Wine regions on the South Coast - Shoalhaven Coast

Fast facts

• Best known for chambourcin and chardonnay.
• Located on the NSW coast south of Wollongong.
• Nowra is 159 km (2.5 hours’ drive) south of Sydney.

Why go there

The Shoalhaven is an emerging wine region on the South Coast that covers Gerringong, Gerroa, Berry, Nowra, Jervis Bay, Ulladulla and Durras Lake. Its vineyards extend from the rolling hills of the hinterland to the coastal plains. Once known largely for its magnificent beaches, it was proclaimed Australia’s 95th wine region in 2002.

Alexander Berry, for whom the town of Berry is named, planted the first vines at Coolangatta Estate on the slopes of Mount Coolangatta, in the 1820s. The Estate, now fully restored, is producing medal-winning wines.

The modern wine industry was established during the 1980s with Crooked River Winery and Roselea Vineyard at Gerringong, Jasper Valley Wines south of Berry, Cambewarra Estate at the base of Mount Cambewarra and Bundewallah Estate in the Bundewallah Valley. Lyrebird Ridge in Budgong is the first organic wine producer, bringing the total to more than 21 vineyards and wineries. There are seven producing wineries and four new ones in development.

The region’s climate is maritime, characterised by high summer rainfall, high humidity and cool sea breezes.

Don’t miss

• The best varieties - chambourcin, verdelho, chardonnay, shiraz/cabernet and semillon.
• 14 cellar doors in the region.
• Regional foods such as fish, oysters, shellfish, cheeses, vegetables, fruit, tomatoes, beer (Nowra), beef, dairy, berries and stone fruit.
• Local attractions - Booderee (Jervis Bay) National Park, Minnamurra Rainforest Walk and Falls, Kiama Blow Hole, Morton National Park, Jervis Bay Marine Park.

Food and wine events

• South Coast Wine Show, January
• Shoalhaven Coast Wine Festival, June
• Kiama Wine Show, September