- Cupitt's Estate, Ulladulla (Image by Destination NSW)
Perched high above the Shoalhaven coastline, Mountain Ridge Wines offers some of the most expansive views in the region. From the vineyard, you can see farmland stretching down toward the coast, with the ocean clearly visible on a good day. The elevated position makes it a standout spot for scenery, especially when the weather is clear.
The cellar door and restaurant focus on simple, seasonal food designed to match the wine list, with a strong emphasis on local produce. It’s set up for relaxed, longer meals, particularly weekend lunches where people can take their time and enjoy the view.
It’s also a popular stop for visitors driving through the Shoalhaven, with the outlook across the valley and out to sea making it one of the more recognisable lookout-style vineyard settings on the South Coast.
Wine with a side of history. Dating back to 1822, Coolangatta Estate is one of Australia’s oldest vineyards, where centuries-old convict-built buildings still stand among the vines, giving the whole property a rich, old-world atmosphere you can feel as soon as you arrive.
Today, it blends that deep history with a relaxed cellar door experience, where you can taste locally produced wines right where they’re grown, surrounded by rolling vineyard views and heritage architecture. The estate isn’t just for a quick stop either, with accommodation on-site, you can settle in for the night and wake up to the quiet rhythm of the countryside.
Long tastings turn into lazy afternoons, and one visit easily becomes a weekend escape filled with wine, history, and a sense of stepping back into another era.
Small, scenic, and seriously charming, Two Figs Winery sits on a hillside overlooking the Shoalhaven River and surrounding valley, giving it a quiet, slightly tucked-away feel just outside Berry.
It’s a boutique cellar door focused on small-batch, estate-grown wines produced in limited quantities and mostly only available on-site. Tastings are personal and relaxed, with staff taking time to explain the wines and the vineyard behind them. The views are a standout, looking out over the river flats and rolling hills, with plenty of open space that makes it feel calm compared to larger, busier cellar doors in the region.
There’s no full restaurant here, but light grazing options are available to pair with tastings. Overall, it’s a simple, low-key winery experience for those wanting something more intimate and less commercial.
Tucked beneath Cambewarra Mountain Lookout, about 15 minutes from Nowra, Cambewarra Estate Winery is set in a peaceful inland pocket where the landscape shifts from coastal plains to escarpment and mountain foothills. It’s also a dog-friendly venue, so visitors can bring their pets along while they explore the grounds and enjoy the outlook.
The property combines vineyard views with a backdrop of bushland and rolling green hills, giving it a more inland wine experience that’s shaped by elevation and proximity to the mountain. The cellar door is welcoming and informal, with tastings designed to be approachable and unhurried.
On-site, the restaurant is built for lingering, with a focus on relaxed dining that encourages longer stays rather than quick visits. A standout offering is the high tea experience, served with a selection of teas and sweet and savoury bites, making it a popular option for groups and special occasions.
Set in peaceful countryside at Bawley Point, between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay. Bawley Vale Estate is a boutique, family-run winery producing small-batch South Coast wines. It’s relaxed, rustic, and deeply connected to its surroundings, the kind of place where tastings feel personal and unhurried, often hosted by the people who made the wine. A true family-run operation, giving you a behind-the-scenes feel you won’t get at bigger wineries.
Nestled beside a tranquil lake near the historic village of Central Tilba, Tilba Valley Wines is one of the southernmost established vineyards in NSW (making it a must-stop on your road trip). It’s known for its peaceful setting, friendly cellar door, and laid-back charm. Surrounded by rolling green hills and water reflections, it’s a fittingly serene end, or beginning, to a South Coast wine journey.
