A tasting experience like no other
Discover fine wines made from Australian honey, not grapes.
Slideshow
NEXT CELLAR DOOR: Saturday 31 October.
Louis is currently at his family vineyard in Bordeaux.
Award-winning wines. Michelin-inspired pairings. A different kind of discovery.
Looking for a unique Byron Bay winery experience? Join us at historic Newrybar Hall, in the heart of the Byron Bay hinterland, for a guided tasting of AURUM's award-winning fine wines, made from Australian honey rather than grapes.
Discover our distinctive wines, thoughtfully paired with freshly prepared canapés created by our in-house French chef, Anthony Hamon, recognised as a Rising Star Chef of France and experienced in Michelin-starred kitchens.
Meet our founder and winemaker, Louis Costa, and explore the unexpected flavours, complexity and character of wines made from honey. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the historic hall or settle in on the sunny deck overlooking the charming village of Newrybar.
Our cellar door has earned a five-star rating on Google, reflecting the care and attention we bring to every tasting.
Visit us Saturdays, 10am–4pm.
We recommend booking in advance to secure your wine and canapé tasting experience. Our gluten-free canapés are freshly prepared, so pre-booking is essential to guarantee the full pairing experience.
A limited number of walk-in wine tastings are available on the day, subject to availability. The last seating for the full tasting experience is at 3pm.
We welcome individuals, couples and groups of up to 30 guests.
Frequently asked questions
Are your wines sweet?
Not at all. Aurum wines are a world's-first - premium fine wines made from honey, but fermented all the way to dryness. In fact, some of the world's best sommeliers have been fooled during blind tastings, mistaking Aurum for high-end wine or brut champagne.
This is not traditional mead – it's something entirely new - a new category we like to call ‘Aurum’.
Is it possible to do just a wine tasting, without the canapés?
Yes of course - the matching canapés have been curated by our Michelin-star chef (voted best Young Chef of France) and they enhance and complement the tasting experience, however patrons have the choice to simply enjoy the wine tastings alone.
How long does the Aurum tasting experience last?
For a simple wine tasting, it could be as quick as 5-30 minutes.
If you would like to sit and enjoy a full tasting experience, including Q&A with the winemaker and matching canapés, please allow at least 1-2hrs to fully appreciate the experience.
Guests are welcome to stay and savour wines by the glass following their tasting, and even order another round of canapés.
We do not place any time or pressure on our guests - you are welcome to stay as little or as long as you like.
We have many return clients who come back for the wines and canapés each week!
Do you sell bottles of your wine and premium Manuka honeys to purchase at the cellar door?
Yes we do - in fact, local visitors to our cellar door can enjoy cellar door-only special pricing, bundles, gifts and offers - so it is worth a visit to try the Aurum range in person.
Is there a charge for the wine tastings and canapés?
Wine tastings start from $5 for up to 2 wines, and $15 for the whole range of 6+ wines, however this fee is waived (FREE) with purchase of ANY bottle of wine or jar of Manuka honey. The matching plate of six canapés is only $35, and is optional. It is perfect as a starter or even as a light lunch. Guests are welcome to purchase additional plates of canapés, subject to availability.
Can you cater for gluten free or other dietary requirements?
All canapés are gluten free (GF) however they may contain fish, meat, dairy, eggs and nuts. Canapés change weekly, and are made fresh on the day, but unfortunately we are unable to modify them substantially. Our wines contain honey and some also contain organic red berries and native botanicals.
If unsure, please ask our staff. If you have special dietary needs, please contact us at info@aurum.vin at least 3 days prior to your booking, and we will do our very best to accommodate.
What honey wines / sparklings do you have in your range that we can try?
Depending on batch release and vintage, we usually have our two signature sparkling bubbles - a brut sparkling white, and a sparkling rosé, four still wines (white, rosé, red and usually one pyment or hybrid experimental small-batch release) and one dessert wine or our new Manuka Spritz (non-alcoholic sparkling rosé) for visitors to try.
Our $5 tasting allows for two selections, and our $15 wine tasting allows you to try the whole range.
Both wine tasting options are free/refunded with the purchase of any bottle of wine, or jar of our medicinal Manuka honey.
Are all your wines alcoholic? If so, what percentage?
We have both alcoholic still and sparkling honey wines and zero alcohol (0-<0.5%) non-alcoholic drinks available to try and buy. We are also bringing out a low-alcohol range very soon!
Our alcoholic wines are only suitable for 18+, and they range primarily between 10.5%-11% alc./vol - ie. slightly lower than traditional wines and champagnes for a lighter feel - more aligned with that of a prosecco.
Our ruby red is the highest at 12.5% alc/vol.
We occasionally have a dessert wine or fortified which would be higher - currently sold out and subject to availability.
Is the venue kid-friendly? Can I bring my children?
Yes of course, children are allowed if supervised by a responsible adult.
Visitors are encouraged to BYO child-friendly food, drinks and activities for their children, as the experience is designed to cater for adults (think wines & canapes - we do not have other food options unfortunately).
If children are accompanied by an adult they are welcome to sit at the table, but must not consume any wines - however we always have drinking water available.
Please bring some colouring, books or activities for children to keep them occupied to ensure you can relax and enjoy the whole experience!
There are some areas for kids to run around just outside the hall, but we ask that children are supervised closely at all times, especially small children.
Is it true that Aurum does not give you any headaches or hangovers?
In the hundreds of testimonials and customer feedback we have received (including extensive in-house testing!) we have never had anyone report a hangover or headache after consuming (only) Aurum.
We believe this is due to the precise, natural fermentation processes we use, as well as our wines being made from superfood Manuka honey, native botanicals and pure hydrating spring water. We are currently working with FABA and University of Queensland and third-party researchers to investigate why Aurum does not give consumers a hangover the way traditional wine can, and we are excited to see the results.
That said - our company motto is: Drink Less - Drink Better - Drink AURUM. We do not encourage excessive drinking whatsoever. Our wines were designed to be enjoyed in moderation with fine food to enhance the overall dining experience.
We stand by the purity and finesse of our winemaking processes and the provenance of our clean ingredients to ensure we are producing only the cleanest, most sustainable and ethical beverages possible.
Can I book Aurum for a private function?
Yes you can, please email us at info@aurum.vin or call 0468 317 618 to discuss your event requirements.
We also offer a sommelier service and wine matching and procurement for events and dinners.
We have worked with many corporate groups, weddings and event planners to design unforgettable wine & dining experiences.
What awards have you won?
Aurum was recently awarded several gold medals, and was twice awarded 'Best in Show - Champion Mead' at the Australian Nationals (both times we entered!)
Aurum was named one of the 'Top 20 Drinks of the Year' in the Australian Financial Review by wine critic Max Allen - a prestigious award bestowed upon Aurum, and the first time a honey wine or mead has ever made it into the Top 20.
Given we are a new category of beverage, we do not sit cleanly alongside wine nor mead - so the potential for awards is quite limited.
However our customers can vouch for the elegance and precision with which our wines are made - come to our cellar door and try them for yourself!
Is Aurum local to Byron Bay / Newrybar?
Aurum was born in Byron Bay, and our head winemaker works with seven different local beekeepers from the Northern Rivers who specialise in rare, exquisite local honeys.
Aurum prides itself on being the only true 'wine of terroir' from the Northern Rivers.
Is there wheelchair access at your cellar door?
Our cellar door shopfront is located just outside Newrybar Hall (under cover) with tables and seating on the beautiful covered deck / verandah.
The cellar door and shopfront itself is wheelchair-accessible, and there is a ramp to get up to the verandah / seated area. For more detailed information, please contact us at info@aurum.vin.
Is your cellar door dog-friendly?
Yes - we love dogs, and your furry friends are most welcome in the outdoor and deck areas, so long as they are well-behaved and on a leash at all times.