South Coast Zone Wines

This Zone includes all of coastal New South Wales south of the city of Newcastle and east of the Great Dividing Range. It stretches from the Hunter Valley through the city of Sydney right down to the Victorian border

It contains two declared regions in the South Coast Zone - the Shoalhaven Coast Region centred around the City of Nowra and the Southern Highlands Region inland from Wollongong.

There are a few wineries scattered throughout the Zone outside of the regions. It is possible some of these wineries may be organised into regions in the future if enough vineyards and wineries are established to satisfy the requirements. However it seems more likely that most new vineyard development in NSW will be on the inland side of the Great Dividing Range.

The climate is influenced by the proximity to the Pacific Ocean, a mixed blessing, for while it moderates the extremes of temperature it also brings humidity and unwelcome rain during summer and vintage.

One plus for the Zone is that it is in a popular tourist region, allowing wineries to sell to a growing market.

What the region does show is that with research, hard work and persistence wine can be grown in climates which textbooks will tell you is far from ideal. Varietal selection is just one aspect of making good wine in difficult areas.

Wineries Using Alternative Varieties

• Belgrave Park Winery Marsanne, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Viognier
• Cobbitty Wines Barbera, Grenache, Trebbiano
• Disaster Bay Wines Malbec, Mourvedre, Petit verdot
• Lyrebird Ridge Organic Winery Chambourcin
• Rusty Fig Wines Graciano, Savagnin, Tempranillo, Verdelho
• Tilba Valley Chambourcin, Gewurztraminer
• Tizzana Winery Aleatico, Petit verdot

Visiting the South Coast Wine Region?

Vinodiversity's hotel booking service can get you the best deals for staying in hotel, motels, B&Bs cabins and resorts.

For example see these deals for Nowra, Bateman's Bay or Merimbula