You’re not a serious AUS wine buff if you don’t know Balnaves of Coonawarra. It must be one of the best Cab Sav producers in a region that stands atop Australian reds. A stop here is a textbook study in Coonawarra Cabernet. And yes the Cabs are cracking, but don’t miss their Chardonnay. Science and commitment are applied together across this range to produce impeccable worldclass wines. There’s good reason they made our 2017 wineries of the year list alongside Di Giorgio for Coonawarra.

The cellar door is a gorgeous affair, nearly floating in a pond.  The tasting (relative to the region) is on the more limited side but the staff is always professional and friendly.