Southern Highlands: These 4 wineries are the best

Why the fridge magnet would you go all the way to the Hunter Valley, when there’s this dazzler on Sydney’s door step?

The Southern Highlands is such an exciting wine discovery for me. This is because one of my big grumbles about moving to Sydney was how long it takes to get to wine country. When you grow up with a winery over the back fence, a 2.5-hour drive to the Hunter Valley just seems ludicrous. 

Although I’m embarrassed to admit it’s taken me three years to work out there’s a top-notch wine region 90 minutes’ drive southeast from Sydney that’s doing some pretty cool things with grapes. Southern Highlands, you sly dog. 

If you’re not into wine, here’s seven other fun things to do in this geographical area that’s all quaint English-esque country towns, green gardens and gourmet experiences. 

Known for its cool-climate wines, this emerging wine region is home to 60 wineries and a handful of cellar doors. These are my favourites:

Bendooley Estate

This grand, 200-acre estate in Berrima is incredible, ticking all the boxes. Delicious Australian and Italian-style wines, tick. An elegant restaurant serving a divine seasonal menu, tick. A friggen book barn, tick.

Yep it’s a winery with a book barn! Which is perfect for husbands who refuse to drink wine before midday (amateur). Jude spent a good hour browsing the iconic Berkelouw Book Barn, while I tasted Bendooley’s A-Z of wines.  

Bendooley Estate oozes with style, character and warmth (maybe the last part has something to do with the fireplace but you get the picture). And once you’re done in the cellar door, do stop for lunch at Bendooley’s Restaurant, where you can enjoy your lamb burger while being surrounded by new, rare and second-hand books. Or if books make your nervous, book a table in the sun on the outdoor terrace.  

Bendooley Estate | 3020 Old Hume Highway, Berrima, New South Wales
bendooleyestate.com.au

Tertini Wines

At this cute cellar door just over the Hume Highway they give you a free cheese platter. Nothing more needs to be said. FREE cheese!

Tertini Wines is a family-owned winery, and you indeed feel like one of the family when you visit. The cellar door is small and intimate, yet welcoming and relaxing. There’s no crowding around the cellar door counter here. Instead you’re seated at a rustic wine barrel, with the friendly staff popping over to give you a lesson on their small batch wines. Enjoy pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay, as well as alternative varieties such as arneis. 

If you’re not convinced by the cheese, Tertini Wines has also won all kinds of medals, trophies and accolades – so you know their wines are shit hot.

Tertini Wines | Kells Creek Road, Mittagong, New South Wales
tertiniwines.com.au

Artemis Wines

A little down the road in between Mittagong and Bowral is Artemis Wines, another family-run winery. The vibe here is on par with Oprah Bar on a sunny Sunday arvo. It heaves with well dressed people. The Saturday arvo we visited, it wasn’t sunny, but the gas heaters were keeping the large outdoor crew content. We were also very grateful that we had the foresight to book a table for two.  

There are a handful of outdoor picnic tables overlooking the vines, deck seating and a cosy cellar door space. Tastings are $5pp (waived with purchases over $50) and done at your table, making for a much more relaxed cellar door experience than the usual stand-up set-up. Especially when you’re picking away at a local cheese board, as well as a wood fired pizza and maybe some charcuterie. 

You also must try Artemis Wines’ cider and bee mead, which is part of the tasting, so you’d really be silly not to. 

Artemis Wines | 46 Sir Charles Moses Lane, Mittagong, New South Wales
artemiswines.com.au

Centennial Vineyards

This grand ol’ dame is a beauty. Greeted by a scene of majestic vineyards spilling down the hill, there’s really nothing rustic about Centennial Vineyards – another winery not shy of winning a trophy or two. 

Inside the cellar door, there’s a number of different nooks where you can taste a handful of these not-shy wines. Choose wisely because Centennial Vineyards has probably the longest wine line-up I’ve ever seen. Hundreds of reds, whites, sparklings, rosés and dessert wines. Ok… hundreds might be an exaggeration but there’s more going on here than a granny’s lounge room. I for one appreciated the dozen-odd sparklings.

Once you’ve exhausted your handful, head across the way to the restaurant for lunch, dinner or high tea – and toast a successful day of wine tasting in the magical Southern Highlands. 

Centennial Vineyards | 252 Centennial Road, Bowral, New South Wales
centennial.net.au