery
Follow the hill road out of the valley and turn in at the stone gateposts. The car park sits beside the cellar door.
Contact the cellar door
On the hill road above the river valley, 25 minutes by car from town
Cellar door hours
| Thursday and Friday | 11:00 to 17:00 |
| Saturday and Sunday | 10:00 to 18:00 |
| Monday to Wednesday | Closed |
Arriving without a car
Local taxis know the winery well, and the cellar team will call one at the end of your visit. Groups of eight or more can ask about a minibus from town when they book.