FRIDAY 25 JULY: We’ve hand-picked four favourite local wineries around the Shoalhaven to mark International Wine & Cheese Day today, 25 July – though really, we think it’s an everyday celebration. Each vineyard is just a short, easy drive from Jervis Bay, making it the perfect base for a day of sipping and sampling. From coastal cellar doors to hillside vineyards, these wineries bring together great wine, local cheese, and the kind of laid-back charm our region is known for.
Where the Mountain Meets the Sea: A Shoalhaven Celebration at Mountain Ridge Wines
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Illawarra Escarpment and just a short drive from Berry, Mountain Ridge Wines is a South Coast favourite where restaurant manager Mel Daly shares the mountain meets the sea and where time seems to slow just enough for a second glass.
Mel has been with Mountain Ridge for more than seven years, managing the restaurant for nearly four and for her, International Wine & Cheese Day is a bit of fun and a great reminder of just how much work, care and passion goes into every glass.
“It’s the perfect excuse to enjoy a glass of wine and a bite of cheese,” she says. “But it’s also a great way to introduce people to what we do here. Whether you’re new to wine or a total enthusiast, there’s something for everyone.”
After years working alongside the winemaking team, Mel’s seen the whole process from vine to pour. “You really come to appreciate the environmental challenges, the care that goes into every step. There’s so much love behind each bottle.”
For International Wine Day, the focus is simple: “It’s about creating an experience that’s relaxed, local, and a little bit special – something people want to come back for.”
Mel shared the perfect estate-grown favourites to pair with their delicious seasonal menu. Like the crisp, zesty Semillon, laced with hints of green capsicum alongside soft goat’s cheese or a fresh ceviche. “It’s perfect with seafood, especially our coconut crusted prawns.”
For something a little different, The Driveway is a real standout, a bright, easy-drinking blend of Chardonnay and Arneis. Grown on either side of the property’s entrance, this small but beautifully balanced crop delivers generous notes of white peach, nectarine and tropical fruit. It pairs beautifully with creamy brie or camembert, or for something warmer, the vineyard’s oven-baked brie served fresh and melty.
If you’re in the mood for bubbles, the sparkling Chambourcin Cabernet is a house favourite. Lively and full of red fruit character, it complements a washed-rind cheese or something nutty like gruyère. “It’s also fantastic with our twice-cooked pork ribs or a good artisan pizza,” says Mel.
Red wine lovers will enjoy the Nebbiolo Cabernet, a smooth, medium-bodied blend with soft earthy notes that works well with aged cheddar or blue cheese. It’s especially comforting during the cooler months, alongside a flatbread or one of the vineyard’s generous grazing boards.
Mountain Ridge isn’t just about the wine. The kitchen leans into local produce and share-style plates that encourage long, leisurely lunches. Indoors, there’s a crackling fireplace and outdoors, plenty of space to soak in the views with family and friends.
With its genuine hospitality, commitment to sustainability, and a deep respect for the land it grows on, Mountain Ridge offers more than a cellar door; it’s a South Coast destination. And on International Wine & Cheese Day, it’s exactly the kind of place to raise a glass to simple pleasures done well.
Bookings are recommended, especially on weekends and for groups.
11 Coolangatta Road, Coolangatta, (02) 4448 5825
Wine, Cheese & South Coast Charm: A Perfect Match at Cambewarra Estate
There’s something undeniably satisfying about the pairing of good wine and great cheese especially when enjoyed with mountain views and coastal air. Just inland from the Shoalhaven River, Cambewarra Estate offers the perfect setting to toast International Wine & Cheese Day in your own time this weekend or whenever the mood strikes.
The boutique, family-run winery is known for creating relaxed, memorable food and wine experiences. While not officially marking the occasion, a visit here feels like a celebration in itself. Owner Brett shared two of their current favourites: the vibrant 2022 Estate Rosé, paired with a soft goat cheese, and the 2023 Vintage Chambourcin – a rich, elegant red that stands up beautifully to a bold washed rind.
If you’re planning to linger (and we suggest you should), their cheese board is a local highlight. A rotating selection of goat’s cheese, blue and washed rind from nearby producers is served with house-made spiced apple chutney, Shoalhaven honeycomb and crackers.
Brett shares you can create your own flight for 60 mins, $30 per person. Choose up to six wines to explore, paired with a little something to nibble – cheese, chocolate or whatever’s fresh and local. Great for couples or small groups. Add a grazing plate, cheese board or antipasto to round it out.
If you don’t have time for a full tasting experience or wish to taste in your own time, try their $25 wine paddle, which is a tasting pour of any four of their wines.
Either way, you have the makings of a very good day. Vines at your feet, Cambewarra Mountain in the distance, and no reason to rush. Who says you need a special day to enjoy the best of the South Coast?
Bookings recommended, especially on weekends.
520 Illaroo Rd Bangalee (02) 4446 0170
Raise a Glass to Two Figs Winery
Two Figs Winery is a must-stop on the Shoalhaven Coast wine trail. Just 36 minutes from Huskisson, 15 minutes from the township of Berry and perched high above the Shoalhaven River, the views are nothing short of stunning: rolling farmland, winding river, and on a clear day Coolangatta Mountain in the distance. It’s the kind of spot you’ll want to linger, sipping award-winning wines in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
Two Figs Winery, named for the towering Moreton Bay figs that mark its entrance, is a boutique winery producing around 5,000 cases of premium wine each year. Fruit is sourced from on-site Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon vines, along with select parcels from Hilltops near Goulburn, giving their range both local character and regional depth. The winery is known for its small-batch, sustainably made wines.
Sharing with us, cellar door manager of six years Robbie Gillespie is currently enjoying the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon and says this is one of the standout reds this season. Their Cabernet has a lovely herbaceous aroma – this is a wine of complexity and intrigue. Elegant and expressive, this wine opens with floral aromatics and vibrant fruit character. A gentle touch of oak lets the cassis and dark berry flavours take centre stage, making it a refined and versatile winter pour.
Robbie also recommends pairing it with slow-roasted lamb shoulder and a goat’s cheese, rocket and pomegranate salad, rich, balanced and full of flavour. The Cabernet Sauvignon is available at the cellar door for $38 a bottle.
To complement your visit and tasting, try their cheese platters showcasing local favourites: Nowra Farmhouse Brie, Tilba Vintage Cheddar, Far Meadow’s Marinated Baby Figs, and The Treat Factory’s Mustard Pickles. Each platter serves 2-4 people and is priced at $32, perfect for grazing alongside a glass or two.
The cellar door has recently been updated and now offers seated tastings with beautiful local produce plates. It’s an ideal spot to slow down, sip and take in the view. Two Figs Winery offers seated tastings hosted by their friendly cellar door team.
Tastings are available for groups of up to six. For larger groups of seven or more, wine is served by the glass or bottle with cheese plates available at their outdoor tables, weather permitting.
If you’re exploring local wineries this season with a view, Two Figs is a must-visit.
905 Bolong Rd Berry (02) 4448 5003
Cuppit’s Estate: in the Glass and on the Plate
Speaking with Libby Cuppitt, it’s clear the team at Cupitt’s Estate is in a good groove particularly when it comes to what’s pouring in the glass right now.
Libby shares their 2023 Nebbiolo has been disappearing fast from the shelves, and it’s easy to see why. Aromatically lifted with delicate rose petals, cherry and blackcurrant, it’s a wine that balances elegance with depth. “Nebbiolo is fragrant, savoury and structured everything we love about the variety,” says Libby. “It’s a bit of a ‘when you know, you know’ wine, but once you’re into it, you’re hooked. Especially when paired with food.”
There’s a rustic, earthy edge that harks back to its Italian roots with this wine, all carried by supple tannins and a long, graceful finish all aged in seasoned Hungarian oak puncheons – larger barrels than the standard barrique – which slows the ageing process, allowing the wine to develop with grace, giving a gentler oak influence and enhancing its subtle complexity.
While Cupitt’s no longer makes their own cheese, they still serve up a few deeply satisfying dishes that lean in to that same handmade, seasonal spirit.
One in particular has become a firm favourite on their Wine Garden menu: a round of Nowra farmhouse brie, roasted until it reaches peak ooze, then drizzled with Parnell’s honey and topped with toasted walnuts and crisp sourdough. “It’s indulgent and comforting,” says Libby, something to share, especially with a glass of Malbec with its savoury tannins cut through the richness of the cheese, bringing everything back into balance. And if you’re more in the mood for white, Libby suggests a chilled glass of Fiano, its salt, citrus and freshness make the pairing sing.
Whether it’s Nebbiolo by the fire or brie under the sun as it dips behind Pigeon House Mountain, Cupitt’s Estate continues to offer the kind of moments that make you want to linger just a little longer.
If you want a glimpse beyond the cellar door, book a Tour & Taste experience for up to 12 guests to explore the vineyard and winery before a guided tasting of six wines in the underground cellars, $60pp. Or sample the wares with a wine tasting at the cellar door, $15pp (waived when you buy 2+ bottles).
58 Washburton Rd Ulladulla NSW 2539, (02) 4455 7888
