Experience a stay at Cupitt’s Winery on the New South Wales south coast and enjoy the best of Shoalhaven food, wine and beaches!

The Shoalhaven region on the southern coast of New South Wales (NSW), is fast becoming ‘the place’ to experience great food, award-winning wines, luscious green hills and countryside and some of the best beaches in Australia! Shoalhaven is the ultimate example of Australian wine tourism, where you can enjoy great wines and foods, with a fabulous, unforgettable coastal holiday. 

Never heard of ‘Shoalhaven’ before? No, neither had we, until we had the opportunity to spend some time there recently and we were completely hooked! The scenery is simply stunning, the climate is wonderful and the quality of food and wine experiences here is a revelation! We based ourselves at Cupitt’s Estate - a top Shoalhaven coast winery - and we are delighted to be sharing our experiences here with you now! We also visited another top Shoalhaven coast winery, Coolangatta Estate.

We hope that you’ll also have the opportunity to discover Shoalhaven and that this article will help you plan your visit!   

More about Shoalhaven, NSW

The Shoalhaven region is bordered by mountains, coastal plains and 100 magnificent beaches, featuring some of the best beaches in Australia, with the whitest sands,  including the magnificent Jervis Bay (see later).

The Shoalhaven region also includes some 49 towns and villages, 9 winery cellar doors, some top restaurants including Rick Stein at Bannisters Restaurant, Mollymook, some great shopping in the towns of Berry or Milton, national parks, mountains, verdant farmland, beautiful nature and it’s a New South Wales wine region steeped in cultural history.  

Where is Shoalhaven?

The Shoalhaven region, NSW, stretches from the lush rainforests of the Kangaroo Valley and the quaint country town of Berry in the north, along many miles of exquisite beaches, and on to Durras in the South.

Shoalhaven is about 2 hours drive - some 160 kilometres south of Sydney - so within easy reach to take a few days out of the city, on the beautiful New South Wales south coast.

Map of Shoalhaven

 The Shoalhaven wine region

Shoalhaven is a relatively young New South Wales wine region, but thanks to the region’s natural beauty, the thriving food scene, the warm, mild temperatures and the rich fertile soils, it’s gaining a growing presence on the Australian wine map.

Shoalhaven wine

There are approximately 41 hectares of vineyards here and warm, mild temperatures and rich fertile soils help produce some great wines - in fact Shoalhaven wineries have won over 1,000 awards for their wines.

The key grape varieties in the Shoalhaven wine region include Semillon, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Sauvignon blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet sauvignon and the region’s signature grape, Chambourcin, a French Bordeaux grape known as the ‘coastal Shiraz’. All pair well with the local seafood in the Shoalhaven region.

Shoalhaven coast wineries

Shoalhaven is a region with award-winning boutique wine growers and winemakers, only happy to chat with visitors at 9 different Cellar Doors, 5 offering boutique accommodation. You can experience a range of cellar door wine tastings, vineyard tours and casual and fine dining - and all, without exception, offer a warm welcome and a stunning setting. What makes Shoalhaven unique is that you can combine wine tasting, with superb food, nature and adventure, with most of the cellar doors being located close to the coast or the mountains.

See here for an introduction to the 9 Shoalhaven wineries and their offerings.

Note also that Southern Highlands winery Tractorless Vineyards also has a Cellar Door in Shoalhaven, in Vincentia, in the heart of Jervis Bay.

We spent a couple of days exploring beautiful Shoalhaven and took the opportunity to visit 2 Shoalhaven wineries: Coolangatta Estate, overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Shoalhaven Heads and the Shoalhaven River and Cupitt’s Estate, close to the beautiful coastal resorts of Mollymook and Ulladulla.

Firstly, a review of our 2 night stay at the wonderful Cupitt’s Estate… 

Our stay at Shoalhaven coast winery - ‘Cupitt’s Estate’

When planning our few days on the Shoalhaven coast we searched for a winery with accommodation and a restaurant, located close to the beach and Cupitt’s Estate seemed to meet our requirements - and more - perfectly!

A family business, with a stated ‘passion for sustainability, the environment, authentic hospitality and farm-to-plate food, we were excited to arrive and spend time discovering Cupitt’s and the local beaches, towns and countryside.

A stay at Cupiit’s promises to offer a one-stop shop gastronomic experience - we were keen to discover if reality matched the promise!

Watch the video here:

About Cupitt’s Estate

Cupitt’s is located in the rolling hills of Ulladulla and the property offers spectacular views over Burrill Lake, the Budawang mountain ranges, Morton National Park and Pigeon House Mountain.

Cupitt’s Estate is a wonderful family story - some 15-20 years in the making! Having sold their successful farm and hotel in the Southern Highlands, Rosie and Griff Cupitt decided to purchase 38 hectare Washburton Farm on the NSW south coast, near the coastal town of Ulladulla and the charming town of Milton. The farm was purchased initially to graze black Aberdeen Angus cattle, but soon after they purchased the property and land, they decided to dedicate some of the land to growing vines. Then slowly over the years, with the help of 2 sons Tom and Wally and Tom’s wife Libby, they have grown a highly successful and unique food and wine destination, with a vineyard and winery, a very popular restaurant a brewery and luxury villa style accommodation.

We were fortunate to spend some time with Rosie, Wally and Libby who showed us around the estate and shared their story with us…

Cupitt’s winery and wines

Rosie Cupitt, Head Winemaker first planted vines in 2003 and produced the first Cupitt’s wines in 2007. Today the family farm 0.45 hectares of vineyard, planted with mainly Sauvignon blanc. They also buy in ‘cool climate' grapes from other growers and in total produce a large range of wines and wine styles, from some 14 different grape varieties. The Shoalhaven coastal climate here is maritime, with a strong Pacific coastal influence on temperatures.

Rosie’s son Wally has now taken over from his mother as Head Winemaker and both remain influenced by and inspired by French winemaking, in particular the wines of the Loire Valley and Sancerre and producers such as Alphonse Mellot. The wine philosophy at Cupitt’s is to let the wines develop naturally to fully express the region and the varietal and to create wines with structure and complexity.

We had the opportunity to go down into the wine ‘cave’ underground where the wines are made and stored and we tasted some very young wines, including a Chardonnay and a Shiraz, which showed excellent promise! A new winery is planned for the near future as the family continue to extend and develop their business. 

Cupitt’s sells their wines mainly through their cellar door and in their restaurant. The range of wines they produce is in part driven by having the right choice of wines to wine styles to pair with the dishes they offer in their restaurant.

Cupitt’s cellar door

The Cupitt’s Cellar Door is open every day 11am-5pm, offering a range of experiences, including a ‘behind the scenes’ experience in the wine cave, tasting wines with the winemaker. Cupitt’s Estate Cellar Door was awarded the ‘Star Cellar Door’ Award in Gourmet Traveller Wine’s 2021 Best Cellar Door Awards.

The Cellar Door is actually housed in a historic building, which used to be a creamery, built in 1851 when the estate was a dairy farm. We enjoyed a fabulous, fun and interesting tasting here during our stay, giving us an excellent introduction to all of the wines. 

Cupitt’s beer

Cupitt’s micro-brewery was added in 2014 and today produces a popular and highly reputable range of craft beers. In fact, Cupitt’s brewery is now the longest running brewery in Shoalhaven. The range of beers sits well alongside the range of wines, available in the bar or restaurant. We enjoyed a refreshing beer before our dinner in the restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed it!

Cupitt’s restaurant 

​​Cupitt’s popular, award-winning restaurant, known as one of the best on the south coast, was first opened in 2007 and is open for lunch every day of the week and dinner Tuesday-Saturday. Diners can choose from casual dining on the lawn/terrace and an à la carte dinner menu, with dishes featuring as much estate grown fruit, vegetables and herbs as possible, consistent with the family’s sustainable and ‘farm to table’ philosophy.

Dishes also reflect the wonderful coastal and country location of the restaurant, with the best of what the sea and the land have to offer each season.

Cupitt’s has built an excellent reputation for its restaurant and we could see why. Not only was the food delicious, the recommended wine pairings were excellent and the ambience and service superb. A key attraction is also the fabulous views from the restaurant, terrace and lawn - this is absolutely a place where you can kick back, relax and enjoy the simple pleasures in life! 

Cupitt’s accommodation

In 2022 Cupitt’s launched its luxury, boutique winery accommodation offering, in the form of 10 cabin-style or ‘pod’ villas, 4 of which are deluxe, with a fabulous free-standing bath on the outdoor balcony. These villas are designed to provide the ultimate couples’ getaway, with everything you would want for a luxury night away in the most beautiful vineyard location. Note that children are welcome and can be accommodated!!

All villas are equipped with all the modern amenities, wifi and air conditioning/heating as well as thoughtful little gestures, which make staying here such a treat and luxury. Each villa has a really comfortable king-size bed, a great bathroom with rainfall shower, a central living space and a fabulously equipped kitchenette. There is a full sized fridge, stocked with beer and wine of course, coffee/tea making facilities and lots of goodies that are either free or available to purchase. We really loved the welcome note and continental breakfast hamper, with superb sourdough bread, which greeted us on arrival.

We were fortunate enough to stay in one of the 4 deluxe villas with a bath on the balcony, from where you can relax, undisturbed, enjoying the incredible countryside views - this is a real differentiator and a wonderful luxury feature! 

Sustainability

Sustainability is practised across the estate, with the aim of making a lasting impact on the community, with minimal impact on the environment. This philosophy really shone through as we explored the estate and spent time with the family - sustainability is core to everything that has been achieved and core to future developments.

Summary of our visit and stay at Cupitt’s Estate

Whether you wish to dine, taste some wines, or just enjoy a beer or a glass of wine on the lawn or terrace, enjoying some entertainment - or you wish to make a stay of it, then we can highly recommend Cupitt’s Estate. For us, it’s all about the special mix of great wine, great beer, great food, luxury, boutique accommodation, a great setting and a superb location in stunning countryside, close to a most spectacular coast and beaches.

We totally loved it here - we had 2 most relaxing days here and loved everything about Cupitt’s. Something else that really struck and impressed us was the direct involvement in everything by the family and also their accessibility - and the friendliness of all of the staff. A great hospitality business is based on great people, great leadership and a winning team - and Cupitt’s has this in spades!

Our visit to Coolangatta Estate Winery

We left Cupitt’s Estate and headed back north, by-passing Jervis Bay (see later) and making our way to the northern side of the Shoalhaven river, where there is a cluster of 3 Shoalhaven wineries, Two Figs Winery, Mountain Ridge Wines and Coolangatta Estate. We opted to visit the latter, Coolangatta Estate, not because it offers wine, dining and accommodation - so another great wine tourism destination in beautiful Shoalhaven - but also because it’s the most awarded wine estate on the south coast and it has a long and fascinating history!

On arrival we were met by Bruno Corletto, our guide, who has worked at the estate and with the family for many years. Bruno gave us a comprehensive tour of the estate and led an excellent wine tasting!

About Coolangatta Estate

Coolangatta Estate is located in Shoalhaven Heads, in the north of the region,  surrounded on 3 sides by rural landscape and vineyards, but overlooking the Pacific ocean and the Shoalhaven river. Coolangatta Estate is named after the extinct volcano which overlooks the property and vineyards today and it is owned by the third generation Bishop family.

Today Coolangatta is regarded as an historic estate. This part of the coast is where the Europeans first arrived in 1822, after landing in Sydney. Alexander Berry acquired the estate in 1822 from Governor McQuairie and he was the first to plant vines here. Coolangatta was the premium estate in the colony in the 1860s and there is lots of evidence of this history walking round the estate today.

In the grounds you can see a stunning fig tree - the ‘Port Jackson fig tree’ - planted by Berry in 1822 and said to be the ‘first tree planted by white men’ on the south coast.

You can explore the old buildings on the estate including the original Great Hall - the oldest building on the estate - now 200 years old. It is the most historic building on the south coast. You can see Alexander Berry’s old office, his sword and the original estate vault.

The estate, which had fallen into ruin during the Depression, was purchased after the 2nd World War by Collin Bishop and after 20 years working the farm, he restored and renovated the property to its former glory. He planted vines in the 1980s and his son, Greg is now the viticulturist.

Coolangatta wines

Coolangatta is a 300 acre estate, with 30 acres under vine today. The cooler, humid, coastal climate at Shoalhaven Heads is quite different to further south down the coast at Cupitt’s Estate. The vinesthrive in the ocean breezes and the rich volcanic soils in the foothills of the ‘Coolangatta mountain’ and the organic soils of the Shoalhaven river.

The ocean breezes are important as they help to dry the fruit and counteract the high levels of humidity. Without these breezes the grapes would suffer from mould.

Coolangatta uses just their own farmed grapes for their wines, but all of their wines are actually made by top Hunter Valley winery, Tyrrell’s, with whom the family has a long-standing association.

The grapes are organically farmed and the focus is on producing quality fruit, not quantity. 11 different grape varieties are grown, but Coolangatta is known primarily for its dry white wines and Semillon in particular. The humid climate suits the production of dry white wines, but it’s much more challenging here to produce typical Australian style red wines.

Coolangatta has won over 200 awards for its wines and has just celebrated 200 awards in 200 years of history. 

Coolangatta wine tourism

Coolangatta Estate offers a unique wine tourism experience. 

You can enjoy a range of wine tastings at the Cellar Door (open daily), or perhaps a private wine tasting experience in the heritage listed “Great Hall”, including a tour of the vineyards. The range of tours also includes the premium tour, which gets you a guided tour through the historic estate, a tour of the vineyards, a tasting and a delicious ‘deli board’ to accompany it!

You can stay overnight in one of the historic, convict-built cottages on the estate - there are 26 rooms in total, offering a real slice of Australian history - as well as grounds offering a croquet lawn, outdoor pool and tennis court to enjoy! Or you can simply take a stroll through the estate’s historic grounds and then enjoy the views and fresh local produce in the restaurant.

Our wine tasting at Coolangatta

Bruno treated us to a wonderful wine tasting, where he introduced us to 9 different Coolangatta wines, starting with 2 Semillons - a younger Semillon (2017), which was beautifully mineral and salty, reflecting the coastal climate. This was followed by an amazing aged Semillon (2011), which was very complex, with a long finish - it was superb with some local cheeses Bruno suddenly produced!!

We then had a 2021 Savignon/Sauvignon blanc blend which we loved, followed by a 2021 Verdelho and a late harvest, semi-sweet Savignon/Sauvignon blanc blend called ’12 Convicts’ which we loved (and brought a bottle away to enjoy with a Thai meal later)!

We then enjoyed a dry, fuller-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon rosé and an off-dry sparkling rosé. We finished with 2 reds which thrive in this climate - a ‘Chambercin’ (Bordeaux  grape), a lighter body rosé which thrives in this coastal climate and a ‘Tannat’ - another French grape - a bit more fuller bodied, with good tannins - the main grape of Uruguay.

Coolangatta has experimented over time to find grapes which flourish here and they seem to have got it right! 

Summary of our visit to Coolangatta Winery Estate

We find it’s always good to visit different wineries within a region, as they can offer a very different perspective and experience. Coolangatta is a really respected producer of excellent wines and it was fantastic to experience the wines, as well as the fascinating history of the estate.

We would really recommend paying a visit to Coolangatta if you’re in Shoalhaven, we thoroughly enjoyed it! Thanks to Bruno who was a really excellent guide!

Planning a trip to the Shoalhaven - New South Wales south coast 

If you’re planning a trip to Australia and looking for ideas of where to visit just 2 hours from Sydney, then Shoalhaven needs to be on your list! Especially If you love pristine beaches, stunning countryside, charming towns and villages, amazing nature and wonderful wine and food!

We spent a few days here, based initially in beautiful Jervis Bay, in the heart of Shoalhaven, then we moved down to Ulladulla and Mollymook in the south of the region, staying at Cupitt’s Estate for 2 nights, then back up north to Shoalhaven Heads.

Our recommendation would be to base yourself around one of these 3 centres, Jervis Bay being the main centre for exploring the stunning beaches and there’s lots going on here, Shoalhaven Heads and Ulladulla are beautiful but quieter and the wineries are closer.

However it’s really easy to explore the whole region, wherever you’re based - just allow yourself at least 3 days to take it all in! 

When to visit Shoalhaven

The warm, mild climate make this a year-round destination! For sun and the beach, the Summer months of December through to February are best, but the Autumn months are beautiful (we went in April and it was fabulous) - and then October is always a good time, especially when it’s the South Coast Food & wine Festival!

Getting to Shoalhaven

The Shoalhaven region is about 2-3 hours drive from Sydney. You can get there by public transport, but it’s advisable to have a car as there’s just so much to see and explore.

Accommodation in Shoalhaven 

As mentioned before some of the wineries have accommodation, but check out these websites for lots of different accommodation options: Shoalhaven Tourism and Visit NSW.

Things to do in Shoalhaven

You aren’t short of things to see and do in Shoalhaven! There’s something for everyone. There is lots of  information and inspiration to read through, but here are a few Shoalhaven highlights:

Beaches in Shoalhaven

Firstly, the beautiful, pristine beaches for which the New South Wales south coast is famous! The whole coastline is just waiting to be explored, whether surfing is your thing, or snorkelling, swimming, walking or checking out nature! From Seven Mile Beach in the north, via the ‘White Sands Coast’ of Jervis Bay to the surf beaches of Mollymook, all the way to Pebbly and Depot Beach in the South, the beaches are incredible.

Our favourites were the huge, sweeping bay at Mollymook, with its great surf and large natural rock pool known as the 'Bogey Hole’, as well as the incredible white sands at Huskisson and famous Hyams Beach Jervis Bay. We also spent time at the stunning Honeymoon Bay, Jervis Bay, Long Beach and Currarong Beach, all near the resort of Currarong.

If you have the time, take up the 100 Beach Challenge!

Shoalhaven’s 3 protected parks

The beaches and nature of Booderee National Park were out of this world - especially Scottish Rocks where we enjoyed swimming and dolphin-watching! Jervis Bay National Park has incredible natural riches to explore and visit Jervis Bay Marine Park to learn more about the Ocean’s marine life. 

Jervis Bay whale watching

In May-November you can see migrating whales on the NSW south coast in the Shoalhaven region. Book a whale-watching boat from Huskisson or a dolphin cruise around Jervis Bay, which you can enjoy all year round! The fishing here is also great!

Contact Jervis Bay Wild or Discover Jervis Bay.

Shoalhaven towns and villages

When you fancy a break from the beach, make time to visit some of the lovely Shoalhaven towns and villages.

We enjoyed visiting the historic, country town of Berry, trendy, historic Milton, with its lovely cafés and boutiques, the picturesque harbour town of Ulladulla and bustling, laid-back Huskisson in the heart of Jervis Bay.

Restaurants in Shoalhaven

Food and gastronomy is a major attraction in the Shoalhaven - making the area very attractive for both food and wine enthusiasts! Eateries offer a modern Australian menu featuring local and native ingredients, with much of the produce sourced sustainably from local producers. Ulladulla is the largest fishing port on the south coast and fresh oysters are superb here - especially with a glass of Semillon!

Here is a list of popular cafés and restaurants in the Shoalhaven; ideas for a luxury ‘wine and dine escape’; a south coast ‘foodie trail’ and ideas for experiencing award-winning local produce.  

There are some top-rated restaurants in the Shoalhaven, including Cupitt’s Estate Restaurant as mentioned above; Rick Stein at Bannisters, Mollymook is a major draw, offering superb local fish and shellfish, simply cooked. (Bannisters also offers boutique hotel accommodation and a spa for a luxury getaway!). Also in Mollymook, there is a great Asian-fusion restaurant, Gwylo. 

Other recommended restaurants include South on Albany in Berry (10 minutes from Coolangatta Estate); The Gunyah, near Huskisson, Jervis Bay and Bangalay Dining at Shoalhaven Heads. 

Visit Kangaroo Valley

Visit the beautiful and tranquil Kangaroo Valley, in the Shoalhaven region, located between the Southern Highlands and the NSW south coast. Step back in time and into nature - explore the wonderful main street, with its great cafés and quirky vintage shops, see the historic Hampden Bridge with its large sandstone turrets or discover the beautiful Kangaroo River by canoe or kayak. (Don’t go to see kangaroos though!!!)

Planning your Shoalhaven wine tour:

Hopefully we have given you lots of ideas, information and inspiration for plan your own tour of beautiful Shoalhaven, but here are some other options:

• There are several local tour operators who organise Shoalhaven coast wine tours - check them out if you fancy checking onto a local tour 

• Here are some other ideas and inspiration for food and wine days out

• Or - take away the hassle and let us plan the perfect tour for you!

  We partner with an expert, local organisation called ‘Wild Food Adventures’, operating private, luxury, group tours and overnight stays in Shoalhaven. We can propose a fabulous ‘1 day private wine tour, visiting several top wineries, with lunch included, departing from either Sydney or Canberra’. Alternatively we can create and propose a totally bespoke wine tour and travel experience for you in Shoalhaven! Contact us to find out more!

Summary and personal highlights

It would be impossible to pick out any specific highlights as our whole Shoalhaven experience was one big highlight! If you get the chance make sure you visit - you won’t regret it! Nature, scenery, food, wine, climate - it simply has it all!

For more information:

There’s lots of information about Shoalhaven and Jervis Bay: See Visit Shoalhaven and there are excellent visitor centres in Ulladulla and Nowra. Also see Visit NSW -Jervis Bay & Shoalhaven.

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