Rent-a-Row, The Shiraz Republic

This family-run winery lets oenophiles take their wine nerdery to the next level by renting a row of grapes to produce their own small-batch vintage. The 25-acre property at Cornella was once the site of the town post office. These days it produces 60 tonnes of shiraz a year, most of which gets hand-harvested and basket-pressed by each row’s caretakers, before being fermented in demijohns (the bulbous, narrow-necked bottles you often see in wicker covers) and bottled. The Shiraz Republic (formerly Cornella Ridge Estate) started supplying grapes to budding winemakers in 2007, before opening its cellar door in 2010. It’s also just launched a craft-beer line, Cornella Real.

Explore Heathcote further in our detailed Out of Town to Heathcote guide.