Southern Highlands Wineries

Just a 90-minute drive southwest of Sydney, the Southern Highlands offers a cool-climate wine region that feels a world away from the city. Rolling green hills, historic villages and cellar doors with crackling fireplaces make this a perfect escape for wine lovers and foodies. The region is especially known for its pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling wines, with a growing reputation for cool-climate shiraz and sauvignon blanc.

Highlights & What to See

• Bendooley Estate – A stunning cellar door set among vineyards and gardens, with a book barn that’s a destination in itself. Taste their acclaimed pinot noir and chardonnay.
• Artemis Wines – A boutique winery with a focus on single-vineyard wines. The cellar door offers tastings in a rustic-chic setting with views over the vines.
• Centennial Vineyards – One of the region’s largest producers, known for its award-winning sparkling wines and a modern tasting room with a restaurant.
• Joadja Vineyard – Tucked away in a valley, this family-run winery produces elegant cool-climate wines. The drive through winding roads is part of the charm.
• Southern Highland Wines – A cooperative cellar door where you can sample wines from multiple small producers in one place – ideal for getting a broad taste of the region.
• Berrima Village – A historic Georgian village with sandstone buildings, antique shops and excellent pubs – perfect for a lunch stop between cellar doors.

Suggested Time to Spend

Plan a full day to explore the Southern Highlands wine region. A leisurely loop from Berrima through Bowral and out to the smaller wineries like Joadja can be comfortably done in 6–8 hours, allowing time for tastings and a long lunch. If you’re short on time, focus on the cluster of cellar doors around Berrima and Sutton Forest, which can be visited in half a day. Many travellers combine a winery tour with a stay in a country B&B for a weekend escape.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Bowral – The main town of the Southern Highlands, known for its antique shopping, cafés and the annual Tulip Time festival.
• Mittagong – A charming town with a farmers’ market on Saturdays and the historic Fitzroy Inn.
• Morton National Park – Offers dramatic sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and bushwalking trails, including the popular Fitzroy Falls.
• Kangaroo Valley – A picturesque valley with a historic bridge, river activities and a relaxed village atmosphere, about 30 minutes south.
• Hunter Valley – Australia’s oldest wine region, about 2.5 hours north, offering a completely different wine-tasting experience with semillon and shiraz.
• Sydney – The Southern Highlands is an easy day trip from Sydney, and many visitors continue on to Canberra or the South Coast.

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