Wine regions Australia - Hilltops

Hilltops   New South Wales

The Hilltops region is one of Australia's most exciting viticultural regions. Cool climate conditions allow for the production of elegant Chardonnay, powerful Semillon and complex Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. A region to watch with great interest.

The Hilltops Region centres on the town of Young famous for its cherries. The region in the Southern New South Wales Zone is part of the Murray-Darling Basin.

The first vines were planted in the 1860s by Croatian immigrant Nichole Jaspprizza with the express purpose of supplying grog to diggers on the surrounding goldfields. More family joined him in later years to work his extensive vineyards and orchards. The modern era began in 1969 when Peter Robertson planted vines and produced his own wine on his property Barwang. Other vineyards followed in the 1970s.

The region is planted with a range of grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Zinfandel. Not surprisingly cherry liquor is produced here.

Vines are grown at an elevation between 450 and 600m on a mix of deep gravelly red soils, basalt and sandy granite derived soils. The climate is continental, cool and dry with snow in winter and most rainfall occurring from mid spring to mid autumn.

Harvest time: late March to late April

Sites with more information:

• Welcome to Young