The ultimate guide to NSW’s wine regions: where to sip, savour and explore
Yarran Wines, Yenda
New South Wales is home to many cool- and warm-climate wine regions beyond Australia’s oldest (the Hunter Valley). From the rolling countryside of the Hilltops to the South Coast, here’s a look at the best.
- 7 min read
Hunter Valley
Why visit: A bucolic pocket home to more than 150 premium producers plus boutique restaurants and providores, the Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region complete with an international reputation for acclaimed wines.
Krinklewood Vineyard Farm Stay - Credit: Jedd Cooney | Krinklewood Vineyard Farm Stay
Top varietals: Semillon, shiraz
Must-visit wineries: Harkam Wines, Brokenwood Wines, Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard, Audrey Wilkinson, Tamburlaine Organic Wines.
Take a tour: From Newcastle you can tour with Dave’s Tours, Newy Tour Co., and Hunter Valley Winery Tours; from Sydney try Urban Legends Tour Co and Sydney Bespoke Tours.
Where to dine: Enjoy paddock-to-plate dining at Margan, a showcase of Hunter produce at Muse Restaurant, fare from the onsite garden at Restaurant Botanica and mini plates at Bimbadgen Estate’s Esca.
Where to stay: Book into a cottage at Audrey Wilkinson, a villa at Leogate Estate Villas, one of a series of posh properties at Winmark Wines Accommodation or a cabin or farmhouse retreat with Krinklewood Vineyard Farm Stay.
Hilltops
Why visit: In southern NSW, the Hilltops region is known for its plump cherries and juicy stone fruit. This part of the state – home to Young, Harden and Boorowa – is an exciting, emerging wine district in NSW.
Grove Estate Wines, Young
Top varietals: Cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, nebbiolo
Must-visit wineries: Grove Estate Wines, Ballinaclash Fruit and Wine, Barwang Wines
Take a tour: Many of the region’s cellar doors offer winery tours or tasting experiences.
Where to dine: Young’s The Cranfield is an up-market wine bar, restaurant and providore; while The Sir George is a much-loved country pub in Jugiong.
Where to stay: Rove Numby offers hosted walking weekends on a working sheep and cattle station, with guided hikes, accommodation and dining included.
Riverina
Why visit: The Riverina is in the heart of Australia’s food bowl, home to some of the country’s biggest wine producers and companies – in fact, it's the largest wine-producing region in NSW. Italian heritage is strong, with many vintners growing grapes that hark back to the motherland and stay true to blending traditions.
Yarran Wines, Yenda
Top varietals: Botrytis Semillon, chardonnay, sangiovese
Must-visit wineries: McWilliam's Wines Hanwood Estate, Calabria Family Wines Riverina Cellar Door, De Bortoli, Yarran Wines
Take a tour: Agricultural Tours Riverina and Griffith Tours both offer tours of the wine region.
Where to dine: Head to Calabria Family Wines for an Italian-inspired bar menu.
Where to stay: Stay at Whitton Malt House in Leeton for luxury villas with lake views, or The Charles in Wagga Wagga for pet-friendly boutique accommodation.
Orange
Why visit: Orange is a dreamy union of vines, deciduous trees and upscale restaurants. The drops made here take home global awards – deservedly, as you’ll discover while savouring a glass or two at one of the region’s more than 30 cellar doors.
Printhie Wines, Orange - Credit: Kirsten Cunningham, Printhie Wines
Top varietals: Shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc
Must-visit wineries: Printhie Wines, Ross Hill Wines, Swinging Bridge, Rowlee Wines.
Take a tour: Learn more about the area on a tour with Orange Wine Tours, a custom tour by trike with Orange Trike and Private Tours or a multi-day bike tour with Bespoke Cycle Tours.
Where to dine: Have a long lunch at Borrodell Estate or Printhie Dining.
Where to stay: Book into the Cider Suites or Cottages at Borrodell Estate for an immersive Orange winery experience, or Loco at Ross Hill to stay in a converted train carriage.
New England
Why visit: New England may be the youngest wine region in the state, but it’s catching up to other NSW stalwarts. The verdant region is home to award-winning cool-climate wines, craft breweries and distilleries, not to mention rolling fields of delicious fresh produce.
Topper's Mountain Wines, Tingha
Top varietals: Reisling
Must-visit wineries: Topper's Mountain Wines, Petersons
Take a tour: Many of the region’s cellar doors offer winery tours or tasting experiences.
Where to dine: Petersons offers lunch and evening dining, highlighting local produce, while Stonefruit in Tenterfield is a small wine bar plating up considered small plates.
Where to stay: Petersons also offers onsite accommodation by way of seven guest bedrooms at the Petersons Guesthouse. At Goonoo Goonoo Station find luxury cottages on a historic cattle station near Tamworth.
Mudgee
Why visit: Mudgee is home to some of Australia’s oldest vineyards, as well as some of the nation’s highest altitude. With a history of winemaking that dates to the 1850s and more than 30 cellar doors, it's an ideal destination for a wine weekend.
Lowe Wines, Mudgee
Top varietals: Cabernet sauvignon
Must-visit wineries: Lowe Wines, Robert Stein, Logan Wines, De Beaurepaire Wines.
Take a tour: Try Mudgee VIP Wine Tours, Shiraz Tours or Mudgee Explorer for group tour experiences.
Where to dine: Dine at Pipeclay Pumphouse at Robert Stein for fine dining, or enjoy a seasonal set menu at Lowe Wines’ The Zin House.
Where to stay: Shed by Zin is boutique studio accommodation on the Lowe Estate, Pieter van Gent offers rustic-chic lodgings nestled among the wines and Burnbrae Wines boasts two cottages: Winemaker’s and Braeside.
Canberra District
Why visit: Despite its name, the cool-climate region surrounding Canberra is actually NSW soil. Taste your way around the dreamy Yass Valley, home to award-winning cellar doors, restaurants you’ll want to linger in and speciality producers. Visit in winter to be part of a truffle hunt.
Collector Wines - Credit: Sammy Hawker | Collector Wines Pty Ltd
Top varietals: Shiraz, shiraz viognier, riesling
Must-visit wineries: Collector Wines, Shaw Estate, Helm Wines, Clonakilla Wines, Four Winds Vineyard Cellar Door, The Vintner’s Daughter
Take a tour: Explore the area with the help of Canberra Winery Tours and Grape Escapes Canberra Wine Tours.
Where to dine: Try Clonakilla, Helm Wines and Shaw Estate for charming winery dining experiences.
Where to stay: Surveyors Hill Vineyards offers quaint domed lodgings, Tallagandra Hill boasts three winery cottages and Lake George Winery’s tranquil homestead sleeps 16 people and is surrounded by rolling vineyards.
Southern Highlands
Why visit: Head to the Southern Highlands for vintners that experiment with alternative cool-climate varietals. Here, there more than 60 vineyards to explore, with wine just the beginning of a culinary adventure.
Bendooley Estate, Berrima
Top varietals: Pinot noir, sparkling
Must-visit wineries: Bendooley Estate, Centennial Vineyards, Artemis Wines, PepperGreen Estate, Sondara Estate
Take a tour: Jump aboard a tour with The Grape Escape or Vino Rosso Tours.
Where to dine: Bendooley Estate’s Book Barn offers a seasonal menu housed inside the historic Berkelouw Book Barn, while Paste in Mittagong plates up Michelin-starred Thai food.
Where to stay: Artemis Wines offers your choice of a cottage nestled away on the property, as does Dawning Day Winery & Distillery.
Cowra
Why visit: In NSW’s Central West, Cowra’s vineyards are the ideal destination for a delicious escape. The bucolic countryside of neat vines is tended by makers who champion sustainable viticulture, creating organic and biodynamic wines that you can sip at cellar doors or in pubs and restaurants throughout the region’s historic villages.
Canowindra International Balloon Challenge, Canowindra
Top varietals: Chardonnay
Must-visit wineries: Rosnay Organic Farm and Vineyard, Windowerie Wines
Take a tour: Many of the region’s cellar doors offer winery tours or tasting experiences.
Where to dine: Try modern Australian fare at Oak on Kendall, and be sure to dine on the region’s most famous export: Cowra lamb.
Where to stay: Choose a farm stay at Rosnay Organic Farm and Vineyard in the original 1910 farmhouse or a secluded camping spot in the olive grove.
Shoalhaven
Why visit: The Shoalhaven region of the NSW South Coast tastes as good as it looks. Enjoy delicious oysters plucked straight from the water, sample fresh produce at local restaurants and sip wine poured at the many vineyards across the region.
Food and wine on the scenic grounds at Cupitts Winery, Ulladulla
Top varietals: Chambourcin
Must-visit wineries: Silos Estate, Crooked River Estate, Cupitt's Estate, Cambewarra Estate Winery, Two Figs Winery
Take a tour: Try Noble Transfers and Tours, or Shire Shuttle Bus offers tours to the region from Wollongong, Berry, Sydney and more.
Where to dine: Silos Estate’s restaurant is home to a modern-rustic dining experience, Cupitt’s has a Wine Garden or Dining Room, while Mountain Ridge Wines’ offering spans small plates to pizza.
Where to stay: Bask in views of the rolling hills and Great Dividing Range with a stay at Silos Estate, villas with their own plunge pools at Crooked River Estate and boutique accommodation with outdoor bathtubs with Cupitt's Estate Villas.
The Murray and Perricoota
Why visit: Temperatures can soar in the Murray River region, and the heat makes for some very interesting wines. It’s the second-largest wine-producing region in Australia, and grapes have been grown here for more than 130 years. Meanwhile, the small grape-growing region of Perricoota, just northwest of Echuca Moama, is becoming well-known in its own right.
St Anne's Winery, Moama
Top varietals: Shiraz, chardonnay
Must-visit wineries: Trentham Estate Winery, St Anne's Winery, Morrisons Riverview Winery
Take a tour: Many of the region’s cellar doors offer winery tours or tasting experiences.
Where to dine: Morrisons Riverview Winery’s waterfront position and expansive grassy area is ideal for family dining, while Trentham Estate Winery will appeal to those seeking a long Sunday lunch made from local produce.
Where to stay: Revel in the singular experience that is sleeping on the water with Murray River Paddlesteamers.
Gundagai and Snowy Valleys
Why visit: Most people know Gundagai for its famous Dog on the Tuckerbox Pioneer monument. But there’s much more to this laid-back town in the Riverina region than its bronzed canine statue, namely, its warm-climate wines.
Tumbalong Hills, Tumbalong
Top varietals: Cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, shiraz
Must-visit wineries: Borambola Wines, Tumblong Hills, Courabyra Wines
Take a tour: Many of the region’s cellar doors offer winery tours or tasting experiences.
Where to dine: Nimbo Fork offers local, ethically farmed produce near Tumut; enjoy the ultimate apple cider experience at The Apple Thief Cider House in Batlow; and enjoy craft beer and pizzas at Tumut River Brewing Co.
Where to stay: Kimo Estate is home to luxury off-grid huts on a 7,000-acre working farm, while Kestrel Nest EcoHut, also luxury and off-grid, is an eco-certified stay recognised as Australia’s first DarkSky International-approved lodging.
Hastings River
Why visit: A wine region in the making, Hastings River is home to vineyards in Port Macquarie and Wauchope. While vines have been planted since the 1860s, it’s the dedication of the Cassegrain family, operating since the 1980s, that’s brought this region to the forefront.
Bago Maze and Winery, Wauchope
Top varietals: Verdelho
Must-visit wineries: Cassegrain Wines, Bago Maze and Wine, Long Point Vineyard and Art Gallery
Take a tour: Many of the region’s cellar doors offer winery tours or tasting experiences.
Where to dine: Enjoy an up-market menu with matching wine suggestions at Taste @ Cassegrain, locally sourced seafood on the water at Whalebone Wharf, and cafe and bar fare at Little Shack.
Where to stay: Stay right on the river with Rydges Port Macquarie.
