The Crafers Hotel

The Crafers Hotel used to be the Crafers Inn, an old pub in a very small country town, serving burgers, schnitzels and fries. The draft beers poured were monopolized by big beer companies, and that seemed to be enough to please the locals for decades, until it was bought from the previous owners in 2015, and totally revamped into a luxury hotel offering, arguably, the most diverse wine list in Australia.

The locals soon realised they were in for a treat. The owners love French food and wine and always dreamt of opening up a lively pub where people could comfortably drink a Pétrus whilst enjoying a burger. They also have luxury accommodation upstairs led by a 1920’s inspired staircase lit by the moody light of a chandelier. Before stepping up to any of the six suites available, you will want to pick your wine from the magnificent wine room. There are more than 2,000 different labels to choose from and I probably should advise​ you go in with a glass of wine and take your time. It’s a great experience and you will want to dwell in that room for a while.

The core of the list has been curated from the owner’s private collection. They have bought wines from all their travels and own a few wineries in Australia, Savoie, Burgundy and Languedoc. They also have an imports company which brings in wines like Domaine Prieure Roch. They have an incredible selection of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Northern Rhone. Their first head sommelier has helped with curating the remaining list adding depth to an already impressive collection with an insert of natural wines, grower champagne, wines of the Loire and Jura as well as an extensive German, Austrian and Italian section.