Full-Day Canberra Brewery, Wineries & Distillery tour /w lunch

Canberra’s best feature for drink lovers is variety, and this full-day outing packs it in: two wineries, a third wine stop with lunch, a distillery, and a brewery. You move from cool-climate wine to gin, vodka, and local beer without arranging a car or choosing a sober driver.

I like the included tastings and the simple transport from central Canberra. I also like the friendly, flexible feel created by guide Bishoy, who has adjusted venues and timing for groups in the past. The main caution is the pace: lunch can arrive late, and the day may feel shorter than advertised if transfers or venue schedules change.

Key points to know before booking

• Five drinks-focused stops: Jeir Creek Wines, Eden Road Wines, Four Winds Vineyard, Ambrosia Distillery, and BentSpoke Brewing Co.
• Lunch is included: Four Winds serves pizza with wine tastings, though you may want a snack for the bus.
• Bishoy leads the day: Past outings have included clear pickup help, drinks on the bus, scenic photo stops, and flexible venue choices.
• Central pickup: Meet at Jolimont Tourist Centre outside the Novotel at about 9:20am, with another pickup at Abode Murrumbateman at 9:55am.
• Small to medium group format: The maximum is 24 people, and some departures have been much smaller.
• Best for mature drinkers: The minimum age is 24, and the $185.77 price includes tastings, food, transport, and refreshments.

Five stops, one long day in Canberra wine country

This is not a single-cellar wine tour. It is a broad tasting day that samples the Canberra region’s wine, beer, and spirits in one run. You spend about 6 hours and 45 minutes at venues, with the rest of the 9 to 10-hour day used for pickup, driving, and the return to Canberra.

That variety is the tour’s main appeal. I would choose it if you want an introduction to the area without committing to only wine or only beer. You get a taste of several local producers, plus enough time at each stop to browse, sample, and enjoy the setting.

The tradeoff is that this is a busy schedule. You are not spending half a day at one winery. Each stop lasts roughly an hour to an hour and a half, so the experience is better for curious tasters than for anyone wanting a slow, detailed wine-country visit.

Jeir Creek Wines begins the tasting

The first listed stop is Jeir Creek Wines, with about 1 hour and 10 minutes set aside. The winery has worked on a new label design featuring the royal bluebell, now shown in gold, as a link between the property’s past and its future.

For you, the value here is a gentle start. The opening winery gives the group time to settle in, learn the basic rhythm of tastings, and get used to the Canberra wine region before the day gathers speed. I would expect a selection of local wines and an introduction to the producer’s style, though the exact tasting lineup can change.

This is also one of the smaller wineries on the route, which may appeal if you prefer local character to a highly polished cellar-door visit. Keep your expectations sensible: 70 minutes is enough for a tasting and a look around, not an extended vineyard tour or a full winemaking lesson.

Eden Road brings a more established wine stop

Eden Road Wines follows for another 1 hour and 10 minutes. It was named a five-star winery in the 2021 James Halliday Wine Companion, and one listed tasting wine is the 2018 The Long Road Syrah, rated at 95 points.

Those details matter if wine quality is your main reason for booking. Eden Road gives the itinerary a more established wine focus after the smaller opening stop. You can compare the character of the two producers rather than tasting a string of similar wines.

I would pay attention to how the wines differ across the morning. Canberra’s cool-climate setting is particularly associated with varieties such as shiraz and riesling, but the supplied tasting details only confirm the Syrah example, so you should not expect a fixed list of bottles. The tour includes tasting fees, which makes it easier to sample without adding a charge at every venue.

Four Winds is the lunch anchor

Four Winds Vineyard is scheduled for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, making it the longest venue stop. This is where you have pizza lunch paired with wine tastings. Card games may also be available, giving the group a relaxed break from formal tasting.

I like this part of the plan because food matters on a day built around alcohol. Pizza and shared cheese platters give you something substantial, rather than leaving you to manage wine and spirits on an empty stomach. The meal also turns the middle of the day into a social pause.

There is one practical issue: lunch has arrived late on some outings. I would eat breakfast and carry one of the supplied snacks, or bring a small extra snack of your own. Do not assume you will be sitting down to lunch immediately after the second winery.

The Four Winds story began with a miner and his wife living on the property in a slab hut. That small detail adds a sense of place without turning the stop into a formal history lesson. You can taste wine, eat pizza, and enjoy the property at a calmer pace before heading to the spirits portion of the day.

Ambrosia Distillery changes the pace

Ambrosia Distillery allows about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The tasting includes around five gins and one vodka, making this the broadest single spirits tasting on the route.

For many people, this will be the most distinctive stop. Wine tastings can begin to blur together after several venues, while a gin and vodka tasting gives you a clear change in flavor and production style. I would save questions for this stop if you are interested in purification, botanical flavor, or how a small distillery develops a range of spirits.

Ambrosia was created around producing high-quality spirits at a reasonable price. The visit is therefore useful for anyone who wants to compare craft spirits without booking a separate distillery tour.

Remember that the day already includes wine and beer. Five gins and a vodka is a serious tasting session, even when pours are modest. Use the water, snacks, lunch, and soft drinks provided, and take your time.

BentSpoke Brewing finishes with local beer

The final listed venue is BentSpoke Brewing Co., with about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Here you sample several beers, including Crankshaft, which has taken the top spot in the GABS Hottest 100 twice.

This is a strong finish for a group with mixed tastes. Anyone less interested in wine still has a reason to look forward to the last stop, while dedicated beer drinkers can compare several flagship brews. The brewery also gives the day a Canberra city connection after the rural winery visits.

The brewery stop has not been equally smooth on every departure. One account described the brewery portion as disorganized, while other outings included beer with lunch and a positive overall experience. I would treat this as a flexible tasting visit rather than a tightly scripted brewery tour.

You may also buy refrigerated drinks from the esky during the day. Bottled water, soft drinks, and snacks are included, and phone chargers are available in the vehicle. Those small provisions matter on a long outing with several alcohol stops.

What Bishoy’s guiding style adds

The tour is operated by Merry Heart CBR, and Bishoy is the guide name connected with the experience. The practical strength here is personal coordination. Pickup instructions are clear, and past departures have included explanations on the bus, drinks available during the drive, and help arranging a good day for groups.

The tone can vary with the group and the schedule. Some outings have been very small, including one with only four people plus three sisters from New Zealand. Other departures can reach the 24-person maximum. A small group gives you more room to talk with the guide and fellow drinkers, while a full vehicle will feel more social and less personal.

I also like the option for scenic photo shoots. The tour includes stops at scenery locations, though no fixed photo locations are promised. Bring a phone or camera and use the charged time in the vehicle to keep your battery ready.

The guide has also adjusted venues when a group was ahead of schedule and suggested another winery. That flexibility is useful, but it means the exact day can depend on opening hours, timing, and local conditions. You should see the advertised route as the planned framework, not a guarantee that every minute will run to the same clock.

Transport, timing, and comfort

The day begins at Jolimont Tourist Centre, at 65/67 Northbourne Avenue, outside the Novotel. The listed start time is 9:20am, with pickup at Abode Murrumbateman at 9:55am. The tour returns to the same meeting point.

You ride in an air-conditioned vehicle, with a maximum group size of 24. That is important in Canberra, where winery stops are spread out and a self-drive day would require a designated driver. The vehicle also has phone chargers, bottled water, soft drinks, snacks, and an esky for cold drinks.

Allow the full day. The venue schedule adds up to about 6 hours and 45 minutes, but that excludes the drive from pickup, travel between stops, and the return journey. The advertised duration is approximately 9 to 10 hours, although one account described an outing of barely seven hours. If you need a precise finish time, ask before booking.

The tour can cater to large groups, but its 24-person limit keeps it from becoming a large coach excursion. Service animals are allowed, the meeting point is near public transport, and most people can participate. The minimum age is 24, so this is not an option for younger adult groups under that limit.

Is $185.77 good value?

At $185.77 per person, the price is not simply paying for transport. It includes wine, beer, and spirit tastings at five venues, lunch, shared cheese platters, snacks, bottled water, soft drinks, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a local guide.

I consider that a fair package if you plan to taste at all five stops. Buying several tastings independently, arranging transport, and paying for lunch would quickly add up. The real value is also the freedom to sample without driving afterward.

The price is less attractive if you mainly want a slow wine day. You are paying for breadth, not depth. Someone who wants long cellar-door conversations, vineyard walks, or a single premium winery meal may prefer a more focused tour.

Booking demand is fairly early, with the experience averaging 61 days in advance. That does not guarantee every date sells out, but I would not leave a popular weekend until the last minute. If your preferred date is unavailable, contact the operator rather than assuming no alternatives exist.

Food, drinks, and useful preparation

Eat breakfast before pickup. The tour includes lunch and snacks, but lunch may come later than you expect. The cheese platters, pizza, water, and soft drinks are helpful, yet they do not replace a morning meal.

Pace yourself at the tastings. You will be offered wine at three winery stops, around five gins and a vodka at Ambrosia, and several beers at BentSpoke. You do not need to treat every sample as a full drink, and water is available throughout the day.

Wear comfortable clothing for a long day in and out of the vehicle. The details do not specify a dress code or particular outdoor activity, so practical casual clothing is the safest choice. Keep your phone charged for the included scenic photo stops, though the vehicle has phone chargers.

This outing suits people who enjoy trying different styles and talking with a group. It is less suitable for anyone who dislikes alcohol tastings, needs a tightly timed schedule, or wants a quiet private tour.

Who should book this Canberra day out?

I would recommend it to couples, friends, work groups, and mature drinkers who want a broad introduction to Canberra’s drinks scene. The mix of small wineries, an established producer, a distillery, and a popular brewery keeps the day varied.

It is also a good choice if nobody in your group wants to drive. The included vehicle, guide, tastings, and lunch remove much of the planning that makes a wine-country day awkward.

I would hesitate if your priority is a slow, premium wine experience. The schedule is full, lunch timing can be imperfect, and the brewery visit may feel less organized than the winery and distillery stops. A private tour would offer more control, but it would also cost more.

Should you book the Merry Heart CBR tour?

Book it if you want maximum variety in one day and value safe transport, included tastings, and food. The strongest parts are the five-stop format, the Ambrosia gin tasting, the Four Winds pizza lunch, and Bishoy’s hands-on approach to pickup and group arrangements.

Think twice if you need exact timing or want every venue to receive equal attention. Carry a snack, start with breakfast, and allow the entire day. With those expectations, the $185.77 price offers a practical way to sample Canberra wine, spirits, and beer without arranging the route yourself.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Jolimont Tourist Centre, 65/67 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra, outside the Novotel Hotel.

What time does pickup begin?

The listed start time is 9:20am. A second pickup is available at Abode Murrumbateman at about 9:55am.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the Jolimont Tourist Centre meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is approximately 9 to 10 hours. Venue time totals about 6 hours and 45 minutes, not including driving between stops or the return to Canberra.

What venues are included?

The planned stops are Jeir Creek Wines, Eden Road Wines, Four Winds Vineyard, Ambrosia Distillery, and BentSpoke Brewing Co.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served at Four Winds Vineyard and consists of pizza paired with wine tastings. Shared cheese platters, snacks, bottled water, and soft drinks are also included.

What alcohol tastings are included?

The package includes wine, beer, and spirit tastings. Ambrosia Distillery offers around five gins and one vodka, while BentSpoke provides several beer samples.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund.