Pack an appetite when you explore the Hilltops region, on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range in southwestern New South Wales. Feast on local fare in the handsome country towns of Young, Jugiong, Harden and Boorowa, and taste your way through the undulating countryside that produces some of the country's finest cherries, cool-climate wines and artisanal foods.

Explore cellar doors - and a craft brewery

The first grapes in the Hilltops area were planted during the gold rush of the 1860s, but it's only recently that this district started gaining recognition – wine critic James Halliday has described the Hilltops as one of the “most significant emerging cool-climate wine regions in Australia”. 

Come to the Hilltops in the cooler months to savour robust reds such as cabernet sauvignon and shiraz as well as Italian and Spanish varietals such as nebbiolo, sangiovese and tempranillo. In the warmer times of the year, sip prosecco, fiano, viognier and pinot gris alongside riesling, semillon and chardonnay. Get a taste for the terroir at the Hilltops Region Wine Cellar at the Hilltops Visitor Information Centre in Young. Step inside the historic Young Railway Station building and you'll notice a selection of Hilltops wines – including cherry wines – in one convenient spot.

You'll need to plan ahead to make the most of a day of taste-testing at Hilltops cellar doors. Make an appointment to sample signature Hilltops varietals such as shiraz, semillon and chardonnay at Chalker's Crossing, a few minutes' drive north of the Young town centre, where French-born winemaker Celine Rousseau has been tending to the grapes since the vineyard's first vintage in 2000.

Reserve a table to taste wines while enjoying gourmet platters and serene vineyard views at Grove Estate, a five-minute drive east of Young. Or book a Wine in the Vines experience to picnic in the vines and grassy lawns of the estate – bring your own chairs and blankets, and pick up your pre-ordered picnic basket and a bottle of the estate's The Italian (a blend of sangiovese, barbera, sagrantino and nebbiolo) at the cellar door. 

In historic Murringo, a further 15-minute drive east of Grove Estate, Trandari Wines cultivates exceptional nebbiolo and shiraz. Weekend tastings at the atmospheric Taubman and Webb Trading Post offer a chance to connect with the winemakers and understand their vision for these distinctive varieties.

Sample some interesting Italian-inspired wines at Freeman Vineyards in Prunevale, a 15-minute drive south of Young (by appointment only). This family winery boasts the only plantings of northern Italian grape varieties rondinella and corvina, which combine in the winery's award-winning Secco blend. 

After sampling some excellent Hilltops wines, refresh your palette with a craft ale at Bulla Creek Brewing Co in Monteagle, a 25-minute drive north of Young. Take in the chic tiled bar in the tasting shed of this small-batch brewery and sip one of the well-balanced beers on tap as you gaze out over the surrounding cow paddocks. 

Graze at local cafés and restaurants 

Set yourself up a perfect day in the Hilltops by dipping into Young's thriving café culture in the morning. Fuel up at Art of Espresso, which has won countless awards for its well-roasted beans – come back at night to discover it's also a well-loved music venue that has hosted renowned musicians such as Tim Rogers, Adalita and Deborah Conway. 

The passion for great coffee continues at S&Aj Café and Restaurant, where the coffee beans are roasted on site and only free-range meat and local market produce make it onto the menu. Feel connected to generations of Hilltops locals by devouring one of Wilders Bakery's award-winning cherry pies, quiches or savoury pies – the much-loved institution has been feeding Young since 1950.

After blissful hours exploring the countryside around town, settle into a wicker-backed chair at The Cranfield restaurant, wine bar and providore in Young's 19th-century Masonic Hall. Here the Hilltop's abundance of fresh produce shines through the weekly set menu. 

Stop in to nibble on locally sourced light fare as you sip on a comprehensive selection of Hilltops wines at the Absolutely Superb Bibliothèque and Occasional Wine Bar (or the Occasional, as it's known to locals) in Boorowa from Thursday to Saturday. 

And feel spoilt for choice of gourmet treats in the tiny town of Jugiong. Drop into the country food store and café Long Track Pantry for tempting souvenirs such as Wambidgee honey, hand-made blood orange and gin marmalade and pear and ginger chutney. Then grab a scoop of pavlova gelato (or one of the two dozen-plus other flavours) at its Lickety Splits gelato bar.

For a long lunch or lazy dinner, head next door to The Sir George, a restaurant, bar and artisan bakery set in a beautifully restored former tavern from 1852. Wash away the dust of the road in the front bar or beer garden before enjoying seasonal local produce expertly prepared under the guidance of executive chef Anthony Davis. Tempted to linger longer? Rest and recharge in one of the luxurious rooms in the restored Stone Stables, or enjoy the clean lines and modern palette of Sir George's Black Barn rooms.

Time your visit for cherry season

Feel the energy in the air as the Hilltops bursts into life in spring, with cherry blossom season from late September giving way to full bloom and the celebrations of National Cherry Festival in Young in early December. Become one with the local community at festival events such as the annual cherry pie-eating contest, the cherry pip-spitting competition and the street parade through the centre of town. 

Beyond the festival, Ballinaclash Fruit and Wine invites you to experience the simple pleasure of picking your own cherries from its orchards (November to December). Complete your visit with farm-gate treats such as cherry pies, cherry ice-cream, jams and sauces, and sample award-winning wines at its cellar door.

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