A couple of weeks ago, we slipped on our fancy pants, scribbled on some wispy moustaches, and headed out to Red Hill in Victoria—to cosplay South Asian Australian sommeliers. 

Word on the street was that there were only four South Asian Australian winemakers in Victoria and one in Tasmania. And the sumptuous scent of juicy, fermented grapes beckoned us.

In truth, we don’t know the first thing about vino—our wine-tasting barometer shifts between two metrics: goon and not goon. Plus, we (South Asians) aren’t known for our wines as much as we are for our love of cricket and curry. (Perhaps, not as much as our former Prime Minister.) Factors like the tropical climate, fewer resources, and less demand contribute to the dearth of winemakers in our motherlands.

But that didn’t stop us. 

It’s not every day that South Asian heritage and Australian winemaking collide in a purple haze of tasty grape juice. 

So, pack your samosas, grab your corkscrews, and buckle up, wine fiends. With Mother’s Day around the corner, there’s no better time to walk through the vineyards of Avani, Nazaaray, Domaine Simha, Bindi, and Lethbridge with Brown Boy Mag. Go for the wine, stay for the stories.

1. Avani

There is something about Avani that teleports you back home, sharing stories with your nani between bites of bread pakora. 

Perhaps, it’s the warm, motherly aura that surrounds Shashi Singh, one of the owners and winemakers at Avani. Perhaps, it’s husband, dad, and co-owner Devendra who unpretentiously describes Avani’s biodynamic wines, smiling ear-to-ear. Or, perhaps, it’s son and winemaker Rohit who invites us to watch the wine ferment while sharing tidbits about swapping the corporate grind for crushers, corkers, and fermenters. 

Whatever it may be, Avani is unmistakably a family affair. 

Avani—meaning ‘the earth’ in Sanskrit—is a boutique winery and vineyard known for crafting cool-climate wines. With a strong emphasis on minimal intervention winemaking, ecological self-sufficiency and using no pesticides or chemicals, Avani showcases the distinctive character of the region’s terroir and growing seasons.

Location: 98 Stanleys Rd, Red Hill South 3937 (Victoria)
Cellar Door Hours: 11 AM to 4 PM, Saturdays and Sundays
Book A Tasting: https://obee.com.au/avanicellardoor/

2. Nazaaray

Venture a little further down, and you’ll stumble on the Mornington Peninsula’s southernmost winery, Nazaaray, which means ‘beautiful visions’ in Punjabi. 

The name checks out. 

It’s a charming, six-acre vineyard that feels like you’ve been plopped straight into a children’s storybook, complete with towering conifers, bouncing kangaroos, and quaint 1930s train carriages. 

It all started when Indian-Australian Paramdeep (Param)—owner, winemaker, and former electrical engineer—had his first taste of wine on a flight to Australia in 1981, sparking a lifelong love affair. Even today, Param continues to personally craft the wines by hand—wine that has one too many awards to mention, that adheres to artisan winemaking traditions, and that proves “Indian food does [indeed] match with fine wines”.  

Location: 266 Meakins Rd, Flinders 3929 (Victoria)
Cellar Door Hours: 11 AM – 4 PM, Saturdays and Sundays. By appointment on Mondays.
Book A Tasting: +61 407 391 991

3. Domaine Simha

Hop over to Tasmania, and on the very “edge of the world” sits Domaine Simha, where Nav Singh and Louise Radman are challenging conventional winemaking through micro-batch, avant-garde wines—with a roar. Focused on quality over quantity, Domaine Simha—meaning ‘lion’ in Sanskrit—produces limited-edition wines that celebrate Tasmania’s unspoiled landscapes, crisp air, and rich soil.

Indian-Australian Nav Singh, whose winemaking skills were refined in the renowned chateaux of Burgundy and Bordeaux, crafts each single-vineyard wine “au naturel to harness the provenance of epic Tasmanian terroir and season”.

Although we’re yet to taste Domaine Simha’s drops, with lunar cycle harvesting and whole-bunch wild fermentation, one can only expect their vino to make your tastebuds do the tango.

Location: Institut Polaire, 1 / 7 Murray Street, Hobart 7000 (Tasmania)
Restaurant Hours: 4PM – Late, Thursday to Sunday. Or by appointment.
Book A Tasting: +61 432 925 895; +61 403 773 871

4. Bindi

Now, venture back to Victoria, northwest of Melbourne, and you’ll find Bindi—a serene 170-hectare family property nestled in the Macedon Ranges. Named after the Punjabi word for wisdom and humility, Bindi is a testament to the dedication of the Dhillon family. 

The Bindi vineyard, the heart and soul of Bindi, is a labour of love for Michael Dhillon, who carries on his father’s legacy, Darshan Singh Dhillon. Michael practises a hands-on approach to winemaking with hand-pruned vines, hand-picked grapes, and on-site maturation. And, in a touching tribute to his late father, Michael named one of the wines “Darshan.” 

We’re yet to try Bindi, but it’s at the top of our list this Autumn. It seems that at Bindi, every sip of wine celebrates the family’s unwavering commitment to the harmony between nature and winemaking.

Location: 343 Melton Road, Gisborne 3437 (Victoria)
Buy Bindi: https://bindiwines.com.au/buying-bindi/

5. Lethbridge

Last but certainly not least is Lethbridge. Tucked away in the northwest of Geelong is their flagship vineyard (Lethbridge Estate Vineyard), with a rich history and an even more decadent selection of vino. 

Lethbridge Estate Vineyard was revived by owners Dr Ray Nadeson and Dr Marree Collis in 1996, both of whom hold PhDs (Ray in Neuroscience and Maree in Chemistry), having swapped their academic careers for winemaking. Nowadays, Indian-Australian Ray puts his creativity and exceptional palate to good use as the head winemaker—using organic and biodynamic practices—while Maree manages the general operations of Lethbridge.

What is perhaps as inspiring as the winemaking at Lethbridge is Ray himself. Recently, in the AFR, Ray acknowledged the rarity of his position in the industry, noting that he’s part of a “pretty elite club” of only a handful of Indian-Australian winemakers. 

Although Ray’s decision to become a full-time winemaker initially came as a shock to his mum, she has since come to love it. And we’re grateful for it because, as you know, there’s nothing worse than a disappointed South Asian mother. Only kidding. Slightly.

Location: 74 Burrows Rd, Lethbridge 3332 (Victoria) (Also find them at Hat Rock Vineyard.)
Restaurant Hours: 11AM – 4PM, Monday to Friday. 11AM – 5PM, Saturday and Sunday.
Book A Tasting: https://obee.com.au/lethbridgewines/

Brown Boy Magazine (@brownboyau) celebrates worship-worthy tastemakers and changemakers in the South Asian Australian diaspora (without taking itself too seriously).