Southern Highlands Wine Tours

Cool-Climate Wine, Just South of Sydney

The Southern Highlands wine region sits about 90 minutes south of Sydney, centred around Bowral, Mittagong, and the small villages of Exeter and Sutton Forest. At 650–900 metres elevation, the region experiences cool nights even in summer, which slows the ripening cycle and produces wines of unusual aromatic intensity and structural finesse.

The region's signature varieties are pinot noir and chardonnay — the same cool-climate holy grail as Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, but with a more continental climate pattern. The best Southern Highlands pinot noir has a translucent ruby colour, fragrant red cherry and dried herb character, and a structural delicacy that is quite distinct from the more powerful Mornington style. Chardonnay from producers like Centennial Vineyards and Bendover Hill regularly outperforms at national wine shows.

What makes the Southern Highlands different from more established regions is the intimacy of the cellar door experience. Most cellar doors are small family operations rather than destination venues; you can often taste with the winemaker, tour the barrel room, and walk the vineyard. The lack of mass tourism infrastructure is part of the appeal: this is a wine region for people who are here for the wine.

The Southern Highlands also has a serious food culture independent of its wine. The Bowral Farmers Market is one of regional NSW's best, and the local restaurant scene, including the region's bakeries, cheese makers, and smallgoods producers — has a depth that rivals more celebrated food destinations.