Our Story
Vines & Plates was started with a simple frustration: Australian wine regions are extraordinary, and the gap between "knowing about them" and "actually knowing what tour to book" was too large. There was no independent, honest resource that helped travellers figure out which wine tour was right for them.
We built Vines & Plates to fill that gap — an independent voice that tests and reviews wine tour products, presents them honestly, and helps you find the right experience for your trip.
What We Test
We evaluate wine tour products using verified Viator reviews (the most transparent and comprehensive data available), operator reputation research, and direct comparison of inclusions and itinerary quality. We do not accept payment from tour operators for placement. We do not fabricate tour listings or inflate ratings.
For each tour type in each region, we verify: that the tour exists on Viator with current availability, that the pricing and inclusions are clearly stated, and that the operator has a verifiable track record of positive traveller feedback.
How We Score
We score tours on five dimensions: value for money, guide quality, food and wine quality, group size (relative to what was promised), and booking ease. We do not publish a composite score — we label tours by who they're best for (couples, foodies, groups, budget) so you can make your own assessment.
Commercial Relationships
Vines & Plates earns a commission through the Viator affiliate program. This means when you book a tour through our links, Viator pays us a percentage of the booking value. This does not affect our editorial decisions in any way. We do not accept payment from operators for placement, and we do not change our recommendations based on commercial relationships.
We clearly disclose our affiliate relationship on every commercial page and in the footer of the site. OurViator affiliate partnership ID is P00299531.
Editorial Independence
We don't accept payment for placement. Our tour selections are based purely on editorial merit — product quality, coverage of tour types, and relevance to travellers. If a tour type in a region has no good options on Viator, we say so and defer building a page until it does.
Contact
Questions, corrections, or feedback? We're at hello@vinesandplates.com.au