Thyme to Taste Emporium has become a destination for foodies, who come for the wine and linger over the goodies in the deli fridge. Photo: Lee-Ann.
Lee-Ann Sutton and Andrew Dodds taste every wine, independent beer, craft cider, cheese, smoked or cured meat and condiment that goes on the shelves of their store, Thyme to Taste Emporium.
Someone’s got to do it, after all.
With two stores located in the heart of Yass and Murrumbateman, Thyme to Taste Emporium has become a destination for wine lovers and foodies looking to discover the region’s best-kept secrets.
Since opening in 2020, Lee-Ann and Andrew have been curating a space where locals and visitors alike can taste, explore and enjoy the finest wines, beers, and gourmet treats the region has to offer.
“Andrew and I have always loved good wine and food,” Lee-Ann says. “The Emporium allows us to share that.”
Championing local producers has been the vision from the very beginning. After running a successful café in Yass, Lee-Ann and Andrew branched into the emporiums, offering a wide selection that saves people from driving around the whole district to access the gamut of its local boutique wines.
The Murrumbateman store leans into a unique purpose: to act as a cellar door for smaller wineries that don’t have their own tasting rooms.
Right now, Thyme to Taste Emporium in Murrumbateman supports three wineries whose wines can’t be tasted anywhere else. Among them is Ravensworth Wines, crafted by acclaimed local winemaker Bryan Martin.
“His wines are popular across the country, but he doesn’t have a cellar door,” Lee-Ann says. “When people ask him about tastings, he refers them to us.”
Alongside Ravensworth are Gounyan Wines and Vivian Lanes, both grown and crafted locally by Collector winemaker Alex McKay.
“They grow all their own grapes right here in Murrumbateman,” Lee-Ann says.
An impressive selection of boutique wines, craft beers and small batch spirits, bourbon and whiskies has made Thyme to Taste Emporium a go-to for the perfect tipple. Photo: Lee Ann.
The tastings themselves are designed to be approachable, informal and, above all, fun.
“I might go down the wine flight path one day, but for now, our wine tastings suit the Emporium — relaxed and casual, with a real focus on discovery,” Lee-Ann says.
“People walk in and are always invited to partake. Sometimes they’re wine aficionados; other times, they don’t know the first thing about wine. Either way, I love seeing their delight when they stumble on something that surprises and delights them.”
That spirit of discovery extends beyond wine. The Emporium also stocks an impressive selection of craft beers, with a particular emphasis on stouts and premium dark beers, as well as small batch spirits, bourbon and whiskies.
Gift packs, beer bundles and ever-changing seasonal stock keep locals coming back for more.
Lee-Ann’s passion is backed by training. After completing an introduction to winemaking course at CIT in 2010, she went on to earn a Level 2 WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) qualification.
“It was great to get an understanding of terroir and why wines taste the way they do,” she says.
“That said, I prefer to drink it rather than make it.”
With a bumper 2025 vintage now coming through, Lee-Ann says it’s the perfect time to explore Canberra District wines.
“We have phenomenal fruit and passionate makers. You come into Thyme to Taste Emporium and you’re guaranteed a good bottle.”
For more information, visit Thyme to Taste Emporium in Yass or Murrumbateman.
