About Pauletts

"We drove in and suddenly this vista just blew my mind.  Immediately, I knew this was the spot for our winery.”

~ Neil Paulett

Pauletts is home to the best Riesling in the world and the most spectacular views in the Clare Valley. Our wines are a true expression of the full-bodied fruit from our vines and the unique characteristics of the Polish Hill River region.

Pauletts Wines Vineyard

Our vineyard

Family owned and operated since 1983, Neil and Alison Paulett founded the winery now helmed by son Matt and his wife Ali.

As a small-batch winery, the fruit from our vines speaks for itself. We choose quality over yield to ensure the wine we produce is a true expression of vintage, variety and the unique characteristics of our Polish Hill River site.

It’s our privilege to share our wines at the cellar door. Our award-winning winery restaurant, Bush DeVine, celebrates local produce and our very own bush food garden.

Our wines

Pauletts carries on the proud family tradition of producing regional wines that showcase the elegance and intensity of the Clare Valley wine region.

Our Rieslings are world famous for the flinty minerality so distinctive to Polish Hill. Our range of reds is true to the Clare Valley, smooth and restrained with delicate tannins. We produce a quality range of regional whites, exceptional sparkling wines and our very own Last Minute Beer.

Our wines have received many awards both at home and abroad, but nothing makes us happier than seeing a bottle of Pauletts shared over good times with family and friends. We hope every glass creates a memorable moment.

Clare Valley Paulette Wines

Pauletts’ 2005 Aged Release Polish Hill Riesling was awarded the Best Riesling in the World

Our proudest moment

Pauletts’ 2005 Aged Release Polish Hill Riesling was awarded the Best Riesling in the World against a field of 500 at the 11th Canberra International Riesling Challenge.

For Neil and Alison, it’s an accolade that means the world, an endorsement of the passion and perseverance of the Pauletts team.

So what exactly is the secret behind making the world’s best Riesling?

Well, we could tell you that the Polish Hill River region is ideally suited for Riesling. The minerality and natural acidity of the soil combined with good winter rains, hot summer days tempered by cool nights and a long ripening period consistently produce grapes of exceptional flavours and balance.

Or we could share Neil’s version, “The season was kind, the vineyard did the right thing, we got it off the vine and we didn’t stuff it up through the winery. It was just one of those marvellous times.”

Join the Club

Pauletts welcomes you to our Cellar Door Experiences through our exclusive wine club. Sample our range of fine Rieslings and regional white and red wines over the most spectacular views in the Clare Valley. Choose between a bespoke tasting of your choice or our five flight tasting matched with inspired canapes prepared in our Bush DeVine Winery Restaurant.

Become A Member

Our hospitality

At Pauletts we love to share our wine and everything that our beautiful region has to offer. We welcome everyone to our cellar door, offering a range of tasting experiences to suit every palate.

Up on the deck, overlooking the rolling hills of the Clare Valley, our restaurant Bush DeVine celebrates local produce and our very own Australian bush food garden.

It’s hard to believe that our little cellar door that was once an old-time shed has been transformed into an award-winning cellar door and restaurant.

Visit us to find out why Pauletts was awarded Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Award 2020 and Best Tourism Restaurant at the 2020 Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence.

cellar door, offering a range of tasting experiences to suit every palate
Wine Pairing

Our legacy

Picture this… it’s the early eighties, the nation is in deep recession and suffering through a relentless drought. A young winemaker and his wife pack up their family and move halfway across the country.

Their dream is to build their very own winery, a legacy for future generations. They choose the most beautiful spot in the Clare Valley, a region that is only just starting to make a name for itself in wine circles.

It’s an impossible dream come true, and it’s the story of how Neil and Alison founded Pauletts.

Fast forward to today, and that legacy is well underway, as the label that boasts the best Riesling in the world continues to flourish under the custodianship of Matt and Ali, the next in line at Pauletts.

 

Our commitment

At Pauletts, sustainability is at the heart of our winemaking. We’ve long been committed to looking after our land for the generations to come.

The 66 hectares we have under vine have not been irrigated since 1999, a choice we made to protect our precious groundwater. All our vineyards are underplanted with clover and medics, providing a natural mulch that balances the soil.

We’ve made investment into solar power and recycling water through reed beds. We put energy into looking after the land in the hope that it will produce wonderful wines for many years to come.

All our vineyards are underplanted with clover and medics, providing a natural mulch that balances the soil

A wonderful dining experience and great customer service

A wonderful 3 course lunch with beautiful wines out on the deck. The customer service was fabulous and friendly. We will be back to try more from the menu. The stand-up dish was the wagyu rump with tataki. The succulents they used in the dish were so delicious. It definitely wasn't a pretty dish once you startedwith squid ink Mayo being a little deadly if you got it on anything, my napkin looked like a war zone- BUT so tasty. Great views on a cold day.

A wonderful dining experience 👌

22 November 2022

Excellent food wines, service plus great views.

Excellent food wines and service. We had the 5 course degustation with matching wines, and let the chef choose the courses. Best decision! Some subtle dishes with delicate flavours, especially Australian bush flavours, and some unique courses that challenge and delight your preconceptions. If you are in the Clare Valley, set aside a day, arrive early and leave late after savoury the food, the view and, last but not least, the excellent service.

6 November 2022

Exceptional Lunch

This was the standout meal of our 5 day visit to the Clare Valley. My wife and I had a great lunch preceded by a wine tasting at our table which was very well done. We both ordered the large plate roasted barramundi with a side of triple cooked chips, all was delicious and washed down with a bottle of Polish Hill Riesling. Friendly efficient service and a great experience, highly recommended.

18 October 2022

Food lovers heaven

This was a highlight of our visit to Clare. The setting is superb, on the covered deck overlooking the rolling green landscape beyond. We were welcomed with warmth and attentiveness. Our baby was catered for and fussed over and never made to feel an inconvenience. The staff were so cheerful and friendly that it helped set us up for an enjoyable experience. We had the three shared plates and the non-driver had the paired wines. The glasses or wine were generous, as were to food servings. We enjoyed the beetroot and haloumi to start and then the delicious lamb dumplings and finally the barramundi. Each dish had such deliciously complementary flavours and each were mouth watering. It was a bleak rainy day but inside was all cheer and good food. A wonderful choice!

22 September 2022

Sensational food with great native ingredients

We stopped by for some lunch and we’re blown away by the wine and food. They have mastered the art of incorporating Australian native ingredients. Such a sensational mix of flavours. The staff were warm and approachable. Would love to come back.

9 September 2022

Paulett’s- highly recommended lunch

Had the most amazing wine tasting and lunch at Paulett’s today. We chose 3 plates to share- sashimi, lamb and beef served with fresh, home baked bread. The service was superb- friendly and professional. The food was unbelievable- deliciously cooked and served using interesting Australian bush flavours. And of course washed down with a glass of Paulette’s own red wine. Lovely views overlooking the valley. Congratulations to all at Paulette’s. It was a beautiful afternoon on the deck.

21 August 2022

Meals are delightful

Really enjoyed our visit, so good we went back a coup[le of months later. Staff are very good & of course the wine and food are excellent

10 August 2022

Most memorable dining establishment in Australia

This is the second time we've dined at Pauletts, and we enjoyed our lunch as much as we did the first time, a few years ago. When we were in the area last time, we tried a number of well known and highly rated restaurants, but Pauletts was imprinted in our minds as the absolute standout, and we have a couple of chefs in our group. This restaurant was a must for us to return to, and it didn't disappoint. All the staff are lovely and welcoming, the position is gorgeous, the pirice for the quality is sooooo reasonable, and the style, presentation, and taste of all the dishes served was once again exceptional. We did the $44.00 3 course feed us option, and was served the peaches (delectable), the gnocchi (a real taste of Italy), followed by the beef (cooked perfectly, with flavours to savour), and a complimentary tomato salad (absolutely awesome). The wine is so well priced at under $10 a glass, and the homemade sour dough bread was so good, that my husband asked if the chef wouldn't mind giving him a couple of spoons of his sourdough starter (as my husband forgot his starter, and we've just begun a 5 month trip around Australia), which the chef kindly did. Just another reason to put Pauletts at the top of our "must experience" dining list. Pauletts bush divine winery restaurant in Polish Hill (part of the Clare Valley) is 5 star all the way. Experience food the way it should be served, with fresh crisp flavours, quality produce, and edible natives you've never seen before ... what's not to love about this place!

March 2022

A lunch at Pauletts is surely a "must do" for a clare valley visit.

The 5 course degustation where the chef chooses the courses is a gastronomic delight with subtle flavours superbly balanced with accompanying wines, and the occasional course hich challenges your senses and preconceptions Eg whipped Gorgonzola desert. Each of 5 courses matched with wine. Is there any better way to enjoy a wine tasting and laze away an afternoon with good food, good wine, good views and good service. (Dont try this in less than 3 hours) Very attentive and thoughtful staff. Perhaps the highlight of dining around Oz, including some other highly awarded restaurants.

November 2022

Staff were impeccable

We experienced the Tasting Flight when in the Clare Valley recently. We tasted 5 glorious wines, each paired with absolutely delicious canapes. The presentation was stunning. The service and attention of staff was impeccable!

September 2022

Amazing

Amazing! Incredible location, with kind and attentive staff who were great to chat with. The canape tasting was divine, with an amazing selection of wine that I had never heard of. Highly recommend anyone to give them a visit!.

September 2022

WOW, blown away.

Wow! I was blown away by the food. Three of us had one of the solo mains each and were not disappointed. I think I won with the Beef Cheeks but that just started an argument as to who had the best meal :) The service was excellent but our mains were late, no doubt due to us deferring our mains order so we could savour the wine tasting flights and the restaurant filling rapidly. This minor problem was more that compensated for by a free Piccolo each of their excellent Sparkling Shiraz. Well done and we'll back!

September 2022

We are coming back for sure

The gorgeous staff at Paulett fit us in for a tasting at the bar and it did not disappoint. The lady who served us had us laughing,enjoying ourselves and the wines were beautiful. Will recommend Paulett to anybody who listens. We are coming back for sure!

September 2022

The best I've experienced in Australia

PAULETT wines and their tasting experience I rate as the best I've experienced in Australia. Our waitress,Jade, gave us superb service! As opposed to the standard choice of only 5 wines, we could taste ALL wines on their list. The cheese platter was hands-down the best I've ever tasted. There's also a special offer on at the moment. 12 bottles fir 90 AUD! Fabulous afternoon!

July 2022

5 stars

How can anyone give this anything but 5 stars? The food and service is flawless! Best meal and affordable. Would return for round 2.

September 2022

Probably the best wine tasting ever ...

Thoroughly agree with all the other positive reviews ... from the minute we walked in, all the staff were warm, friendly and couldn't have done more to make it a fabulous experience. What we had thought would be a quick stop turned into a three hour, thoroughly enjoyable lunch topped with stunning views. The wine flights matched with canapes are highly recommended, made all the more enjoyable by the knowledgable team who took the time to answer all our questions without ever making us feel rushed. A big thanks to all from the front of house ladies to the chefs, and everyone else who helped make this such a lovely afternoon - we'll be back!

April 2022