By Marie-Antoinette Issa.

Who better to ask where to head to discover Australia’s best lesser-known wine regions that six of the country’s top Sommeliers and grape gurus?

Here are six suggestions straight from the mouth of pouring pros you can trust to spill the beans (or wine):

Eduard Otter highlights the unique charm of the lesser-known wineries of both The Blue Mountains and Bathurst. When spotlighting the former, he points to Megalong Creek Estate in the Megalong Valley, which has "arguably the best view of any cellar door in NSW.”

With more than 23 years of family stewardship, the estate’s signature sparkling ‘Prozzante’, made from Viognier grapes, and its elegant Pinot Noir perfectly capture the cool climate terroir of the Blue Mountains. 

Eduard also champions Renzaglia Wines in the Bathurst region, where the father-and-son team of Mark and Sam craft "expressive, minimal-intervention wines” that have quietly built a devoted following.

Though their cellar door is by appointment only, their presence at local growers' markets makes them a ‘hidden gem’ for those seeking distinctive, characterful wines away from the usual crowds.

Julien Levy is a strong advocate for the Clare Valley, particularly when it comes to its under-the-radar status. "Clare Valley may fly under the radar, with only 2% of Australia's total wine production coming from the region, but it holds a special place in the hearts of sommeliers who enjoy authentic wines with structure, clarity and ageing potential.”

He notes that the wines are "shaped by cool nights, diverse soils and meticulous craftsmanship, especially from smaller, family-owned producers who focus on quality over quantity.”

While best known for Riesling - "we serve a beautiful, silky Riesling at Botellon” - Julien also champions the region’s reds and its spirit of innovation.

"You’ll find winemakers embracing alternative varieties like Tempranillo and Fiano, or trying out natural and low-intervention winemaking techniques.” For him, Clare Valley stands out as a genuine, terroir-driven region and proves that you don’t need scale or hype to make exceptional wine, just great sites, thoughtful winemaking and a commitment to authenticity.

Ivan La Mattina is a big fan of Western Australia’s Great Southern, calling it "mainland Australia’s largest wine-producing area” and noting that "despite its scale, it remains relatively low profile, offering a quieter alternative for travellers and wine enthusiasts alike.” 

He praises the region’s cool climate and diversity, saying it provides ideal conditions for growing a wide variety of grapes and is known for producing wines with clarity and complexity.

For Ivan, the wine is only part of the story, with rugged coastlines, forested headlands, farmland and ancient granite outcrops making the landscape just as captivating.

"Each producer draws from the region’s unique conditions to create wines that consistently receive strong industry recognition,” he says, pointing out that Great Southern is responsible for "a quarter of Western Australia’s wine output.”

A personal favourite? "The Frankland Estate Riesling…crisp and citrus-driven with notes of lime, green apple and a flinty minerality. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon!”

Andrew Bruce sees great promise in South Australia’s southeast, especially in Mount Gambier, which he describes as "one of Australia's most compelling cool-climate wine regions.”

He notes that the region is defined by its volcanic soils, elevated sites and maritime influence and says it excels in producing pristine expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. For Andrew, the wines from Mount Gambier have a clear identity.

"The region’s unique terroir - shaped by crater lakes and limestone-rich geology - imparts vibrant acidity and minerality, resulting in wines of clarity and finesse.” He’s particularly enthusiastic about its sparklings, describing them as "elegant, structured and pure.”

Andrew also highlights the broader Limestone Coast, which he calls "one of Australia’s most diverse and dynamic wine regions.” Encompassing subregions like Coonawarra, Wrattonbully and Padthaway, its identity, Andrew says, is rooted in ancient limestone soils that impart a distinct mineral edge and structural precision to its wines.

Sommelier Gabby Fury champions the Macedon Ranges as her favourite underrated Australian wine district, describing it as a region of great significance but hovering in the lesser-known realm.

Located less than an hour northwest of Melbourne, she highlights the area’s ancient volcanic soils and cool-climate conditions, which create wines that are stylistically light, aromatic and nuanced.

She credits producers like Alan Cooper of Cobaw Ridge and Michael Dhillon of Bindi as "leading the charge with their organic practices and principles, creating wines that truly express their time and place.”

With its high altitude and slow ripening season, Gabby notes the region’s fruit retains its acidity, while lower yields come with greater complexity and a stronger sense of terroir.

"If you like a Pinot Noir that is light, has floral aromas, dances on your palate with licks of minerality, and has length for days, then Macedon is for you!” she says. "Macedon is for you if you enjoy structured Chardonnays, with vibrant acidity and salinity. While the region has something for everyone, a curious drinker who wants to be transported to the vineyard, a snapshot of a time and a place needs to come to the Macedon Ranges.

With decades of experience across Australia and Asia, Anthony McConnel says, "Tasmania has undergone an extraordinary evolution over the past two decades.” Known for its cool-climate finesse and vibrant food culture, he finds himself drawn to the lighter-framed, aromatic whites and Pinot Noirs from the Apple Isle and describes the structure and style of Tasmanian Chardonnays and Pinots as utterly enthralling.

Anthony believes that even the Rieslings are showing "incredible finesse,” while the sparkling wines, or "fizz,” are "truly world-class.”

A favourite subregion of his is the Coal River Valley near Hobart. Anthony notes: "A number of exceptional producers have now made their home there and the calibre of wines emerging from the region speaks for itself.”