Dawning Day Farms is a micro-vineyard in Exeter, in the Southern Highlands. Michael and Katrina Archer branched out into winemaking for themselves with the 2020 vintage, only to have the weather gods humble them later that year, when smoke from the Black Summer bushfires swept through the region.
What did they do with that unwelcome gift, you ask? Well, they turned those grapes into gin — a very clear middle finger to the circumstances, and proof that the Archers were built of tougher stuff. Thankfully the following year proved to be more favourable for grapes turning into wine.
Their vineyards are planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay, with further fruit sourced from local New South Wales regions including Tumbarumba, Gundagai and Orange.
There is an honesty to what the Archers do: working within their means, on something they both love, and producing wines with plenty of heart and grit.
2021 Dawning Day Estate Vintage Sparkling
92 points | $65
Fruit is all estate grown from pinot noir and chardonnay in the Southern Highlands. Traditional method with 42 months maturation on lees. Pomelo and crab apples, white florals and fresh linen. Lime sherbet and vanilla cream. Autolytic notes centre more in cashew and whey rather than brioche and toasty notes, and the overall package is nicely balanced between citrus and stone fruit and lingering waves of acidity. Fruit is tingling and alive and the wine has a good 5-6 years ahead of it. Try this with marinated goats cheese on a sesame bagel.
2024 Dawning Day The Fabio Chardonnay
92 points | $55
Fruit is from Tumbarumba and is hand picked and wild fermented in barrel, full malolactic fermentation and matured in new French oak. Only 50 cases were made. Buttercups, sunflowers and golden apples. Some peach fuzz and warmed butter. Vanilla icing and hints at mango. There is generosity here and the shapely weight of seductive chardonnay, some fancy new oak invokes the barrel room and the cool climate of Tumbarumba ensures the palate is stretched taut and long. Chardonnay lovers will be chuffed indeed. Drink now or hold for another 3-5 cellar years.
2025 Dawning Day Kong Foo Sing Riesling Gewürztraminer
92 points | $39
Two thirds riesling and one third gewürztraminer fermented in stainless steel and matured for a further 6 months in the tank. Fruit is from Orange and Tumbarumba. Logans, lychee and kumquat skin, green apple and lemon verbena, this is aromatic as all get up and maintains a bracingly fresh and linear palate, riesling forging the way with its slinky acidity and gewürtz showing little pockets of Haribo gel gums of sweetness throughout. A wine that is a shoe in with east Asian food but would look pretty comfortable with a pork knuckle and cabbage too. Lots of play with at a dining table.
2025 Dawning Day Skin Shady Fiano Gewürztraminer, Gris and Chardonnay
95 points | $35
Fruit is gathered from Gundagai, Tumbarumba and the Southern Highlands. Skin fermented blend of Fiano, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. Wild yeast and open fermentation and matured in seasoned French oak for 6 months. A delightful citrine hue in the glass, it opens with tangerine and Angostura bitters, kombucha scoby and baked apricots. Droid pineapple and chamomile. All of the intoxicating aromatics are matched by the textural sensations and further detail that lies within the palate, flavours of rooibos, marzipan and peach tea. There is a filigree of fine tannins and harmonious acidity, this is stitched to perfection and a wondrous example of clean, precise orange wine. It might be better to list what NOT to serve with this wine, which isn’t much. For my personal preference go with cheese twisties dunked in French onion dip. Drink now and often.
2024 Dawning Day Estate Pinot Noir
92 points | $60
Handpicked fruit from the Dawning Day vineyard and Exeter in Southern Highlands. Handpicked and wild open ferment mature on fine lees for 15 months. A wine bringing together earthy red berries and terra cotta clay. Hawthorn, redcurrant and pomegranate, brick and tobacco leaf. Oak spice is powdered and soft, cumin and cinnamon and a touch if white pepper. The palate is lifted with tart blood orange citrus and juicy plum. This is effortless and a prime example of letting the region and growing condition dictate the style of wine. Tannins are fine and sandy. Fresh, moreish and lithe. A wine for drinking on its own, chilled if you will and serve alongside jamon or draped prosciutto. Drink now or within 3-4 years.
2025 Dawning Day Garage Grenache
92 points | $35
Predominantly made from Grenache 63% and Nero d’Avola 37% sourced from Gundagai. This has some enticing raspberries and Rosella flowers, a touch of rosehip too. Ironstone and leaf litter. Focusing on fragrance and freshness this captures the lifted and vibrant notes of both varieties, some creamy mid palate mocha notes and a pop of cranberry sauce. So easy to love and a wine for enjoying any day of the week, try this with Kilpatrick oysters for some nostalgia and tasting the possibilities of lively medium bodied red wines.
