OUR PASSION

The Shortlist Wine Experience

invites guests to become part of a family where the passion for wine
is equally about the people, the process and the land.

The SHORTLIST STORY

My childhood memories of family were centered around farming.  Mostly crops and sheep, a lot of dust, plenty of laughs and many moments spent together doing what we loved in nature.

Although I never was called to be a farmer myself,  I knew I wanted to carry on my family’s legacy by combining my love for wine and the land into something I could share with others.  My upbringing also gave me great appreciation for the hard work that goes into creating something from scratch.

Having lived in wine regions since birth - Barossa, South West and Swan Valley - I began to live and breathe vineyards and not only strengthened my knowledge of the wine making process but also deepened my passion for the stories, the efforts, the hardships and the joy that comes from winemaking.

Meeting my partner, Rachel, meant a new chapter in sharing my love for learning about wine, meeting the winemakers and enjoying the natural beauty of the Swan Valley where we now live and raise our daughter, Aria.

Creating The Shortlist Wine Experience was a natural progression as we loved showcasing the Swan Valley and its world class wines to our friends and family.

Together, we knew we wanted to curate bespoke experiences where we can immerse you, in style and comfort, into our world of wine.  Let us introduce you to our shortlist of premium wineries and winemakers in the region who can’t wait to showcase their labours of love with you.

        -   Darren

Darren & Rachel The Shortlist Wine Experience

DARREN SHORT

RACHEL BLOUNT

My wine journey has been one of self discovery.  Some might say, a personal mission to literally taste every wine I came across.


Before long, tasting turned into collecting.  Learning turned into sharing and loving turned into creating our new venture.

Whether it is pairing wine with a cheese platter or enjoying a glass of wine on the couch the simple joy of wine is a part of life I treasure.

Transferring this passion to our business is exciting and we look forward to learning about what you love.

“There’s just something about wine...”

— Shorty

NOW, let’s DESIGN YOUR SHORTLIST wine EXPERIENCE

Whether you are looking to meet the locals, the winemakers, the viticulturists or simply indulge in the exploration of a unique wine journey.  Every experience is tailored to you. 

We can arrange flights of wine with paired canapés, custom tastings or prepare a picnic for you to enjoy the beautiful views of our region.

First, tell us a bit more about what you love and what you are looking for so we can get started on creating your special day in the Valley.

CLICK HERE TO TELL US MORE

Our REGION

The Swan Valley is the second oldest region and boasts some of the oldest vines in Australia.  From 1829 - 1979 it was WA’s only wine region and is still the only wine region in the world, within a 25-minute drive of a major capital city.

What the British started in 1827, the Croatians and Italians perfected.  Arriving in the Swan Valley from 1916 onwards, they were outstanding vignerons with generations of experience and typically Grenache, Shiraz, Chenin Blanc and Verdelho grapes were the main varietals grown. 

Experts in disease control, pruning and warm climate varietals, they knew how to get the best possible results from the land.  The only catch was you had to be family or friends to enjoy their wine.  Production was primarily for home consumption, with most vines growing dried fruit for export.

Few winemakers in the world have the privilege of working with such old wine parcels.  Today, the current generation of winemakers draw on the region's heritage to create modern expressions of historic varietals.

The Shortlist Wine Experience acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this region, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and their descendants.