After winemaking for Hardys' short lived Canberra operations, Alex McKay stayed on in the region and established Collector Wines in 2005. The cellar door is in the heart of the Collector township, just outside Canberra.

Alex is the ultimate collector, sourcing grapes from the winery's cool climate vineyards dotted around the Canberra region including Murrumbateman, Hall and Tumbarumba. Collector manage their vineyards using practices that build the soil's carbon, water holding capacity and biodiversity. The fruit is carefully selected to make wines expressive of their site and varietal. In the winery the focus is on traditional winemaking, with parcels from each site given tailored vinification.

Collector Wines' Reserve Shiraz is made only in select vintages, from the best barrels. Other notables include the Tiger Tiger Chardonnay, Lamp Lit Marsanne and Rose Red City Sangiovese.