Here’s one to tick off the bucket list!
Take your interest in wine to the next level with a year-long, fully immersive experience.
Learn how to make wine – from picking to blending, bottling to branding. Savour the result with friends and family over years to come.
A truly unique gift for yourself, the wine lover in your life, or for that person who has everything…
Austin’s will be opening the winery gates in 2021 for an exclusive, hands-on winemaking experience.
Over 12 months you’ll enjoy a series of winemaking events and behind-the-scenes access to our winemaker. At the end, you’ll leave with your very own custom blended ‘Rent a Vine’ wine from the 2021 vintage.
Here’s what’s included:
Your own row of vines
at Austin’s vineyard
Five exclusive,
catered workshops
Two dozen bottles of
your personalised
pinot noir wine
Austin’s Rent a Vine
Starter Pack
Hands-on learning
experience with an
Austin’s winemaker
10% Discount to the
Austin’s Wine Club
Access to an exclusive
Facebook group and
updates throughout the
year
End of year
celebration party
Get your hands dirty and discover the ins and outs of a working winery, from vineyard to glass.
Workshop 1 in February: Introduction and Pinot Tasting
Workshop 2 in March: Picking and Crushing
Workshop 3 in July: Vineyard Pruning
Workshop 4 in September: Barrel Tasting and Blending
Workshop 5 in November: Bottling and Celebration Party
This inaugural rent-a-vine concept is the first of its kind in the region and an opportunity for us to share our passion for growing fruit, making wine and sharing a good conversation with you.
This unmissable year-long experience has a limited number of memberships available, join the waiting list for first access and exclusive pricing.
You’ll also get:
• 10% off Austin’s wines & 15% off 6Ft6 wines (full priced wines only)
• First access to new vintage and museum releases
• First access to year-round events
• Your own row of pinot noir vines named after you for the year. You can visit the row even outside of the workshop times!
• 2 x dozen custom labelled bottles of either pinot noir or chardonnay (RRP $1080)
• 5 x hands-on workshops throughout the year
• End of year celebration party
• Winemakers welcome pack
• Access to an Austin’s winemaker
• Access to an exclusive Facebook group and updates throughout the year
• 10% off Austin’s wines and wine club (full priced items only)
MEMBERSHIPS FROM $2297*
VIRTUAL MEMBERSHIPS FROM $997*
*Price subject to change. For further details, join the waitlist for updates including pricing. Payment Plans available. If the program is unable to go ahead to to any health or safety guidelines such as Covid, an online program will be offered or you will be given a full refund **.
Introducing… Virtual memberships.
Learn to make wine from the comfort of your home. Designed for those who want to learn how to make wine but can not attend our Geelong workshops. There will be four workshops over eight months which include a hands-on activity or tasting to complete while on a live zoom call. There will also be regular videos to watch and learn the winemaking process that include behind the scenes action of the winery and vineyard. At the end of the membership you will receive a dozen custom ‘virtual members’ blended and individually labelled pinot noir.
Workshop 1 in February 18th : Introduction to pinot noir. Wine Tasting Discovery: Discovering pinot clones and oak influences.
Workshop 2 in March 25th: Vintage overview; picking and crushing. Wine Tasting: Pinot noir wine tasting with the winemaker.
Workshop 3 in July 22nd: Vineyard Pruning. Wine Tasting: Barrel Sample tastings
Workshop 4 in September 9th: Blending. Wine Activity/Tasting: Blend your wine at home.
VIRTUAL MEMBERSHIPS FROM $997*
*Price subject to change. For further details, join the waitlist for updates including pricing. Payment Plans available.
The timing of vintage is dependent on external weather events. At the end of January we will be able to let you know a firmer idea of when this will be and let you know as soon as possible. You can expect it will be from mid February to mid March.
We are more than happy to fill in for you in case you can’t attend – don’t worry you will still receive your wine at the end. You are also more than welcome to send someone in your place for that workshop.
The wine will be a unique blend to the rent-a-vine members. Your allocation will also be labelled with your customised label. There will be three designs to choose from that will be customised with your details or you are more than welcome to design your own label and we will organise printing.
As little or as much as you like. We want you to experience winemaking without the hard work. Pick for an hour or for four or simply observe as you wish. We have staff on hand to assist as needed. Our main aim is that you enjoy yourself and learn as you go.
To pay in installments head to the installment product page.
We do not offer refunds to the rent-a-vine program 4 weeks out from the first workshop. If you notify us prior to this time we will happily refund you minus $200 administration costs. If for whatever reason you are unable to fulfil your place in the program throughout the year it can be transferred to another person in your place.
We are located in the Moorabool Valley, 50 minutes from Melbourne and 15 minutes from Geelong. We are a 15 minute drive from Avalon airport.
We can organise a bus pick up from Geelong station to and from the winery for the workshops. We will need confirmation that you require this two weeks before each workshop.
Our Senior winemaker Duncan Lowe will be hosting the workshops. Duncan is a passionate and experienced winemaker and has a keen interest in educating those around him. With experience in vineyards such as Bannockburn, Rowslety Fault and Austin’s, you can be guaranteed an educational but enjoyable experience with him as host. Scott Austin will also join in on some workshops and be available for a chat.
The Rent-a-Vine members make a team batch of custom pinot noir. Austin’s has one of the largest single family holdings of pinot noir vines in Australia, we produce over 15,000 dozen bottle of Pinot Noir a year and have won many awards and accolades for our pinot noir.
5 RED STAR RATED WINERY IN JAMES HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION (TOP 8% IN AUSTRALIA)
MAKERS OF HIGHLY AWARDED WINES
“Austins know how to put on an event! The Shiraz weekend was great – Daily Food Co catering was incredible, staff were friendly, it was really kid-friendly (our 3 year old had as much fun as we did) and of course the wine is incredible. We will be back again at the next one!”
“I’m a big fan of the Shiraz however I tasted the Pinot and Chardonnay during a recent visit during Toast the Coast and they’re to die for! The winery and grounds are stunning!”
“Have had the pleasure of trying almost all of the wine at Austin’s during Toast to the Coast and attending multiple events at this stunning winery. The hosts are lovely. Service is great and wine top notch.”