Recently I had the pleasure of being taken away for the weekend to the Southern Highlands and discovered one of the true treasures of NSW's wine country. With the McGuigan family hailing from the Hunter Valley it has always been the first place that my mind goes to when wine regions come up in conversation. Over the last 30 years the Hunter Valley has developed beautifully and it is a fantastic place to go for a weekend away. There are however some other regions in NSW that aren't quite as mature as the Hunter that are producing beautiful wines and offer a weekend getaway at a fraction of the price.
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| Centennial Winery |
In a large city like Sydney the seasons blend smoothly and are difficult to distinguish rather than a cold chill one day that tells you the sunshine has gone for a while. Whereas in the Southern Highlands the vibrancy of the changing colours of the leaves in all shades of orange from a gold to auburn act as curtains down the streets and into the distance. It is truly like driving through a painting, and this is just the beginning.
The main area in Bowral has charming shops and cafes filled with delicious treats for a mid morning stop after the drive from Sydney. Only an hour and a half from Sydney, you can be in Bowral driving through the tree lined streets before you know it.
The wineries are a little further out but are a delight to find. I was taken by a local to visit the Centennial winery which is the first five star winery in the Southern Highlands. It is an absolutely beautiful place to visit with gorgeously manicured gardens that lead up the driveway to the winery itself.
The Southern Highlands is a cool climate region with about 60 vineyards and 10 wineries. Cool climate wines generally have a long growing season where the warmth of the day is minimal. This means that the grapes take a longer time to ripen than in warmer climates and therefore elegant wines with finesse can be produced. Personally I prefer wines from regions like this as they are light and easy to drink without food as an aperitif.
In the tasting room at Centennial there we were greeted by lovely knowledgeable staff who helped us taste through a number of wines on offer. Among the ones we tried were the Pinot Chardonnay Sparkling which is a delicious crisp sparkling made in the traditional French method; the Brut Rose, which was light pink in colour and a little sweeter to taste with a bit of a berry essence. Of the two sparklings we preferred the Pinot Chardonnay and bought a bottle for $27.99.
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| Pinot Grigio |
Of the whites I tried the chardonnay and the Pinot Grigio which were both delicious and easy to drink. They both sell for $21.99 and are definitely worth trying at some point. Finally the reds were lovely. Centennial are definitely innovators in their attempt to try new and different varieties including Sangiovese and Tempranillo. Out of these reds personally I prefer the spice and hot Spaniard that the Tempranillo grape offers. This variety is light like a pinot noir but has a hint of spice like Shiraz without the Dracula affect on ones teeth. Tempranillo is another story all together though, one deserving its own blog.
In summary, for those looking for a weekend getaway that is close to Sydney, not too expensive and offers plenty of culinary and viticultural delights the Southern Highlands is the place to go. Check out the tourism link below for more ideas.
Until next time, have a glass for me. Alex Mac.
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