Read on for three ways Australia’s boutique, award-winning wineries are providing memorable meetings and unforgettable team building experiences.  

Country escape… close to the city

A team outing to the countryside is refreshing all by itself. Add in some world-class wine, breathtaking vineyard views and incredible food, and you’ve got yourself a field trip that will go down as your most memorable meeting yet.

Just three hours form Sydney, the New South Wales Hunter Valley region is ideally placed to play host to your next team excursion. Audrey Wilkinson, Brokenwood and Tyrrell’s offer incredible behind-the-scenes experiences in picturesque settings, with accommodation offered either onsite at Audrey Wilkinson, or at the nearby Crown Plaza.

Three and a half hours from Sydney, enchanting Printhie Wines in Orange feels like a world away, with its rustic cellar door and meeting spaces, nestled amongst rolling hills and vintage apple orchards, cradled in the protective shade of magnificent Mt Canobolas.

In north-east Victoria, the King Valley and Milawa serve up unforgettable experiences for team activities in gobsmacking natural settings, adorned with mountains, rivers and bushland. Brown Brothers is perfectly positioned just an hour from Albury, while nearby Pizzini is only 90 minutes from Melbourne.

Closer to Melbourne, De Bortoli and Dominique Portet offer a little slice of Europe in the Yarra Valley, while Montalto on the Mornington Peninsula offers an intriguing combination of award-winning wine and modern art, renowned for its one-kilometre sculpture trail.

Team bonding beyond the cellar door

With so many employees now working from home and many companies permanently embracing a hybrid workplace, team building sessions are more important than ever to maintain a culture of unity and connectivity, and ultimately improve productivity and retention.

Gathering in a beautiful winery setting and participating in activities unrelated to the workplace helps team members get to know each other, build trust and break down barriers.

At Pizzini Wines in the King Valley, enjoy a Private Italian Cooking School Experience at A tavola! where the team will learn the secrets to preparing Italian style dishes. Prior to lunch, journey to the winery and barrel room to taste exciting Italian wine varieties including Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Canaiolo as they age in barrels.

Relax and unwind… in style

Sharing a meal in a stunning natural setting is a great way to build rapport between team members before settling down for an afternoon of brainstorming and strategizing.

At Printhie Wines, in the NSW wine region of Orange, your team can take an immersive  journey uncovering the art of méthode traditionelle sparkling. Hosted by one of Printhie’s sparkling specialists, take a guided walking tour of the vineyard and gain a rare insight into the process of creating one of Australia’s finest sparkling brands, from base wine to the disgorging and ageing process.

The Sparkling Masterclass includes a private tasting of the Swift Sparkling range and a delightful three-course alfresco lunch in the rustic Chaff Shed.

Start planning your next event at Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia.