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.

Discover vibrant culture and creativity, gorgeous nature spots and more in lively Newcastle.

Newcastle/Muloobinba has a lot going for it beyond its big skies and beautiful beaches. The city’s creative types are now heading downtown, taking over and transforming warehouses and terraces to offer a more alternative vibe. From its nightlife to secret swimming spots, art to architecture, here’s our insider’s guide to Newcastle in New South Wales.

1. Learn to sail on Newcastle Harbour

The harbour has always shaped Newcastle, so it seems like the most obvious place to start your weekend. Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club offers a range of programs that provide instruction for both novice and experienced sailors. This is an inspired classroom that sets off past the Honeysuckle Foreshore up the Hunter River, with views towards a seemingly infinite vista of blue stretching to the horizon. It’s the perfect way to savour your time by the sea. Other water activities include surfing, swimming in one of the secret ocean baths or whale-watching with CoastXP .

Aerial view of Newcastle Harbour. — Join Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club’s programs. (Image: City of Newcastle)

2. Underground jazz scene

Follow the lively sound of the saxophone bubbling up to find The Underground . The popular basement-level bar, with its dim lighting and speakeasy aesthetic, schedules live jazz performances every Tuesday and Thursday. Newcastle is known around the country for supporting live music and this late-night New York-style jazz bar is, like the city itself, both approachable and sophisticated. For fans of live music, Queen’s Wharf Hotel , King Street Newcastle , Mad Poet and The Lucky Hotel are all popular pubs for their roster of live music.

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3. The city as a canvas

The streets of Newcastle present like an outdoor art gallery , adding beauty to the everyday with large-scale works by artists such as Fintan Magee, Inari Meyers, Tom Henderson and Sophia Flegg. Hire a Flash E-bike and pedal around the streets to find treasures such as Bronte Naylor’s Mirror Ocean in Civic Square or Sky & Ocean at South Newcastle Beach Skate Park. You can also join Newy Tour Co.’s Discover Newcastle tour to explore city highlights, architectural gems and street art with an expert guide.

Friends take in Newcastle Street Art. — Admire stunning works of art displayed all around you. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. An artist’s view of Newcastle

There’s a real sense of optimism around Newcastle, stemming from its many grassroots art galleries and organisations. The city is home to an eclectic array of artists who gravitate toward different mediums; see their works on show at independent galleries such as The Lock-Up , which operated as a police station from 1861 until 1982, and Lighthouse Arts Newcastle in the light-filled cottages on Nobbys Head/Whibayganba. Stop by The Creator Incubator to see the Little and Big gallery spaces. Newcastle Art Gallery will soon reopen after a recent expansion, so keep an eye out.

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5. Newcastle after dark

The small bars confetti’d around Newcastle are a sign of the times. Visitors to the compact city will find a concentration of bars within a small radius, all of which are within easy walking distance or accessible via the light rail. The after-dark experience, which includes theatre and live music, is designed for visitors who are in search of the offbeat and want to celebrate the city’s creativity. Whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, the bars that dot most neighbourhoods will tempt you with everything from happy hour to their alt attitude.

A bartender expertly crafting a drink, with a stunning library of spirits in the background. — Enjoy a night out at a lively bar. (Image: City of Newcastle)

6. Indulge in great gastronomy

Newcastle’s proximity to the Hunter Valley has helped establish it as a sophisticated getaway for gourmands with a passion for provenance. Dining options in the city are diverse, with everything from casual cafes to cantina-style Mexican eateries such as Antojitos , through to fine diners such as Flotilla and Jana Restaurant & Bar at QT Newcastle . Visit during Newcastle Food Month to get a snapshot of the local culinary scene – you can take note of the many world-class restaurants and cafes that warrant a return visit. Humbug , Peregrin and Bistro Penny should also be on your radar.

The dining area at Flotilla in Newcastle NSW. — Savour a world-class dining experience at Flotilla. (Image: Flotilla)

7. Crystalbrook Kingsley

Crystalbrook Kingsley is another great example of Newcastle’s new wow factor. Staying at the hotel – in the heart of the cultural centre – makes exploring a breeze, with vintage bikes for guests who want to check out the city streets on two wheels. The design-savvy Crystalbrook Collection reimagined the Roundhouse building while adhering to its ethos of sustainable luxury. The hotel is also a magnet for foodies, with the rooftop Roundhouse restaurant and cocktail bar, Romberg’s, two of the best spots in the city for wining and dining.

The Roundhouse by Crystalbrook Collection. — Step into the reworked Roundhouse by Crystalbrook. (Image: Crystalbrook Kingsley)

8. Newcastle’s creative side on show

Save the date for New Annual , a festival of art, music and ideas from 26 September – 5 October. The program is jam-packed with 10 days of art, culture and creativity. This year’s festival will celebrate the power art has to connect people. Expect to see a diverse program including music, theatre, workshops, and performances in iconic Newcastle locations. Visitors will find a concentration of events within a small radius, all of which are within easy walking distance or accessible via the light rail.

Dancers performing gracefully, accompanied by a live orchestra. — Celebrate migration, community and belonging at New Annual.

Plan your next trip to offbeat Newcastle.

The most luxurious wine tour in Australia