Route des Grands Crus

Winding through the sun-drenched hills of the New South Wales Southern Highlands, the Route des Grands Crus is a gourmet's dream drive that mirrors the wine trails of Burgundy. This scenic loop connects boutique vineyards, artisan cheesemakers, and truffle farms, offering a taste of rural France with an unmistakable Australian twist. The landscape is a patchwork of rolling vineyards, ancient woodlands, and historic villages, where cellar doors spill onto verandas and the air smells of eucalyptus and fermenting grapes.

Highlights & What to See

• Boutique Cellar Doors – Sip cool-climate pinot noir and chardonnay at family-run wineries like Tertini Wines and Artisan Wines, where the owners often pour the tastings themselves.
• Southern Highlands Farmers Markets – Held in Bowral on the first Saturday of each month, this is the place to grab local cheeses, sourdough, and seasonal produce to picnic among the vines.
• Dirty Janes Antiques & Emporium – A treasure trove of vintage furniture, retro kitchenware, and quirky collectibles in Bowral, perfect for a break between wine tastings.
• Biota Dining – A celebrated restaurant in Bowral that sources almost everything from its own kitchen garden and nearby farms; book ahead for a degustation that showcases the region's bounty.
• Berrima Village – A beautifully preserved Georgian town with sandstone buildings housing galleries, bookshops, and the historic Surveyor General Inn, Australia's oldest continuously licensed pub.

Suggested Time to Spend

To truly savour the Route des Grands Crus, plan for a full day – start mid-morning in Bowral, meander through the wine trail with lunch at a vineyard, then explore Berrima before sunset. If you want to linger, an overnight stay in a B&B or country house hotel allows you to enjoy a dinner at Biota without rushing back. The route is compact enough to cover leisurely in 8 hours, but the real joy is in stopping often and letting the pace of the countryside set your schedule.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Morton National Park – Just east of the wine trail, this park offers dramatic sandstone cliffs, waterfalls like Fitzroy Falls, and superb bushwalking among ancient forests.
• Kangaroo Valley – A lush valley with the historic Hampden Bridge, canoeing on the Kangaroo River, and the friendly Pioneer Farm Museum – a 30-minute drive from Bowral.
• Robertson – Known as the 'Garden Village', Robertson is famous for its potato farm, the Big Potato, and the nearby Belmore Falls; a short detour for rural charm and pie shops.
• Mittagong – The northern gateway to the Highlands, with the charming Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame, and the Lake Alexandra Reserve for a peaceful stroll.

Please check official sources for current details.