From the joy of unearthing a prized black truffle to relishing the simple luxury of sipping a glass of local shiraz by a crackling fire, you’ll find plenty to love about the cool-climate Canberra District wine region, three hours’ drive southwest from Sydney. Here are some of the top experiences to savour.
Explore charming villages with all your senses
Slow down, inhale the fresh country air and get a feel for local life on a self-guided walking tour of the Canberra District’s delightful towns and villages, including Yass, Hall, Murrumbateman, Gundaroo and Gunning.
Step back in time in the heritage-listed 19th-century village of Gundaroo. The whole town, on the banks of the Yass River, is National Trust-listed, and the main street is an outdoor heritage museum. Then step inside restaurants and bars to enjoy forward-thinking wining and dining.
Settle in for a meal to remember at the beautifully refurbished 1865 Royal Hotel, where Grazing at Gundaroo’s seasonal menu focuses on fare from regional farmers. Choose two or three courses, then ask the sommelier to pair your pick with wines from local vineyards.
Follow your nose to Yass to pick up aromatic home-baked sourdough, delectable Danishes and buttery croissants at Clementine Bakery. Everything here is made in small batches by hand, using local ingredients and seasonal produce — taste the passion of its bakers as you take a bite.
Discover more tasty treats
Elevate a wine tasting at dreamy Shaw Wines in Murrumbateman with a gourmet meal at its Olleyville at Shaw Vineyard Estate, where the menu revolves around the central wood fire — think crispy baked barramundi and slow-cooked lamb that melts in your mouth.
Then immerse yourself in the world of cocoa at Murrumbateman Chocolate Co at Murrumbateman, where only the finest Belgian fair-trade couverture is used to craft the bonbons and blocks infused with local produce, including walnuts grown on site and cherries from the nearby Hilltops region.
From simple beginnings as an artisan smokehouse, the Poachers Pantry has grown to include the Smokehouse Restaurant, the Poachers Vineyard, a farm shop and cellar door. Enjoy a tasting at the cellar door, pick up gourmet smoked meats, then sit down to a three-course lunch featuring organic ingredients.
Embrace the community spirit during the Murrumbateman Moving Feast, held every October, and explore the region by roving degustation. Hop between the talented makers of Murrumbateman, sampling fine wine and food along the way. Or pick up produce and put together a picnic spread to nibble at while listening to live music.
Find your new favourite tipple
Build on your wine knowledge with a sampling of one of Australia’s hottest young wine regions. Start at pioneering Clonakilla in Murrumbateman, where you can enjoy a tasting at the bar, or cosy up by the fire with a glass of shiraz or chardonnay while gazing over the vines that helped first launch the wine region.
Or meet Ken Helm, of Helm Wines at Murrumbateman, who has been making acclaimed riesling and cabernet sauvignon since 1973. Discover just how delicious they are as you admire the historic setting of the estate’s tasting room, occupying the National Trust-listed 1888 Toual Public School House.
Ken’s daughter Stephanie Helm grew up learning about wine. In 2014, she branched out with her husband Benjamin Osborne to launch The Vintner’s Daughter. Stop by to get the ultimate taste of the local terroir in the distinctive wines bottled here, from sparkling chardonnay to syrah.
Be captivated by the well-structured wines at Lark Hill Winery, one of the original Canberra District vineyards, as you sip shiraz viognier or pinot noir in its handsome stone-walled cellar door.
Not a wine drinker? How about some mead? Take a trip back to 1879 at The Travellers Rest Inn, home to the Win’s Creek Meadery, where you can try this distinctive drink made with the brand’s own honey. Win’s also makes hand-crushed apple cider, craft-brewed soft drinks and honey beer, which you can sample in the restaurant or take away (along with gourmet honey products, arts and crafts) from the Bee-Spoke Gift Shop.
Meet friendly farm animals
Indulge your inner child with a visit to the cute farm animals at Babylon Farm, on the outskirts of Murrumbateman, where the alpacas, ponies and goats are guaranteed to make you smile. Take a tour to learn about life on the land, feel the warmth of the freshly laid eggs you collect, then find a shady spot to unfurl a picnic blanket and feast on local produce.
More feelgood farm animal fun awaits at Blackwattle Alpaca Farm, a working estate surrounded by wineries and with uplifting views of the Brindabella Range. Tour the property, revel in the cuteness of an alpaca cuddle and learn about the products their luxurious fibre is used to make.
Chalk up a whole new reason to love dogs on a visit to Turalla Truffles, in the historic Bungendore region, where you can join the owner and his Jack Russell terriers on a thrilling hunt for highly coveted black truffles. Pair your visit with a truffle-infused lunch, or take away a mouth-watering edible fungi nugget to flavour your meals at home.
Rug up in these cool stays
Stroll into the heart of historic Murrumbateman from your base at Abode Murrumbateman, which offers 50 stylishly appointed studio rooms set around a communal kitchen and guest lounge. Or sleep surrounded by vines at grand Wallaroo Estate, a Georgian-style mansion set on more than 120 hectares of gardens, including 10 hectares of vines. Take your pick of the four luxe rooms, then retire with a bottle of the estate’s sparkling wine or shiraz.
Get a literal buzz by opting to arrive at Lake George Winery by helicopter, followed by a wine tasting in the private cellar or a decadent lunch at Westering, the estate’s on-site restaurant. Retire to one of the property’s three tiny house stays, perhaps with a bottle of wine under your arm to sip as the setting sun casts a golden glow across the vineyards.
