Silver Travel Wine Club

April 2023 – Step Back In Time

Gain unique access to old vines and old wines as our wineries unlock estate secrets on a wide range of experiences that showcase why Australia’s winemakers are world-famous. Try Hardys Hidden Secrets in McLaren Vale, be a VIP with Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Vertical Experience or get into the Grange and book the Ultimate Penfolds Experience.

Hardys Hidden Secrets, Hardys Tintara, McLaren Vale, South Australia

Dive into the rich history of 170-year old Hardys Tintara on the intimate Hardy’s Hidden Secrets tour. Learn how passionate pioneer, Thomas Hardy, known as the father of the South Australian wine industry and wife, Eileen built the empire that is Hardys Wines. Share in the rich tapestry of the Hardy family history and stories, see the original winery, and explore the unique treasures and memorabilia around the Tintara property. The tour concludes with a tasting of four iconic Hardys wines and a Rare Fortified with a taste of locally sourced produce.

Vat 1 Vertical Experience, Tyrrell’s, Hunter Valley, New South Wales

Discover 160 years of winemaking with a trip to Tyrrell’s in the beautiful Hunter Valley. Headed up by fourth generation family member Bruce Tyrrell, Tyrrell’s is home to some of Australia’s most awarded wines including the iconic Vat 1 Semillon. Join the Vat 1 Vertical Experience and enjoy an exploration through the ages of the flagship Winemaker’s Selection Vat 1 Semillon. Through this vertical tasting, learn about the epitomised benefits of patient bottle ageing that transforms this unoaked wine into a masterpiece. This experience includes a winery tour followed by a six-vintage vertical tasting of the Vat 1 accompanied by locally sourced cheeses.

Ultimate Penfolds Experience, Penfolds Magill Estate, Adelaide Hills, South Australia

In 1844, founders Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold officially established the Penfolds wine company at Magill Estate with vine cuttings brought with them to Australia. Discover more about the foundation of Penfolds as Australia’s leading red wine producer on an Ultimate Penfolds Experience. Commence the tour with a visit to the Grange Cottage­, the original home of Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold, before exploring the Magill Estate winery, vintage cellar, and underground drives to discover the gems hidden within. Conclude with an intimate tasting of Penfolds most-awarded and sought-after wines including one vintage of Grange.

A Day at Tahbilk, Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes, Victoria

Established in 1860, Tahbilk is the oldest family-owned winery and vineyard in Victoria. Purchased by the Purbrick family in 1925, Tahbilk has been successfully handed down over five generations. Uncover more about Tahbilk’s heritage, on A Day at Tahbilk which includes a personally guided tour of both the historic winery and current modern winery. Learn the art of winemaking on a blending experience then enjoy a two-course lunch with matching wines overlooking the wetlands. Finish the day with a guided walk along the wetlands trail highlighting what is being done to save the endangered species and the impact the ecological work has on the winery and wines.



How to win a case of wine

Comment below and tell us which one of these history-rich experiences you’d most enjoy!

Please note: this prize draw is now closed.

A winner will be chosen in early May 2023.
The competition closes on 30 April 2023.

Please note: by commenting below and entering the prize draw you consent to your email address being shared with Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia who will contact you on one occasion with more information about their offerings.

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89 Responses

  1. All of these sound wonderful. Overall though, I’d choose a day at Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes, Victoria.
    It looks like the perfect combination of old and new, history, heritage, tradition and modern day care and concern for the environment. I’d love the wine blending class (and being able to take away a sample bottle of my very own blend!), followed by lunch overlooking the wetlands and ending with a guided ecology tour. What a great experience!

  2. Hunter Valley, New South Wales has to be where to go, so close to the east coast, not too far from Sydney

  3. A day at Tahbilk sounds like a good experience as it combines history, conservation, photo opportunities in the wetlands, a lunch with a view and, most importantly, drinking good wine.

  4. I would love to visit the Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes for no other reason than I love the sound of the name. Very Eastern and mysterious. Fingers crossed.

  5. The Vat 1 experience in the Hunter Valley. I’ve never done a vertical tasting.

  6. I would love to experience a day at Tahbilk, Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes.. It’s not an area I know and I would love to discover more about what is being done to save the endangered species and the impact the ecological work has on the winery and wines. I have relatives in Victoria so would go to see them as well, if I could

  7. A Day at Tahbilk, Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes, Victoria.

    This would be a real treat for me.

  8. Tyrrells’s with the chance to sample locally sourced cheeses as well as some great wines. A combination made in Heaven….

  9. They all sound brilliant, but I’d have to choose Penfolds, as I’ve enjoyed their wines for such a long time.

  10. For me A Day at Tahbilk.
    Just fancy the restaurant overlooking the wetlands. Fab for me.

  11. I’d opt for the six-vintage vertical tasting of the Vat at Tyrells, and would hopefully be vertical rather than horizontal after the tasting!

  12. Tahbilk, Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes, Victoria for me. Never been there but have visited quite a few of the others. Added to my tick list now!

  13. Would be nice to try your wine ive herd so much on the tv and the wine magazine

  14. I would most enjoy a day at Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes simply due to the full wine and ecological experience this visit offers

  15. Ultimate Penfolds Experience, Penfolds Magill Estate, Adelaide Hills, South Australia

  16. I would love to go back to Victoria Australia. My aunty who i am named after moved there after the war as a ten pound pom. I would like to revisit with my 2 sisters who have never seen it and we could compare our memories of my lovely aunty and enjoy the wonderful area where she ended up spending most of her life. The wine would be nice too!

  17. I’d love to hear about the 160 years of history at Tyrrells Hunter Valley.

  18. The Hardy vineyard history would be a great look back in History or wine making in the area and how it has changed in the years

  19. We would enjoy sipping beautiful wine at Tyrrell’s in the Hunter Valley NSW with our friends. Cannot think of anything nicer.

  20. I really like the sound of Tahbilk Nagambie Lake Victoria . Old established and family businesses are always the best as they have stood the test of time

  21. A day at Tahbilk sounds fascinating, especially their efforts to help endangered species, and minimise damage to the ecology.

  22. I’m by no means a wine buff but the Tahbilk looks the most interesting to me for both the historic and the modern winery along with the concern for the wetlands and endangered species.

  23. The McLaren Vale trip is most appealing, incorporating interesting historic details and the chance to try some of the most desirable wines in the process.

  24. I have heard so many good things about Hunter Valley. I’d live to go and experience it for myself.

  25. A Day at Tahbilk, Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes, Victoria. This one has such a deep history it makes you want to find out more and “taste” the history.

  26. Well, as both Hardys and Penfolds are two of my favourite wines I would find it hard to decide which of these estates to visit. Perhaps I should plump for Tyrrells as I know little of their wines and, anyway, I should like to visit New South Wales as I actually live in (Old) South Wales and it seems somehow fitting. No disrespect to Tahbilk of course who certainly seem to have some fine wines to offer. And a name to conjure with.

  27. Difficult to make a choice. But I’d go for the Tyrell’s Hunter Valley. I’m particularly fond of unoaked wines.

  28. Well all three sound wonderful but I think maybe the trip to Tahbilk sounds perfect just everything in the day is more than enough.

  29. The Ultimate Penfolds Experience. I have been lucky enough to visit the area to stay with friends who emigrated to be with their family and it has the added advantage of being in one of the loveliest parts of Australia.

  30. Ultimate Penfolds Experience, Penfolds Magill Estate, Adelaide Hills, South Australia would be my choice. Love red wine so I could happily try all their varieties.

  31. As much as enjoy Penfold’s and Hardy’s wine, I’d have to opt for ‘A Day at Tahbilk’. That rich history and the fact that it’s on the Nagambie Lakes in Victoria was the clincher for me!

  32. I would pick A Day at Tahbilk, Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes, Victoria experience. Would be inspirational join a tour and learn about their heritage.

  33. Ooh, a day at Tahblik – covering my three loves! Wine, sunshine, and wildlife …. I’d be in my total element! Maybe a horse-ride too would push it to my idea of paradise or is that being greedy?

  34. I love Hardy’s wines so I would like the Hardy’s Hidden Secrets Tour

  35. A visit to the Magill estate would be my wonderful choice. Having many a bottle of Penfolds the experience of seeing how they do it and sampling the product on site would be tremendous.

  36. Ultimate Penfold Experience would be my choice! Love red wine and the combination of tasting and this experience would be fantastic!

  37. The Ultimate Penfolds Experience would be a wonderful addition to a holiday in the Adelaide area. One of the only areas we have not so far had the pleasure of visiting in breathtaking Australia.

  38. I would enjoy all of these experiences but will choose the Hunter Valley on this occasion.

  39. A vjsit to Hardy’s Hidden Experience would be very interesting as my wife drinks VR chardonny and I enjor VR shiraz

  40. The trip I would most enjoy would be the Lake trip in Victoria. Exploring the wetlands, and seeing what is being done to protect them would be very interesting.

  41. We visited the Barossa Valley the day after the Queen. It looked magnificent and the wine tasted good too!

  42. The Ultimate Penfolds experience because –

    From start to finish, it gives you the whole real ‘vine’ experience.

  43. I would choose a day at Tahbilk, because I’m very interested in wildlife, and would love to see the wetlands and do the trail walk.

  44. Hunter valley would be my first choice, i have always been interested in the history of wine making. The experience offered at hunters valley would certainly meet my needs

  45. The Ultimate Penfolds Experience, Penfolds Magill Estate, Adelaide Hills, South Australia would be my first choice but all these experiences sound like a splendid day out.

  46. I would love to visit the Penfolds winery as they were probably the first grower to introduce me to so called new world wines in the 1980’s.It seems strange to think of these wines as new world when the estate was established almost 180 years ago!
    The Penfold wines are sublime particularly the reds and Penfolds Grange is exceptional.
    Whilst I must acknowledge the value of the other 2 options it would be wonderful to pay homage to the Penfolds estate which was responsible for kindling my love of Australian wines

  47. I think a visit to tahbilk would be great, good wine a good meal and finish off with a good walk taking in ecological nature

  48. It’s got to be the Ultimate Penfolds Experience for me, love a glass of red!

  49. It would have to be (if I had only one choice) to be the Vat1 Vertical experience. Through the Hunter Valley.

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