Wine-Lovers Guide to Bali: 4 Fantastic Wine Experiences

Bali isn't somewhere that's traditionally known for its wine. You're more likely to find locals sipping on a Bintang than a Bordeaux. And a big reason for this is Indonesia's high alcohol import taxes.

But the growing number of international tourists and expats has led to a boom in the island’s wine industry, with several Balinese wineries now making local alternatives to imported wine. Balinese wines may not yet rival those of Europe or Australia, but they are improving enough to pleasantly surprise most people.

As big wine lovers ourselves (I also write for wine publications), we couldn't wait to learn more about Bali's up-and-coming wine industry, making our way around every winery, vineyard, and wine bar on the island. If you love wine as much as we do, below are a few of our favourite wine experiences in Bali.

Does Bali Produce Wine?

While Bali's hot tropical climate doesn't exactly scream wine-making weather, the island's growing wine industry is defying expectations, with several companies now harvesting grapes and producing some great Balinese wines.

Most of Bali's vineyards are found in the Singaraja region on the island's north coast. North Bali's rich volcanic soils are well-suited for growing certain grapes, while the coastal breeze helps balance the heat and humidity.

The vineyards grow both native and international grape varieties, including the most famous local grape, Alphonse Lavallée. These grapes are then used to produce a variety of whites, reds, roses, and even sparkling wines.

Balinese wines are known for their unique tropical character, with fruity and floral notes that reflect the local environment. The volcanic soil also adds subtle minerality and acidity, giving the wines a refreshingly light and crisp taste. In other words, perfect wines for sipping on a sunny day in Bali.

4 Top Wine Experiences in Bali

Balinese wines are available in bars and restaurants all across the island. But if you're a wine connoisseur, or simply looking for a unique activity in Bali, you can also visit several of Bali's top wineries for tours and tastings.

Sababay Winery Tour & Tasting

Sababay Winery was started in 2010 by Indonesian businesswoman, Mulyati Gozali, who wanted to ensure local Balinese farmers were paid a fair price for their grapes. Years later, Sababay has become one of the largest wine producers in Indonesia, while still maintaining its fair trade ethos.

While Sababay's vineyards are located in north Bali, their modern winery sits on the island's east coast, around a 30-minute drive north of Sanur. The large winery is open for daily guided tours and tasting experiences in its beautiful garden.

We booked the standard tour and tasting package and were lucky enough to get our own private tour of the winery.

Our knowledgeable guide told us all about the winery's history and products. She then took us to see the fermentation tanks and production equipment while talking us through the entire winemaking process.

At the end of our tour, we tried 4 generously poured glasses of Sababay wine: white, red, rosé, and sparkling. My favourite was the Ascaro Brut, a light and refreshing sparkling dry white wine.

The winery has a mini vineyard with local grapes and a beautiful garden and terrace. They offer additional experience packages where you can enjoy a wine tasting in a lovely picnic-style setting with a pairing cheese platter, or even a romantic 2-course lunch.

Wine Tasting at Hatten's Cellar Door

Founded in 1994 by Balinese-born Ida Bagus Rai Budarsa, Hatten was the island's very first winery, paving the way for Bali's growing wine industry. The company has two main brands: Hatten, which uses 100% Balinese grapes, and Two Islands, which uses South Australian grapes vinified in Bali.

Hatten's winery isn't currently open to the public. But they do have a dedicated tasting room at their company headquarters in Sanur, where you can try their range of award-winning wines.

Hatten's Cellar Door is a modern and spacious tasting room that offers three different "tasting adventures." You can opt for the Balinese wine tasting, a sweet wine tasting, or a comparative tasting.

We did the comparative wine tasting, which let us compare three Hatten wines made from Balinese grapes against 3 similar Two Island wines made from Australian grapes. We loved trying the different wines side by side, which really helped us notice the subtle differences.

We were given plenty of information about each wine, including the grapes and tasting notes, before being left to enjoy the rest by ourselves. There was no pressure to leave, so we could relax and enjoy the wines at our own pace.

At just 200,000 IDR ⓘ for 6 glasses of wine, the tasting was fantastic value for money compared to drinking the same wine at local bars. You can also add cheese pairings for an extra 80,000 IDR per person.

We turned up without a reservation and managed to do a tasting right away. However, if you're a bigger group or are limited on time, it may be best to pre-book.

Hatten Vineyard Tour

If you want to see Bali's grapevines for yourself, Hatten also offers the opportunity to visit their private vineyards. These are located halfway between the tourist towns of Lovina and Pemuteran on the island's north coast.

We paid just 100,000 IDR ⓘ for a short tour of the vineyards, followed by a tasting of 3 different Hatten wines at their small tasting room.

The best time to visit the vineyards is during harvest time, which generally happens around November, April, and August each year (although it's best to contact Hatten to confirm this).

While we enjoyed visiting the vineyards and sipping wine in the sun, the entire experience lasted under an hour, so it's not something we'd recommend travelling from south Bali for (it's a 3-4 hour drive each way). However, if you're already travelling along the north coast, it is a lovely stop.

It's best to book a visit in advance as opening times are limited and they need to ensure a guide is available. A kind member of staff ended up staying late to take us around after we requested a visit on a Saturday afternoon when the winery shuts (we didn't know!).

Cantine Balita Winery Tour & Tasting

Cantine Balita is the only Bali wine experience we're yet to try for ourselves, but we'll be making sure to change that ASAP. Incase you are interested, here's a little information...

Cantine Balita is a small boutique Balinese winery that produces Isola Wine, Italian-style wines grown and made in Bali. Isola means Island in Italian, while Balita is a combination of Bali and Italia.

Their winery and vineyards are both located in rural northern Bali (here) and offer guided tours and tastings. It's unlikely you'll just be passing by the winery, so this experience is for the dedicated wine lovers only.

Best Wine Bars in Bali

If you'd prefer to sip your wine in an elegant wine bar, there are several great spots across Bali that serve a range of premium Balinese and international wines.

Bali Wine Q&A