What Wines and Meads Does Maxwell Wines Produce?

Updated

Maxwell Wines produces estate-grown wines from its limestone ridge in McLaren Vale — including Shiraz, Grenache, Nero D'Avola and Grenache Blanc — alongside a range of honey meads it describes as "Australia's favourite honey wine." You can buy both through the estate's online shop, and Wine Club members get discounted pricing (the Honey Mead 750ml is listed at $28, or $22.40 for Club members).

The Wine Range

Maxwell's wines are made to express the limestone character of its estate. The McLaren Vale favourites are the core:

  • Shiraz — described as bold, and the estate's flagship red
  • Grenache — a McLaren Vale staple alongside Shiraz
  • Nero D'Avola — an Italian variety grown on the estate
  • Grenache Blanc — a vibrant white
  • Other wines — the estate notes "and more" beyond these named varieties

The estate frames its winemaking around sustainability and meticulous craft, so if you're buying to explore McLaren Vale's limestone-driven reds, the Shiraz and Grenache are the most direct expressions of that terroir.

The Mead Range

Mead is where Maxwell stands apart from most wineries. The estate calls it "an ancient craft, honed by Maxwell to become Australia's favourite honey wine," and positions it as "a mead for all occasions."

  • Honey Mead 750ml — the original mead, described as floral and deliciously sweet, and "Australia's favourite since 1966"
  • Price — $28 standard, $22.40 for Wine Club members

If you're new to mead, the 750ml Honey Mead is the entry point the estate itself highlights.

Buying and Tasting

Option What it involves
Online shop Order wine and mead directly from the estate
Wine Club Member pricing on products (e.g., $22.40 vs $28 on Honey Mead)
Mead tasting A dedicated tasting flight of Australia's leading meads
Wine tasting Choose your wine flight, with optional snacks

Is It Worth Buying?

It depends on what you want:

  • Choose Maxwell for mead if you want a sweet honey wine with a long track record — the 1966 heritage and "Australia's favourite" positioning are the estate's own claims, but the product line is clearly its signature.
  • Choose Maxwell for wine if you're interested in McLaren Vale limestone terroir and want to try varieties beyond the usual — Nero D'Avola and Grenache Blanc sit alongside the classic Shiraz and Grenache.
  • Join the Wine Club if you plan to buy repeatedly — the discount is visible on the mead listing, though the site doesn't publish full club terms, so check those before committing.

Prices and product availability are as listed on the estate's site; confirm current details at checkout.