Countryside, Hunter ValleyCredit: Destination NSW
Hot air balloons flying over the Hunter Valley at sunrise.
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Get a taste for the rich and varied wine-making traditions across New South Wales, where its wine regions represent an incredible diversity of climate and terroir. From cool alpine vineyards to warm coastal estates, you’re bound to find a tipple to appeal to your palate — as well as a fun new way to savour it. Start with these memorable ways to experience NSW wine regions.
Cycle between the vines in Mudgee
Hop on your bike and take a relaxing ride through the picturesque food and wine hub of Mudgee, a 3.5-hour drive northwest of Sydney. Home to more than 40 cellar doors and 44 grape varietals, Mudgee’s warmer days and cooler nights are great conditions for robust reds and riesling. Less than an hour’s bike ride, or a 10-minute drive, from town is Robert Stein Winery, which also features renowned restaurant Pipeclay Pumphouse on its grounds. Spot pigs grazing happily in the surrounding pastures as you reward yourself with a fine-dining feast after a morning’s ride.
Just a 30-minute pedal, or a 10-minute drive, from central Mudgee is Pieter Van Gent Winery & Vineyard, which also offers accommodation and bicycle hire, and di Lusso Estate, where you can pair Italian varietal wines with moreish trattoria-style dishes. Or relish the ease of leaving your cycling itinerary in the hands of Tour de Vines, which offers a two-night package that includes cycling visits to at least five wineries along with accommodation and bike hire.
Try something different in Orange
On your return journey to Sydney, take a delicious detour to the cool-climate wine centre of Orange, around two hours from Mudgee, and sample cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and shiraz in Australia’s highest-altitude wine region. Take your pick between fabulous wine experiences at the likes of Ferment, The Orange Wine Centre, where you an ‘tour’ 19 cellar doors in the one spot; Philip Shaw, where local cheeses elevate unconventional wine tastings; Printhie, famous for its multi-award-winning sparkling wine, and Heifer Station, where kids can delight in meeting friendly farm animals while you relax with a shiraz in the adjacent tasting room.
Fly high in the Snowy Mountains
Soar over the Snowy Mountains in style on a private Vine to Wine heli-tour with Truenorth Helicopters, revelling in the ruggedly beautiful alpine views as you buzz between the vines of one of Australia’s premier cold-climate wine regions. In Tumbarumba, you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch and explore leading cellar doors such as Courabyra Wines during this indulgent half-day escape. You can also look forward to taking a refreshing stroll in Braymont Gardens and flying above the vast Tumut State Forest and the fragrant Batlow apple orchards.
Philip Shaw Wines, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a walk around the scenic grounds of Philip Shaw Wines, Orange.
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Philip Shaw Wines, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a walk around the scenic grounds of Philip Shaw Wines, Orange.
Courabyra Wines, Tumbarumba Credit: Destination NSW
Truenorth Helicopter on the grounds of Courabyra Wines, Tumbarumba.
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Courabyra Wines, Tumbarumba Credit: Destination NSW
Truenorth Helicopter on the grounds of Courabyra Wines, Tumbarumba.
Sip your way around the Riverina
Behold NSW’s largest wine-producing region, covering a massive stretch of land northwest of the Snowy Mountains. Renowned for shiraz, chardonnay and botrytis semillon, the Riverina has a rich Italian heritage, with most local winegrowers of Italian descent. Centred around the hub of Griffith, cellar doors to add to your itinerary include the pioneering De Bortoli Wines and Calabria Family Wines. Both wineries were founded by Italian immigrants — learn their fascinating stories on a range of memorable cellar door experiences.
Float above the vines of the Hunter Valley
Soak up the spectacular setting of Australia’s oldest wine region, the Hunter Valley, on a romantic hot air balloon ride with the likes of Balloon Aloft, Beyond Ballooning and Hunter Valley Ballooning, marvelling at the panoramic views as the fog dissipates and the sun rises. After landing, indulge in a champagne breakfast before cruising around the valley, around two hours north from Sydney, where the warm and humid conditions are ideal for quality semillon and shira
Dive deep into winemaking on an exclusive Soil-to-Cellar Experience at the iconic Hunter Valley vineyard Brokenwood Wines. Feel like a VIP with a personal host for the day, a private tasting in the Graveyard Tasting Room, an exclusive winery and vines tour, four-course degustation lunch and a bottle of the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz to take home.
Pair wine with waterfalls in the Southern Highlands
Discover how natural wonders can be elevated by epicurean delights with Wild Food Adventures on one of its tours through the Southern Highlands region, a 90-minute drive southwest of Sydney. Wines of note produced in this high-altitude, cool-climate zone include chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir; compare local drops at renowned wineries such as Centennial Vineyards, Sutton Forest Estate Wines and Tertini Wines.
On Wild Food’s Waterfalls, Wander, Wine tour, enjoy the happy buzz generated by the release of negative ions from majestic Carrington Falls, which plunges over a rock shelf in Budderoo National Park, topped off with an invigorating wild swim. It’ll literally whet your appetite for foodie stops in Bowral and a visit to boutique winery Artemis Wines in Mittagong, whose owners are known for planting the first pinot noir grapes in the region.
De Bortoli Wines, Bilbul Credit: Destination NSW
De Bortoli Wines winemaker Matteo Lapi tending to the vines in Bilbul.
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De Bortoli Wines, Bilbul Credit: Destination NSW
De Bortoli Wines winemaker Matteo Lapi tending to the vines in Bilbul.
Centennial Vineyards, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a romantic getaway at Centennial Vineyards, Bowral.
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Centennial Vineyards, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a romantic getaway at Centennial Vineyards, Bowral.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, CorowaCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa.
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Feast on the riches of one of Australia’s most important food bowls on a road trip through the Murray, named after the mighty river that flows through this southwest area of New South Wales. Float down the river on a historic paddlesteamer wine cruise, stop by farm gates to sample incredible fresh produce, and dine at chic restaurants and bars in this unique culinary playground.
Take the back roads for gourmet treats
Head off the beaten path along The Backroads Trail, a 250km driving route that passes through the small pastoral towns of Barham, Moama, Mathoura and Deniliquin on the upper reaches of the Murray River. Sink your teeth into fresh olives, avocados, free-range pork, honey and citrus fruit from farm gates along its loops and trails, and taste the region’s wines at vineyards such as Restdown Wines. While you’re at this winery, venture out along the Restdown Wetland Walk to encounter Aboriginal cooking hearths and an old sheep camp.
Cruise along to The Old School Winery & Meadery in Womboota to pick up wine, pottery and honey mead. Or seek out Ivy Joyce in Barham to indulge in a warm space, offering local produce from farms for a truly paddock to plate experience in the heart of Murray River country. For more snacks and meaty fare such as British-style pork pies and sausages, head to Pacdon Park’s factory shop in Moama.
You can work up an appetite as you build your own itinerary on the theme of food, paddocks and produce, and find suggested routes and maps to Murray River farm gates, at the Echuca Moama Visitor Centre.
Wine and dine along the river
Embark on a wine tour by water in Moama, where the first steamboats made their way up the Murray in 1853. Take a Murray River Paddlesteamers Wharf to Winery Cruise from the town to Morrisons Riverview Winery for a leisurely lunch. Or drive along the river, stopping in at Three Black Sheep for risotto and woodfired pizzas, and tasting crisp dry whites and full-flavoured reds at St Anne’s Vineyards, where you can nibble on a cheese platter overlooking a scenic lake.
Head east along the riverside roads to rest and recharge in the town of Tocumwal, known for its riverside beaches, golf courses, glider flying and iconic Big Murray Cod statue. Start the following day with a solid foundation of breakfast pizza (topped with bacon, eggs and a hash brown) at The Old Bank and indulge in a scoop of ice-cream or sorbet from Tocumwal Ice Creamery – flavours include rocky road, green apple or macadamia. If you’re in town on a Saturday, pick up honey, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, dressings and other condiments made by local producers at the Tocumwal Foreshore Markets.
Continue your odyssey along the river to Corowa, the birthplace of Australian Federation. Immerse in the town’s rich turn-of-the-20th-century colonial heritage as you make your way to the former 1920s flour mill housing Corowa Distilling Co. Here you can book a whisky tasting and behind-the-scenes tour and buy locally made chocolates and sweets from sister shop Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. Work off an indulgent afternoon with a walk along the river before settling into the stylish Circa 1936 hotel, which is housed in an Art Deco former bank on the main street of Corowa.
Celebrate regional ingredients in Albury
From Corowa, follow the Riverina Highway eastward to the city of Albury, a food, wine and culture hub. Taste how seasonality and locality are expressed at The Proprietor, a former butcher shop turned cafe offering brunch treats such as fruit toast with Beechworth honey and whipped ricotta, and banana waffles with Gundowring vanilla ice-cream. Or try the all-day breakfast offering at Mr Benedict, from cheesy bacon waffle with popcorn chicken to one of its signature eggs benedicts, including one with cider-braised ham hock.
At The River Deck restaurant, local ingredients are celebrated alongside stunning river views, and dishes may include chicken Caesar salad with Milawa eggs or beef brisket braised in coffee by Albury roaster The Brothers Cup. At tiny and elegant Bistro Selle, complement warm Gooramadda olives with a buttery Australian chardonnay and fresh market fish. Yardbird offers a bold-flavoured menu featuring dishes like scorched Albacore tuna, along with meats grilled in a Spanish woodfired oven.
In between meals, stroll along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and take in the contemporary artworks by Aboriginal artists that line the Wagirra Trail. Meander through the Murray Art Museum Albury’s contemporary photographic collection, Aboriginal art and works by renowned Australian artist Sir Russell Drysdale. Afterwards, order lunch or dinner at the museum’s excellent Canvas Eatery – try the saltbush lamb rump or one of their Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
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The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
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Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.
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Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.