Ascend Wine Odyssey: What to expect on SA's luxe new wine tour

Fly amongst the vines with the luxe new wine tour from Ascend Wine Odyssey.

The ground gives way below as the roar of propellers fills our ears, despite the overhead earphones covering them. I’ve been to plenty of wineries before, even in South Australia, but I’ve never hopped between them via helicopter. Nor have I seen the vineyards from this height, or the country between. This is Bryce Courtney land, dry and spotted with livestock, as we Ascend Wine Odyssey flies us between three popular wine regions and three female-owned and/or operated wineries.

At each stop, a different experience with the owners and makers – from tasting in the vines to lunch to cheese pairing – and a chance to compare how the different geography of each region gives a unique flavour to their wines. This is truly a luxurious wine tour.

Stop one: Oliver’s Taranga, McLaren Vale

Arriving at Oliver’s Taranga – one of Australia’s oldest family-run vineyards, onto its sixth generation – we’re ushered into the tasting room and restaurant. It’s a beautiful, rustic space for a few warm-up wines, but today we’ll be taking the vineyard buggy (lovingly named Ollie) out into the vines for a Taranga Terroir Tour.

Glass in hand, we make stops around the vineyard to learn about the different vines, wines and views – tasting each drop next to the plants that grew them. Along the way, we meet Corrina Wright, sixth generation in the Oliver family and current director and winemaker. She shares a few insider secrets before joining us back in the restaurant for a pre-lunch grazing board (and a few more wines to taste, of course).

Ollie the buggy on a Taranga Terroir Tour at oliver's taranga — Explore the vines as you taste the wines.

As the only female winemaker we’ll meet on this tour, Wright explains why it’s so important for this tour to focus on women in the field.

“I’m part of the Australian Women in Wine board. When we started 10 years ago, there were 10 per cent less women in production. It was 50/50 going through university but [not] coming out the other side…That has increased to 15 per cent and the industry is taking it more seriously now," she explained.

Corrina Wright Corrina Wright, sixth generation in the Oliver family and current director and winemaker at Oliver's Taranga — Get insider secrets from the owners and makers. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

Stop two: Golding Wines, Adelaide Hills

Now, it’s helicopter time. No more four wheels for us, it’s birds-eye views from here-on-out. We soar over vineyards and vast countryside, all the while chatting with our pilot, thanks to sturdy headsets that offset the noise of the propellers. An easy 20-minute ride has us in a whole new wine country and vineyard: Golding Wines .

outdoor tasting platform at Golding Wines, Adelaide Hills — Taste wines in the great outdoors. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

Owners Lucy and Darren Golding are waiting for us beside their winery, but before heading inside, we’re whisked up to a bespoke tasting platform built on a hilltop, with gorgeous views over the vines. Here, we snack once again, chomping on freshly baked focaccia bread, dips and other goodies crafted using produce from the onsite estate kitchen garden. While the Goldings talk us through their vision and the wines they brought for us to taste.

Next is lunch at their restaurant, Ginko . We sit outdoors amongst the apple trees as several dishes are brought to us. The menu here shows off the best of South Australia, focusing on locally-sourced, seasonal produce.

Sit down to lunch at Ginko restaurant, Golding Wines, Adelaide Hills — Sit down to lunch at Ginko restaurant.

Stop three: Kimbolton Wines, Langhorne Creek

Satisfactorily full, but not to the point we have to worry about weighing down the helicopter, we jump back in our ride and soar over to Langhorne Creek. This might be a lesser-known and smaller wine region of South Australia, but if Kimbolton Wines is any indication, it packs a serious punch.

wine and cheese pairing experience at Kimbolton Wines — Try a range of wine and cheese pairings. (Image: Kimbolton Wines)

Here we meet one half of the brother-sister duo, Nicole Clark. As the fifth-generation owners of Kimbolton, the family have grown up with winemaking in their blood, and put it to good use. Clark takes us into the adorable converted shipping container tasting room where a line of wines and a platter of cheeses are waiting. With what little space we have left in our stomachs, we start my favourite activity of the three stops: experimenting with wine and cheese pairings.

With incredibly happy tastebuds, the time comes to catch our helicopter back to where it all began, Oliver’s Taranga, before heading back to our hotel in Adelaide for a well-earned nap.

aerial of helicopter on Ascend Wine Odyssey — Fly between stops for a unique experience.

The details

An Ascend Wine Odyssey tour runs daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm (unless the weather interferes). The cost is $7000 per couple, with a two-person per-tour maximum (weight limits apply). Start and finish at Oliver’s Taranga, and find your own way to and from this winery – it’s an easy 40-minute drive from Adelaide.

Warmer days call for slowing down and relaxing in nature. Discover why The Tweed is the ultimate destination to do just that.

As the end of the year draws near, the need for rest and restoration grows ever more prominent. For many, that means heading into nature – and there’s plenty of science to back up the benefits of doing so. It quite literally makes us happier as it reduces stress hormones, lowers our blood pressure and more. And what better place to lean into this feel-good effect than during summer in The Tweed (in the Northern Rivers region of NSW)? Blending sparkling beaches, riverside towns and hinterland villages, this area has nature covered, while also offering top activities and dining options.

And of course, pack your SPF. We Are Feel Good Inc’s Ultra-Light Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 is a lightweight and fast-absorbing formula that keeps your skin hydrated and shielded, thanks to nourishing Coconut Oil and Vitamin E. But it’s also helping preserve the natural beauty around you on your Tweed vacation, thanks to 30 per cent ocean waste packaging.

Discover eight experiences that make The Tweed the perfect place for summer.

1. Underwater worlds

two people swimming after turtle on the tweed — Get a chance to swim with the locals.

There’s something about the ocean that calls to us as humans, and what’s below the surface is even more magical.

Green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles (not to mention an abundance of other marine life) all use the protected waters around Cook Island, near Fingal Head, as their foraging ground, making it the perfect place to dive and snorkel to spot these adorable creatures.

Join Cooly Eco Adventures on a guided snorkelling tour that combines unforgettable turtle encounters with an inspiring look into marine conservation.

2. Farm-to-table dining

table spread at Potager restaurant — Treat your taste buds at Potager. (Image: Cara Sophie)

Respecting the land and nature also means appreciating its abundance of food. From farm-to-table cafes and boutique breweries to river cruises and restaurants championing local produce, dining around The Tweed often means engaging with the best local producers.

The award-winning Potager Restaurant , part of The Hinterland Collection , is the perfect example; beginning life as a kitchen garden, the passion to champion local producers is woven into every dish. Vegetables, fruit and herbs are picked from the garden or sourced from other local producers, the seafood comes from the Northern Rivers, and meat is sourced from ethical local producers. Even the cocktail list features local distillers.

Extend your stay with a night (or several) at boutique on-site accommodation, Potager House . This French-inspired country four-bedroom retreat boasts stunning views of the surrounding hills and nearby ocean, as well as a large pool, outdoor entertaining area and infrared sauna.

3. Water wellness

Waterguru Mindfulness in the Mangroves summer on the tweed — Find mindfulness in mangroves. (Image: Matt Johnson)

You’ll find mindfulness while floating around the mangroves of Kingscliff’s Cudgen Creek at any time, but Watersports Guru offers an immersive experience to help guests do so with more intent. Join a 90-minute guided session on a stand-up paddleboard to reconnect with nature and relax through breathwork, gentle movement and sensory awareness.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, Watersports Guru also offer Kayak fishing adventures or join a Sea Turtle Odyssey experience.

4. Restorative seaside stays

woman relaxing in spa at Halcyon Wellness, halcyon house — Unwind at Halcyon Wellness.

The Tweed encourages locals and visitors alike to slow down. To really indulge, a seaside stay is a must. Halcyon House has understood the assignment, blending a wellness philosophy centred on balance and self-discovery with luxurious surrounds. Stay in one of 22 rooms and suites (each individually designed by eclectic interior designer Anna Spiro) right on the beachfront. Book restorative treatments at the onsite spa, Halcyon Wellness, relax by the pool, dine at the hatted Paper Daisy restaurant and just let The Tweed work its magic.

While Blue Water Motel offers a relaxed coastal escape, just steps from Kingscliff Beach. Settle in stylish rooms, recently restyled by Jason Grant, nodding to the cool of Kingscliff with a fun retro vibe. Hire a bike from reception to explore the surrounding area.

5. Tasty drops

The owners at Husk Farm Distillery aren’t just about creating high-quality rum: they’re also farmers themselves. In fact, they create one of the world’s only single estate, farm-to-bottle spirits. Join a Farm to Bottle tour to discover the sustainable ‘full circle’ distilling practices used here, and even get hands-on with your own cane knife to help harvest and juice your own stalk of cane. And, of course, a welcome drink plus complimentary tastings along the way.

6. Rail trail adventures

Exploring the rolling green slopes and historic towns of the 24-kilometre Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is one of the best ways to connect with the region’s lush hinterland and interesting heritage. In this section of the trail, discover the area’s railway history at heritage-listed Murwillumbah Railway Station, and traverse by 18 railway bridges and through two railway tunnels.

Linking vibrant towns and villages with the larger hub of Murwillumbah, this section of the trail is covered in asphalt or compacted gravel, making it accessible for all ages and abilities, from prams to adaptive bikes.

7. Linger longer

surfer at fingal heads the tweed — Enjoy beachside locations, like Fingal Heads.

Linger longer at one of the seven idyllic beach, river and creekside locations of Tweed Holiday Parks – including at Tweed Heads, Kingscliff Beach, Hastings Point and Pottsville South. All just steps from the water’s edge, they make the ideal base to unwind, or head out for exploration of The Tweed. Choose from luxury waterfront cabins, accessible cabins, surfari tents (yes, they are basically glamping tents) or spacious sites for caravans, motorhomes and campervans or tents.

Find your feel-good summer in The Tweed at visitthetweed.com.au .

The most luxurious wine tour in Australia