If it’s been too long since your last trek to the Margaret River or a long lunch in the Swan Valley, Howard Smith Wharves is offering a 4,000-kilometre shortcut this August. On August 18, Western Australia’s wine country arrives in Brisbane for one night only. EXHILARATING Wines from Western Australia is bringing more than 30 of Australia’s best producers and 150 bottles that represent the absolute pinnacle of the West.
“Queensland wine lovers are increasingly curious and adventurous, making Brisbane the perfect home for the stories, energy, innovation and individuality that have become hallmarks of the EXHILARATING wines from Western Australia. We are thrilled to make this cross-country pilgrimage as a collective and reconnect with our Queensland wine friends,” said Wines of Western Australia CEO Larry Jorgensen.
This is a rare opportunity to taste small-batch releases and collector wines that seldom make it across the Nullarbor. If you are looking to reconnect with the people behind the labels, here are the reasons this event is essential for Brisbane wine lovers.
1. A Trio of Titans: Icons in One Room
It is rare to find Leeuwin Estate’s Art Series Chardonnay, Cullen’s Diana Madeline, and Vasse Felix’s Tom Cullity poured in the same square metreage. These are not merely wines; they are part of Australia’s viticulture history. Tasting them side by side offers an opportunity to understand how these wines helped put Margaret River on the global wine map. You can explore the complete Leeuwin Estate Art Series collection, including the highly collectible Chardonnay, all in one sitting.
2. Halliday’s Heavyweights
Meet the people behind seven of the wineries featured in The Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wineries of 2025. At the EXHILARATING Wines from Western Australia event, you can meet the people behind seven of those top-tier estates. This includes the number-one-ranked Vasse Felix, alongside Leeuwin Estate, Cullen Wines, Howard Park, Swinney, Xanadu, and Domaine Naturaliste. It is a unique chance to chat with winemakers like Bruce Dukes and Hugh Mugford who continue to pursue excellence that defines these hallmark labels.
3. Fine Chardonnay remains a favourite
There are more than a dozen wines from one of the world’s premier Chardonnay regions – Margaret River, in addition to some stellar wines from Pemberton and the Great Southern. Taste wines from some of the most revered labels as well as a handful of newer, smaller producers only occasionally available outside WA.
4. The Cool-Climate Pioneers
Western Australia is not all sun-baked vines. The Porongurup sub-region and Pemberton are producing some of the country’s most delicate, laser-focused Riesling and Pinot Noir. Discover the cool-climate wines of the Porongurup sub-region in the Great Southern, and Pemberton wine region with established names such as Alkoomi, Howard Park and Picardy. Consider it an introduction to labels like Castle Rock Estate, where winemaker Rob Diletti has spent two decades crafting wines of incredible precision and longevity. These cool-climate pioneers offer a counterpoint to the traditional powerhouses of the region.
5. Taste the winners
The international buzz around Margaret River Cabernet has reached a fever pitch. Whether it is a trophy at the International Wine & Spirit Competition or the Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show (2024 Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon) at our own Royal Queensland Wine Awards, it seems Cabernet Sauvignon from the Margaret River is quite literally on everyone’s lips. At this year’s National Wine Show, the Prime Minister’s Trophy for Champion Wine of Show was awarded to Xanadu 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon.
6. Direct Access to the Source
This is more than a pouring event – it’s a cross-country pilgrimage. More than a dozen winemakers and owners are making the trip to meet with Queensland wine aficionados. You can meet Michael Kerrigan from Hay Shed Hill or Garth Cliff from Vino Volta, who is currently re-energising heritage styles like Chenin Blanc and Grenache. It is a rare chance to hear the stories of innovation and individuality that have become hallmarks of the Western Australian wine scene.
Choose Your Experience
Golden Hour Showcase | 5.30 pm – 8.30 pm
As the sun sets over the Brisbane River, immerse yourself in a relaxed and immersive walk-around tasting. Your ticket ($75) includes a take-home RIEDEL Overture Red Wine glass and grazing items to enjoy as you taste through more than 35 wineries.
Golden Hour VIP Experience | 5 pm – 8.30 pm
For those who prefer a deeper dive, the VIP experience ($180) offers early access to the showcase and an intimate guided tasting. You will join Erin Larkin, the Australian Reviewer for Robert Parker Wine Advocate, as she shares hand-selected wines that define the iconic and emerging scenes of Western Australia.
The Details – Exhilarating Wines from Western Australia in Brisbane
When: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Where: Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane
Tickets: exhilaratingwines.com
