6 Underrated NSW Wine Regions That Are Just As Good As The Hunter Valley
Let’s be honest, wine is fab. One of life’s purest pleasures is a lazy weekend in a wine region, letting someone else drive as you spend all day popping from cellardoor to cellardoor, pausing only for food.
In New South Wales, the first places this image brings to mind are the famous Hunter Valley and the smaller, but extremely popular, Mudgee. And these places deserve to be known, I can tell you from (maybe too much) first hand experience they are both perfection.
However, there are so many emerging wine regions around the state that it would be a shame to limit your palette to just two of them. We have the time, and these six lesser known regions have the wine.
#1 Southern Highlands
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An easy 90-minute drive from Sydney, the Southern Highlands region has a lot to offer: great food, amazing wine, cosy fires and nostalgic stores.
Wineries to visit: Centennial Vineyards, Artemis Wines, Tertini Wines, Joadja Estate, Eling Forest Winery, Southern Highland Winery and St Maur Wines.
#2 Orange
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I’m not sure when this large inland town became such a hot spot for delish wine and top notch food, but it definitely happened.
Wineries to visit: Ferment Orange Wine Centre, Ross Hill Wines, De Salis Wines, Highland Heritage Estate, Rowlee Wines, Strawhouse Wines and Brangayne of Orange Wines.
#3 Shoalhaven
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I had no idea wine was a thing here, but after trying a few drops I can promise you they know what they’re doing. It’s also just a stunning coastal area.
Wineries to visit: Cupitt’s Winery, Coolangatta Estate, Two Figs, Silos Estate, Cambewarra Estate, Salet Wines and Bawley Vale Estate.
#4 Canberra District
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The home of Questacon and Parliament House is also a treasure trove of outstanding wineries, mostly known for their shiraz and riesling varieties.
Wineries to visit: Clonakilla, Gundog Estate, Shaw Vineyard Estate, Capital Wines, Mount Majura Vineyard, Helm Wines, Eden Road Wines and Long Rail Gully Wines.
#5 Hilltops Region
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Quaint local villages and lot of history awaits you in the Hilltops region, who also pride themselves on their newly evolving food and wine offerings.
Wineries to visit: Chalker’s Crossing, Grove Estate, Moppity Wines, Freeman Vineyard, Lockwood Vineyard, and Ballinaclash Orchard and Cellar Door.
#6 Riverina
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The Murrumbidgee River winds its way through everything here: the wine trails, the natural beauty and the towns which are full of that local charm.
Wineries to visit: Berton Vineyards, Calabria Family Wines, De Bortoli Wines, Lillypilly Estate Wines, McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate and Yarran Wines.
(Lead Image: Provided / Destination NSW)
