A NEW SEASON FOR AUSTRALIA’S MOST EXPRESSIVE WINES

The shift into autumn brings with it a quiet recalibration. Evenings lengthen, temperatures soften, and the wines we reach for begin to change.

Crisp aperitif styles give way to something more structured and contemplative. Chardonnay regains its depth, and Pinot Noir returns as the season’s defining red.

It is against this backdrop that Handpicked Wines has unveiled its latest premium collection, anchored in the 2024 vintage and spanning Tasmania, the Yarra Valley and the Mornington Peninsula.

While geographically diverse, the wines share a common philosophy: that place, rather than process, should define the final expression.

“Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the bread and butter of Handpicked. They are our signature and what we do best,” said Chief Winemaker Peter Dillon.

“While we focus solely on our two hero varieties with this release, there is so much diversity to be found from the sites, with each one bringing a new quality and dimension to the variety.”

A tale of two vineyards

Nowhere is that diversity more evident than in the Yarra Valley, where two single vineyard Chardonnays offer a compelling study in contrast.

Separated by just a 45-minute drive, the Wombat Creek and Highbow Hill sites illustrate how dramatically elevation and soil can influence character.

Wombat Creek, perched at 420 metres above sea level in the Upper Yarra, produces a wine defined by finesse.

Volcanic soils and cooler temperatures deliver aromatic precision and a tight structural line. By contrast, Highbow Hill, located on the valley floor, offers a broader, more textural profile, shaped by slightly warmer conditions and different soil composition.

For Dillon, the comparison is central to understanding the essence of fine wine.

“Taking two wines from the same producer, region, and price point, made by the very same winemakers and viticulturists, has got to be the ultimate and most tangible way to explore terroir,” he said.

“It’s a joy for us as winemakers to create a totally new expression of the wine with the same grape; it really shows how the vineyard’s personality carries across into the bottle and onto the palate.

The rise of site-led winemaking

Across Australia’s leading wine regions, there has been a growing shift away from heavily manipulated styles towards wines that reflect their origin more transparently. Handpicked’s latest releases sit firmly within this movement, prioritising vineyard stewardship and minimal intervention.

Several of the wines now carry Certified Organic status, part of a broader transition that reflects a long-term commitment to soil health and environmental sustainability. The flagship Capella Pinot Noir, sourced from Tasmania, represents the culmination of more than a decade of work refining both site and technique.

The result is a Pinot Noir defined less by overt power than by restraint and clarity, characteristics increasingly associated with Australia’s finest cool-climate sites.

A seasonal return

The timing of the release is not incidental. Autumn remains the natural home of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, varieties that reward slower drinking and closer attention. Where summer wines are defined by immediacy, these are built for contemplation.

In this sense, the latest collection reflects more than a single vintage. It captures a broader evolution in Australian wine, one that places increasing emphasis on nuance, origin and longevity.

As the season settles and the pace of the year begins to shift, these are wines that invite pause. Not simply to drink, but to consider the journey from vineyard to glass, and the quiet influence of place that shapes every bottle.

Luxury travel in Southern Africa is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Where sprawling resorts and visible opulence once defined status, a new generation of high-end travellers is gravitating towards smaller, low-footprint lodges that deliver exceptional experiences while preserving the environment around them.

This shift reflects a broader recalibration of priorities among affluent travellers, who are increasingly placing sustainability alongside comfort and exclusivity when selecting destinations.

Industry reports from Virtuoso and American Express Travel highlight growing demand for accommodation that supports conservation, limits environmental impact and contributes meaningfully to local communities.

For operators such as Isibindi Africa, this approach has long been central to their philosophy. Its flagship properties, Thonga Beach Lodge in South Africa and Tsowa Safari Island on the Zambezi River, demonstrate how thoughtful design and operational restraint can enhance rather than diminish the luxury experience.

DESIGNED TO DISAPPEAR INTO THE LANDSCAPE

Set within the UNESCO-listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Thonga Beach Lodge is defined by its deliberate invisibility. Guest numbers are strictly capped, and the lodge’s timber structures are elevated on stilts to minimise disruption to the fragile dune ecosystem.

Lighting is carefully controlled to avoid interfering with turtle nesting along the coastline, ensuring wildlife encounters remain entirely natural.

“Low-footprint luxury starts with knowing when to stop,” says Lucy Cooke, Group Marketing Manager at Isibindi Africa. “Guests notice when a place feels considered rather than overbuilt, and many now expect that.”

That same restraint extends to construction and daily operations. Traditional thatched roofs and local building techniques allow the lodge to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, while refillable amenities, reusable containers and the elimination of single-use plastics reduce waste.

POWERED BY NATURE, NOT EXCESS

On the Zambezi River, Tsowa Safari Island offers an equally refined yet restrained experience. Limited to just nine safari tents and a maximum of 18 guests, the camp operates entirely on solar power, with water sourced from the river, filtered onsite and returned through environmentally sensitive systems.

The lodge was built without removing a single tree, with structures carefully positioned around existing vegetation to preserve the island’s natural character.

This intentional scarcity enhances the sense of exclusivity while ensuring the environmental footprint remains minimal.

COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION AT THE CORE

Beyond environmental sensitivity, these lodges also reflect a deeper integration with local communities. At Thonga Beach Lodge, more than 90 per cent of staff come from the nearby Mabibi community, supported through training and long-term employment opportunities.

The lodge also supplies clean water to approximately 800 households each month, alongside investment in local schools, infrastructure and conservation initiatives.

Tsowa Safari Island similarly supports surrounding communities through water access programmes, agricultural support and anti-poaching partnerships with park authorities.

THE FUTURE OF LUXURY IS LESS, NOT MORE

As luxury travellers become more discerning about the true impact of their journeys, exclusivity is increasingly defined by authenticity, privacy and environmental sensitivity rather than scale.

These new-generation lodges demonstrate that luxury no longer requires excess. Instead, the most desirable experiences are those that tread lightly, preserve what makes a place special and offer guests a deeper connection to the natural world.

In Southern Africa, restraint has become the ultimate luxury.