5 Places to Try Sparkling Wine in the Southern Highlands

The Southern Highlands has a lot going for it when it comes to sparkling wine. Altitude, a cool climate and a long, slow ripening season help grapes retain the freshness and natural acidity that sparkling styles need.

It’s not just local opinion, either. Wine Australia names delicate sparkling wines among the region’s standout styles, alongside Chardonnay, Riesling and other cool-climate favourites.

So, where should you start? From small family-run vineyards to some of the Highlands’ best-known cellar doors, here are five places to put on your sparkling wine list. Four are also included in the Southern Highlands Tasting Pass.

1. Artemis Wines, Mittagong

Artemis has been part of the Southern Highlands wine story since brothers Anton and Mark Balog began making wine here in 1996. They were the first to plant Pinot Noir in the region and have since built an extensive range spanning reds, whites, rosé, sparkling wine and small-batch spirits.

For sparkling drinkers, look out for the Artemis NV Sparkling Cuvée, a dry brut-style sparkling made with extended lees ageing and partial maturation in French oak.

A Tasting Trails pass includes a wine tasting at the rustic Mittagong cellar door. As the wines being poured can change, it’s worth asking when you book whether the sparkling is currently part of the tasting.

Tasting Trails: Included
Location: Mittagong

2. Dawning Day Wines, Exeter

Dawning Day is at the other end of the scale: a small, family-owned micro-vineyard tucked away in Exeter.

Mike and Katrina Archer spent years building the vineyard and cellar door, with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay grown on the estate. Among its wines is the 2021 Estate Vintage Sparkling, made from hand-picked estate fruit using the traditional method.

There’s something particularly appealing about drinking sparkling wine at the place where the grapes were grown, especially at a cellar door this intimate.

The Tasting Trails experience lets you choose any three Dawning Day wines, served as 50ml pours. The selection varies, so if sparkling is the reason for your visit, check what’s being poured when you make your booking.

Tasting Trails: Included
Location: Exeter

3. Cherry Tree Hill Wines, Sutton Forest

Cherry Tree Hill is another family-run Southern Highlands producer with sparkling firmly in the line-up.

Its current range includes two very different options: the 2021 Sparkling Rosé, with strawberry and red-fruit characteristics, and a fresh 2025 Sparkling White.

The Tasting Trails pass includes a standard tasting of six Cherry Tree Hill wines, and the cellar door also accepts Tasting Credit towards eligible purchases. Again, the exact tasting selection can vary, so ask about the sparkling when you book.

It’s an easy one to add to a day exploring the southern end of the Highlands, particularly if you want to compare sparkling styles alongside the region’s Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Tasting Trails: Included
Location: Sutton Forest

4. Bendooley Estate, Berrima

Bendooley might be best known to visitors for its beautiful estate and famous Book Barn, but wine is very much part of the experience.

Its current sparkling range includes a Prosecco and an NV Cuvée, the latter a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay with stone-fruit characters and a crisp finish.

The Tasting Trails pass includes a one-hour tasting through a selection of Bendooley’s cool-climate wines. Which bottles make the tasting flight can change, so let the cellar door know if you’re particularly interested in trying one of the sparkling wines.

And if you’re making a day of Berrima, this is one of those stops where it’s tempting to allow a little more time than you originally planned.

Tasting Trails: Included
Location: Berrima

5. Centennial Vineyards, near Bowral

Centennial isn’t currently part of the Tasting Trails pass, but it would be difficult to talk about Southern Highlands sparkling wine without including it.

The Bowral vineyard sits at around 750 metres above sea level, and sparkling wine has long been an important part of the Centennial range. Its current collection includes several sparkling styles, including traditional-method wines.

There’s history behind them, too. Winestate reported in 2020 that Centennial’s Brut Traditionelle had already collected six trophies and ten gold medals, while one of its Late Disgorged sparklings spent almost ten years on lees before release.

More recently, Centennial’s traditional-method sparklings have continued to receive recognition, with its Blanc de Blancs and Grande Reserve Blanc de Noirs among the sparkling wines awarded Gold in the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion.

If sparkling is the main purpose of your Southern Highlands wine trip, Centennial deserves a place on the itinerary.

Tasting Trails: Not currently included
Location: Bowral

A few tips before you go

Sparkling wines and tasting lists change with vintages and availability, so don’t assume every wine mentioned here will automatically be part of a cellar-door tasting. If there’s one you particularly want to try, ask when you book.

Booking ahead is also a good idea, particularly on weekends and during busy periods in the Highlands. Some smaller cellar doors have limited capacity.

And don’t make the day only about wine. One of the pleasures of the Southern Highlands is mixing cellar doors with its villages, bakeries and local producers. With a Tasting Trails pass, you can even swap one of your wine stops for something to eat - Baked in Berrima and Berrima General Store & Café are among the food experiences included.

If you’re enjoying alcoholic tastings, nominate a designated driver or arrange alternative transport so everyone can enjoy the day responsibly.

Ready to explore? Choose a 3 or 5 Tasting Pass and build your own route through the Southern Highlands.