Southern Highlands Wine

Where do you start on the Southern Highlands Wine Trail?

How about at the first winery established in the Highlands!

The Joadja Vineyard and Winery  is the original, and according to many the best, winery in the Southern Highlands. It has one of the most attractive and rustic “cellar doors”, and as you would expect from a vineyard and winery that has been in operation for over 20 years, the wines at Joadja are of consistently high quality.

Joadja started the whole cool climate wines movement in the Southern Highlands, and they now produce a wide range of wines and even liqueurs. Their fabulous cool-climate wines include a Reserve Chardonnay, Sparkling Moscato and Pinot Noir Chardonnay, their Sauvignon Blanc is a multiple medal winner, and Pinot Grigio is always popular. For the red wine lover there is Cabernet Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Summer Rose and the classic Scrawny Tawny wood-aged fortified wine.

And what about those liqueurs? Joadja makes a fruit liqueur from fresh local boysenberries. It is not only good to drink: an elegant bottle of Boysenberry Liqueur makes an excellent and unique gift.

Then there is Joadja Autumn, a late picked lightly botrytis Sauvgnon Blanc that is sweet, smooth and refined – perfect for summer.

With all the fine wines at Joada, the best bet is to drop in there and try them for yourself..

Plus you can order online from their website at www.joadjawinery.com.au

St Maur's cantina style cellar door

Towards the southern end of the Southern Highlands Wine Trail is St Maur Estate, a unique vineyard and cellar door with the feel of a Northern Italian cantina. 

St Maur is at the corner of Old Argyle Road and Sallys Corner Road at Exeter, about five kilometers from the well known Sutton Forest service center, Roadhouse and McDonalds on the Hume Highway halfway between Sydney and Canberra. The estate itself goes back nearly 200 years to the days of the famous Australian explorer John Oxley. Since 1976 the land has been owned by the Panizzutti family, who planted the St Maur vineyard.

St Maur Chardonnay

The St Maur cantina cellar door is a delightfully atmospheric place to stop for a glass of wine and a chat, and the wines are among the best in the Highlands. Best known for their Pinot Noir, which is stocked by some of Sydney’s finest restaurants, St Maur also produces a Cabernet Merlot and an outstanding Chardonnay.

The very successful NSW Southern Highlands Cool Flavours Wine and Food Festival was on last weekend, and, complete with designated driver, we tried a new loop of the Southern Highlands Wine Trail to catch a few festival events on Sunday.

This personal tour started at Sutton Forest Estate Wines,

Sutton Forest wine & food

famous for their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and antipasto plates. They are right next to the Sutton Forest McDonalds (see my article – Would you like a Chardonnay with that?) but their cosy cellar door with an open fire, fine wine and homemade Tiramasu is a world away from burgers and fries.

Anyone for chess?

Then it was onto the expressway heading north, off at the Berrima exit, cruising through bustling Berrima past Mrs Oldbuck’s famous Jam Shop, cafes and craft shops, turn left at Greenfields Road and left again to Blue Metal Wines. They are named after the local rock, but their barn-styled cellar door is, you guessed it, made of metal (Bluescope Steel perhaps?). Inside, with a trendy cafe and plenty of room to sip wines and chat, they were doing great business.

Next it was back to Greenfields Road and up to Joadja Winery for their Cool Jazz event. Joadja is the oldest and

Jazz in the winery!

 most rustic boutique winery in the Southern Highlands, so it was amazing to see about 100 parked cars flanking the entrance. Inside it was easy to see why: there was a jazz quartet playing in the winery itself, surrounded by relaxed people and tall stainless steel fermentation tanks. You can’t help thinking those Joadja wines are going to have a cool laid-back feel with lingering sax and a hint of trumpet! The cellar door itself was three deep with keen wine tasters, outdoors there was expresso coffee, and everywhere there were people sipping on Joadja’s finest cool-climate wine.

McVitty Winery views

After a couple of enjoyable hours at Joadja listening to the music, and a lunch of Indian food cooked on site, it was time to head just down the road to McVitty Grove and take in the misty valley views from their stylish cellar door and cafe.

A few kilometres closer to Mittagong at Kells Creek we dropped in to Bousaada Wines before going across the road to Tertini, who scooped the pool of prizes at the 2008 Southern Highlands Wine Show.

Tertini Winery tasting

Their cellar door was pretty busy, and we were invited into the winery itself to sample the Tertini range amid racks of patiently aging wine barrels. One of the special treats was to try the new Arneis white, made from a grape variety grown in only a few dozen vineyards worldwide. Notoriously dificult to cultivate, Arneis seems to have taken a liking to the Southern Highlands and is producing prize-winning wines. Meanwhile, the Tertini Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon are also winning medals, and their Pinot Noir took Silver in the Shanghai International Wine Challenge!

St Maur cantina style cellar door

After tasting the full range of wines at Tertini, we continued our Wine Trail adventure via the sophisticated Centennial Vineyards and Southern Highland Wineries at Bowral and Sutton Forest, finishing up close to home at the atmospheric St Maur Estate cantina in Exeter.

Not a bad way to relax on a Sunday!

Highlands Wine and Food!

The vineyards, restaurants and food producers of the NSW Southern Highlands are presenting the best of the region’s food and wine. The Cool Flavours Festival runs Friday 5th June until Sunday 7th of June.

Come and sample local cheeses, jams, chocolates, mushrooms and a vast array of top quality Cool Climate wines.

Cool Flavours Festival Events include:

Centennial Vineyards Restaurant – Produce Dinner Saturday 6th June.
Four course menu by renowned chef, Robin Murray, featuring Southern Highlands produce. Bookings required.

Joadja Winery “Cool Jazz” Music in the Vines:
• Cool Jazz from “The Occasional Five”
• Real Wood Fired Tandoori
• Coffee, Tea & Chocolate
• All the Joadja Wines including the ‘Triple’ Blend (Cab/Merlot/Malbec)
• Plus Tawny Port & Boysenberry Liqueur

Southern Highland Wines – Family Fun day. – Rides and Games, stalls, Wine tasting for Parents, Barbeques, Entertainments – Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day.

Mt Ashby – FLAVOURS OF FRANCE. Famous for Beef Bourgeonon Pie and a Charcuterie Plate which includes home grown and made Remoulade, Pork Rillettes a selection of French Cheeses and other French delicacies. Plus a showing of French Farmhouse tables and Antiques by Sally Beresford, and an “Art in the Mist” Exhibition.

Small Cow Farm – Cheese Appreciation and demonstrations, – Bookings essential – 9.30 am,11.15am. and 2pm Saturday and Sunday. $22. Please book by phone on 02 4885 1241.

Cuttaway Creek Raspberry Farm – Berry Jams, sauces, vineyards from fruit grown on the property. Raspberry tarts and Chocolate Mousse from the Belgium Chocolate Mousse factory.

Blue Metal Wines – Café and tastings:  visit the Bluemetal winery to try their Award Winning Wines and a special festive Winter Tasting Plate. Cellar Door open Thurs-Mon 10am to 5pm and Cafe open Long Weekend 11am to 4pm. Tel (02) 4877 1877.

Bousaada Wines – Jazz in the vines and local Produce Platters.

Milk Factory Gallery – Wine tastings from six local vineyards, plus a range of local produce at the gallery store.

Tennesee Orchards – open for sales.

Highland Hamper Company – Hampers of local produce on sale at venues and the Milk Factory Gallery.

Canyonleigh Store – Tastings of local wineries – sales and music.

Sutton Forest Estate Wines – homemade Tiramasu with Pinot Noir wines and Italian antipasto platters.

Tertini Wines – taste the unique Arneis grape with Italian cheeses.

Mrs Oldbuck’s Pantry at Berrima – tea leaf readings, tastings etc.

Li Sun Mushrooms tunnel tours. $20 pp. Meet at Bowral Swimming Pool at 10.30am, 1.30pm, and 3.30pm. Book  on 02 4872 1447.

For more detailed information click here for the Southern Highlands Food & Wine Association website  or phone 02 4872 1447.

Easter is a great time to visit the NSW Southern Highlands. The weather should be good, there is an excellent selection of new release wines available, and all the winery cellar doors are open.

The Barrawang Markets on Easter Saturday are well worth a visit, with over 130 stalls run by local producers and crafts people selling a diverse and eclectic range of goods. There is also entertainment provides for children as well as adults.

The Barrawang Markets are open from 9.00am to 3.00pm on Saturday 19th April, on Hoddle & Crown Streets, Burrawang.  Phone 02 4886 4216 for more information.

For music in the vines the Highlands oldest vineyard and winery, Joadja Wines, is hosting a free concert on Sunday afternoon. Music will be by long time favourites “The Reluctant Consort”, and the event will no doubt be run in Joadja’s usual organised and enjoyable way. In addition to the free concert there will be food including their famous wood fired pizza, and of course fine Joadja wine!

For full details go to: www.joadjawinery.com.au/music-in-the-vines/

One of Australia’s most awarded Blues group ‘Backsliders’ will be appearing at Joadja Vineyard’s Music in the Vines on January 26 2014, from 1pm,  bringing a new and dynamic dimension to the Joadja series of winery concerts.

The 2011 ARIA Blues and Roots nominees and I-Tunes Australia Album of the Year winner have been playing and recording for 25 years.  Their latest release ‘Starvation Box’ is heralded as their best to date and has been described as sounding like ‘hungry youth Deep South’. Their sound melds driving Delta and Mississippi Hill Country blues sounds with original 21st century new blues anthems.

Slide Guitarist and multi-string instrumentalist, songwriter and vocalist Dom Turner is the founding member of the group. His influences are many and varied – a blend of delta blues, piedmont blues, rock, dub and sounds of Asia.  He has appeared on ABC Radio, presented music workshops at festivals and universities and has toured the USA & Mexico as a solo artist.

The Group has appeared at The Basement, made numerous television appearances in Australia and are regulars at major Australian Festivals.

Drum and percussion virtuoso and songwriter Rob Hurst, a name synonymous with Australian music and has been with Backsliders for 12 years.   Joining Dom and Rob are two of Australia’s most innovative harmonica players Brod Smith and ARIA Award winner Ian Collard.

So drop by for the fantastic music and the wood-fired pizza, and taste the fine cool-climate wines at Joadja’s rustic Cellar Door – the oldest in the Southern Highlands!

There is an amazing Irish Australian music event at Joadja Vineyard and Winery this Australia Day weekend.

A remarkable afternoon of Irish Australian Folk and Rock, Joadja wine and wood-fired pizza kicks off at 1pm on Saturday 28th January!

The band is Shameless Seamus and the Tullamore Dews, comprised of Australian and Irish music royalty:

Jim Moginie – founding member, songwriter and guitarist for the ARIA Hall Of Fame recipients Midnight Oil,

Alan Healy – who has performed with many Australian and international artists including The Dubliners, Christy Moore, Wolf Tones, Fureys, Foster and Alan, Mary Black, and Stockton’s Wing,

Lefty Wright (Stephen Coburn) – a founding member of ARIA Hall Of Fame inductees Mental as Anything, and an accomplished sculptor,

Evelyn Finnerty – from Blarney, Cork, Ireland and member of Blackwater on vocals and fiddle,

Samuel Mogadisco – poet/drummer on cajon and percussion,

Peter Mackie – on bass, and a past member of pre-Wiggles band The Cockroaches.

More details and RSVP on the Joadja Winery website.

the pleasantly rustic Joadja Winery Cellar Door

There is a lot happening in the NSW Southern Highlands wine world right now.

The Days of Wine, Art & Roses Festival kicks off on November 1st and runs until Sunday 21st 2010. The festival is a treat to all the senses for residents and visitors alike.

The Southern Highlands Wine Trail explores the many boutique wineries in the region, giving the opportunity to find great wines while enjoying the picturesque countryside and mild climate of the Highlands.

You can drive yourself around the wine trail, taking advantage of how every winery is just a short drive away through lush farmlands. Or you can join one of the organised Southern Highlands wine tours and let them do the driving for you so you can sample more of the local drop.

Either way you can’t go wrong. The Southern Highlands really are another world, yet they are little more than an hour’s drive from the Sydney CBD.

Plus you can enjoy the beautiful Rose Gardens, and take in the local culture on the Southern Highlands Art Studio Trail.

This fifth Southern Highlands Art Studio Trail event will be held on:

6 & 7 November 2010 – Studios in Aylmerton, Balmoral, Bowral, Braemar, Burradoo and Mittagong.
20 & 21 November 2010 – Studios in Bundanooon,Burrawang, Canyonleigh, Fitzroy Falls, Medway, Moss Vale, Robertson and Wildes Meadow.

There is free entry from 10AM -4PM each day.

Meet local artists and artisans producing paintings, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, sculpture, woodwork, mosaics, bookmaking, ceramics and more.

You can obtain further information from Jenny Kena ph: 02 4868 0855 Mob: 0438 298 989 email: jenny.kena@wsc.nsw.gov.au or by CLICKING HERE

Tertini Wines

 Tertini Wines, who scooped the pool of prizes at the 2008 Southern Highlands Wine Show, sold off a cancelled export order of their 2003 and 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon/ Merlot at bargain basement prices.

Those who dropped in to the Tertini Cellar Door at Kells Creek, near Mittagong, quickly enough cleared out these easy-drinking reds in record time.