Contending for Wackiest Wine-Based Cocktail of the Year is the brilliantly named Boozla,a buzzy blend of gin,riesling,citrus syrup and soda. The refreshing sharpener is on tap at Nick O’Leary’s lively winery,perched in the picturesque Hall Valley with a bustling cellar door.

The polished concrete floor feels more inner-city than country,which is the perfect excuse to list a slab of seared Jersey-milk cheese from Marrickville’s Goldstreet Dairy,dolled up with compressed apple,fennel and another splash of riesling.

Chorizo and manchego croquettes with punchy pink peppercorn mayonnaise and bread-and-butter pickles are cracking comfort food;crisp-skinned Snowy Mountains trout is topped with a simple scattering of capers and dill.

Meanwhile,duck breast and confit leg,with carrot puree and plum sauce,makes a strong case for exploring more of O’Leary’s Canberra District shiraz. “Who’s driving?”

Continue thisseries

Southern Highlands&Tablelands

Up next

Laggan Pantry

Dishes shine with produce that’s as fresh as it gets.

Paste Australia

A royal Thai banquet? Head to the Highlands.

Previous

Flour Bar

A dawn-to-dinner destination that delivers on all fronts.

See all stories