Wine making has always been proudly within Australia’s wheelhouse.
The ideal climate and unique growing conditions combined with the talent of generations of local winemakers has meant Australia has long enjoyed a reputation for making internationally sought-after wines.
But if you were to ask most Aussies to rattle off our most successful wine regions, it’s the big names that come to mind. The reflex response? The Barossa Valley in South Australia, Margaret River in Western Australia or Yarra Valley in Victoria.
Even if we hone in just on wine regions in South Australia, the next two named would likely be McLaren Vale or Adelaide Hills.
So that’s why it’s rather surprising to learn that one of Australia’s most famous wine exports comes from a tiny South Australian town located in an area many Aussies are entirely unaware of.
The region is the Riverland on the mighty Murray River, and the town is Waikerie. According to the 2025 Wine Australia Vintage Report, the Riverland alone was responsible for producing almost 28 per cent of Australia’s wine grapes.
This unsung location is the site where grapes are grown to produce an extraordinary volume of the light, fruity and wildly popular Oxford Landing Sauvignon Blanc.
While perhaps now a household name in our own backyard, over in the UK it has, for more than 25 years, held the enviable title as the number one purchased Australian Sauvignon Blanc.
It sells in the UK for around £7.99 per bottle, or around $13 in Australian bottle shops.
The Riverland region in South Australia is one of the unsung areas for winemaking in Australia. It is also the primary home for the vineyards of Oxford Landing Wines
On-site in the Waikerie vineyard, wine grapes are grown for white varietals like sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and pinot grigio, and red varietals like shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, sangiovese and tempranillo
The rural town of Waikerie is a good few hours drive from Adelaide
But here at home, many people would simply struggle to pinpoint the Riverland region on a map.
Waikerie, affectionately nicknamed by locals as ‘The Fruit Belt’, is a rural town with a population under 7,000 that is located a couple of hours’ drive north-east of Adelaide.
There, you’ll find a town nestled amongst acres of farmland, citrus groves and vineyards. With the sun shining down on it year-round, the region is renowned for their abundant production of fresh produce – including an array of wine grape varieties.
With the adjacent Murray River as its plentiful source of irrigation, a stroll through the vineyards feels more akin to being in the Mediterranean than the middle of Australia.
Underfoot, the soil is a rich deep red colour but looks dry and sandy in texture. It seems almost impossible to believe that anything could grow in such unusual-looking dirt.
But this perfect storm of conditions makes life easy for Oxford Landing’s winemaker, Pat Connors.
‘Up here in Waikerie, we get long, warm days and beautifully cool nights, which ripen the grapes while retaining the natural acidity, giving us plenty of flavour and that bright, refreshing finish,’ Pat explains.
‘The river lets us water with real precision, and those ancient red sands give us clean, vibrant flavours every season. The combination of these elements is the key to our refreshing, easy-drinking wines.’
Oxford Landing creates a range of ‘refreshing, easy drinking’ wines that are affordably sold in major Australian bottle shops for around $13 per bottle
The majority of Oxford Landing Wines are grown in Waikerie, a place affectionately nicknamed by locals as ‘The Fruit Belt’. In the UK, Oxford Landing Sauvignon Blanc, made from Waikerie-grown grapes, has been the number one purchased Australian Sauvignon Blanc since 1990
In addition to vineyards, the area is renowned for having optimal growing conditions for citrus fruit and even nuts like pistachios and almonds. Pictured are young grape vines
Even well-known juice brand Nippy’s is headquartered in Waikerie – with a kiosk out front to buy their products straight from the source
Oxford Landing, which is one of several Hill-Smith Family Estates-owned wine brands, grows a range of grape varietals on-site in Waikerie. In addition to their popular sauvignon blanc, there’s also white grapes for chardonnay and pinot grigio, and red varietals for shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, sangiovese and tempranillo.
But this vineyard is only one part of what Pat describes as a ‘patchwork of produce’ that has proudly ‘shaped the Waikerie region for generations’.
Winemaker Pat Connors describes Oxford Landing as part of the ‘patchwork of produce’ operation that have shaped Waikerie
‘We’re one piece of a bigger story – custodians of a region built on hard work, resilience and pride. We’re one of many here, and that sense of shared purpose is a big part of what makes Waikerie special to us.’
The rural town, along with the Riverland region, is one of the country’s key growers of citrus fruits, stone fruit, rockmelon, watermelon, pumpkin and even nuts like pistachios and almonds.
Even well-known Aussie juice brand Nippies is headquartered right in the centre of town. (And yes, they have a kiosk outside the factory so you can grab a juice straight from the source!)
Waikerie sits pretty on the south bank of the Murray River – and it’s impossible to talk about without mentioning its central water feature.
The striking complexion of the river is a milky green tone, flanked by majestic river gums, grassy reed banks and towering limestone cliffs.
The best spot to take it all in is from the clifftops alongside the river – where you can also glimpse acres of farmland, vineyard and other lush growing fields rolling out beyond it, benefiting from the river as their main water source.
South Australian rural town Waikerie sits on the south bank of the Murray River
Long-time Waikerie resident and Oxford Landing Vineyard Manager Glynn Muster explains that ‘it’s a town built around the river’. It is used for irrigation but is also a popular spot for pastimes like fishing, boating and waterskiing
Illangi Gourmet Foods is a must-stop spot to taste hand-made goods made by local artisans utilising the sensational local produce
But the river isn’t just about work – it’s also about play.
Teeming with local wildlife and particularly aquatic birds, this area is a nature-spotter’s paradise.
Many of the favourite local pastimes centre around the water, from swimming to fishing, houseboating to kayaking, and hugely popular water skiing.
But just as the river is revered, it is also sombrely respected – with the devastating 1956 Murray River floods always in the mind’s eye of locals.
If it’s the beauty of the river that draws you visually to Waikerie, it’s the taste of the locally sourced and made produce that will delight the senses.
Outside of the home grown grapes that are transformed into delightfully drinkable wines and the sensational regional fresh produce, the local providore Illangi Gourmet Foods is a must-stop spot for visitors looking to sample hand-made local fare.
Some of the items crafted by local artisans include dried fruit, olive oil, olives, dukkah, relishes, sauces, jams and preserves.
There’s also small goods – including the must-try local specialty, mettwurst, which is a German cured and seasoned salami-like meat.
The Waikerie Rotary Cliff Top Walk is a must-do while in town and a great way to enjoy an expansive view of the River Murray and the meandering floodplain
In 2019, artists Garry Duncan and Jimmy Dvate painted the Waikerie Silo Art mural, which takes inspiration from local nature
All over town are elements that hint at the town’s core growing industries
Breathtaking sunsets and endless starry skies are a constant feature in Waikerie
No visit is complete without a stop to see the awe-inspiring Waikerie Silo Art mural, located right in the centre of town. Painted in 2019 by artists Garry Duncan and Jimmy Dvate, both took inspiration from the environment. One silo depicts a semi-abstract river landscape dotted with native river creatures, while the other showcases a regent parrot.
While you’re there, the scenic Waikerie Rotary Cliff Top Walk is also unmissable. The 2km stretch runs along the picturesque clifftop and offers fantastic views over the River Murray and the meandering floodplain.
If a longer pitstop in Waikerie is on the cards, pick up some exceptional local meats at Rollbusch Quality Meats, get a caffeine boost at HeBrews Coffee Co, or enjoy a leisurely sit-down meal at either Viewpoint Cafe or Oscars Bistro inside the Waikerie Hotel Motel.
And if you’re staying the night, there’s plenty of choices – from budget-friendly family options like Echo Holiday Parks right through to the adults-only luxury stay The Villas on site of the Waikerie Golf & Country Club.
Beyond Waikerie, the region has so much to offer for visitors – from exploring nature to spending time on the river, or simply embracing the simple things in life, like peaceful natural surroundings with a glass of wine in hand.
Long-time Waikerie resident and Oxford Landing’s Vineyard Manager Glynn Muster values the sense of community spirit in the town
Long-time Waikerie resident and Oxford Landing’s Vineyard Manager Glynn Muster knows the town like the back of his hand and understands its unique down-to-earth spirit.
‘It’s a town built around the river, good land and good people. There’s not a lot of fuss, just wide-open spaces, sunsets over the cliffs, a strong sense of community and a lifestyle that revolves around the Murray River,’ he says.
‘Sharing good food and Riverland produce with friends and family is part of the routine,’ he adds.
‘If you like being outdoors, being around genuine, down-to-earth people, and enjoying the simple things, Waikerie will make sense to you straight away.’
You may not have ever known the place before, but once you visit this area, it’s not easily forgotten.
Dining and Cooking