REVEALED: HOW TO DISCOVER THE BEST AUSTRALIAN WINES

Australia is home to some of the world’s most diverse and high-quality wines, rivalling the best from Europe.

With its varied climate, innovative winemakers, and some of the oldest vines, our nation has firmly established itself as a powerhouse of premium wine production.

But with so many options, how can you find the very best bottles? Here, we reveal how you can discover Australia’s best wines.

Look for Boutique Producers. Many of the finest wines come from small, independent winemakers who prioritise craftsmanship over mass production.
Explore Different Regions: Each region offers something unique, from the cool-climate Pinot Noirs of Tasmania to the bold Shirazes of the Barossa Valley.
Seek Out Expertly Curated Selections: Finding the right one can be daunting, with thousands of wines produced yearly. Relying on expert panels or curated selections can help uncover hidden gems.
Consider Terroir and Winemaking Techniques: The best wines express their region’s unique climate and soil, with winemakers using traditional and modern methods to enhance their character.
Trust Award-Winning Wines: Wines that have been blind-tasted and judged by professionals are often a reliable choice.

Wine Selectors has been dedicated to uncovering and championing Australia’s most exceptional wines for five decades.

As the only wine retailer in Australia that exclusively offers Australian wines, it has forged close relationships with more than 500 family-owned wineries, ensuring access to distinctive and high-quality bottles.

The Wine Selectors Tasting Panel, comprising leading sommeliers, winemakers, and industry judges, blind tastes more than 6,000 wines each year. Only those scoring at least a bronze medal standard are selected, ensuring members receive only the best.

“Every panel tasting brings out new gems, and it’s great to find these wines so the consumer can learn about them too,” says Hunter Valley winemaker and Tasting Panel member Keith Tulloch.

Beyond offering wine, Wine Selectors is committed to storytelling, introducing wine lovers to the history, people, and regions behind each bottle.

Founder Greg Walls believes that wine is more than just taste; it’s about connecting with producers who share a passion for excellence.

“We’re not satisfied with big business commoditising and dominating our taste buds,” says Walls.

“The wine producers that we work with and present to our members exemplify a shared striving for excellence: beautifully crafted wines where you can taste the winemaker in each. Now that’s something we should all celebrate.”

From late 2026 and into 2027, PONANT Explorations Group will base two ships in French Polynesia, offering travellers a choice between a culturally immersive classic and a far more exploratory deep-Pacific experience.

The move builds on more than 25 years of operating in the region with the iconic m/s Paul Gauguin, while introducing the expedition-focused Le Jacques Cartier to venture into lesser-known waters.

Together, the two vessels will cover all five Polynesian archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands — as well as the remote Pitcairn Islands.

THE PAUL GAUGUIN: CULTURAL IMMERSION, POLYNESIAN STYLE

Long regarded as the benchmark for cruising in French Polynesia, m/s Paul Gauguin will remain based year-round in the region.

Renovated in 2025, the ship continues to focus on relaxed, culturally rich journeys with extended port stays designed to allow guests to experience daily life across the islands.

A defining feature of the onboard experience is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — Polynesian hosts who share local traditions through music, dance and hands-on workshops, including weaving and craft demonstrations.

The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and internationally minded, catering to travellers seeking depth rather than distance.

Across the 2026–27 seasons, the ship will operate 66 departures, primarily across the Society Islands, Tuamotu and Marquesas, with select voyages extending to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

LE JACQUES CARTIER: EXPLORATION AT THE EDGE

Le Jacques Cartier introduces a more adventurous dimension to PONANT’s Polynesian offering, with itineraries focused on the least visited corners of the South Pacific.

The ship will debut three new “Discovery” itineraries, each 14 nights in length, which can also be combined into a single, extended 42-night voyage — the most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary currently available.

In total, the combined journey spans six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory rarely included on cruise itineraries.

Unlike the Paul Gauguin’s cultural focus, Le Jacques Cartier centres on exploration.

Each day includes one guided activity led by local experts, with excursions conducted via tenders, local boats and zodiacs. Scuba diving is available on board, supported by a resident instructor.

Across the 2026–27 period, the ship will operate nine departures, offering a deliberately limited and low-impact presence in some of the Pacific’s most isolated communities.

THREE NEW DISCOVERY ITINERARIES

The new itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier include:

– Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
– From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
– Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu

Each voyage departs from Papeete, with prices starting from $15,840 per person.

SCOUTING THE PACIFIC’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES

In preparation for the new itineraries, PONANT Explorations Group undertook extensive scouting across the Austral and Tuamotu Islands to develop activities in collaboration with local communities.

José Sarica, the group’s R&D Expedition Experience Director, worked directly with residents to design experiences including welcome ceremonies, cultural workshops and visits to marae, the region’s sacred open-air temples.

Six new ports of call have been confirmed as part of this process, spanning both the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos.

SIX NEW PORTS OF CALL CONFIRMED

New stopovers include:

– Mataiva, known for its rare mosaic lagoon
– Hikueru, home to one of the largest lagoons in the Tuamotus
– Makemo, noted for its red-footed boobies and frigatebirds
– Raivavae, famed for its crystal-clear lagoon pools
– Tubuai, rich in marae and spiritual heritage
– Rurutu, known for limestone caves and seasonal humpback whale sightings

A DUAL EXPERIENCE, ONE DESTINATION

By pairing its long-established cultural voyages with expedition-led exploration, PONANT Explorations Group is positioning French Polynesia not as a single experience, but as two distinct journeys — one grounded in tradition and comfort, the other pushing into the furthest reaches of the Pacific.

For travellers seeking either immersion or discovery, the South Pacific is about to feel both familiar and entirely new.