Blue Mountains Cellar Doors: Wine, Cider & Spirits

The Blue Mountains has three kinds of cellar door within a short drive of each other: boutique wineries in the Megalong Valley, cideries and a distillery on the Bells Line of Road at Bilpin, and historic Hawkesbury wineries at the foot of the mountain. Here’s where to taste wine, cider and spirits, and how to string them together into a day.

Wineries in the Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains’ own vineyards are in the Megalong Valley, about 20 minutes below Blackheath.

• Dryridge Estate (226 Aspinall Road, Megalong Valley): a boutique vineyard with wines and cheese platters under the sandstone escarpments. Cellar door Saturday 11am–5pm, Sunday 11am–4pm, and weekdays by appointment.
• Megalong Creek Estate (Aspinall Road, Megalong Valley): a family-run vineyard making single-vineyard Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Pinot and Shiraz. The grapes are hand-picked on site. Bookings are available online.

Hawkesbury wineries near the Bells Line of Road

At the eastern foot of the Bells Line of Road, the Hawkesbury has some of the oldest vineyards in the state.

• Tizzana Winery (518 Tizzana Road, Ebenezer): set in a National Trust-classified sandstone building from 1887. Open weekends and by appointment.
• Jubilee Vineyard Estate (519 Tizzana Road, Ebenezer): in a valley running down to the Hawkesbury River, with weekend tastings.
• Bull Ridge Estate (430 Bull Ridge Road, East Kurrajong): grows four grape varieties, with tastings by arrangement.

Cider in Bilpin

Bilpin is the Blue Mountains’ apple country, and two cideries on the Bells Line of Road make cider from local fruit. Both serve food, so they’re a natural lunch stop.

• Bilpin Cider Co (2369 Bells Line of Road): ciders including Bilpin Original, Blush Pink Lady, Archibald Cloudy and a pear cider.
• Hillbilly Cider (2230 Bells Line of Road): crushed cider made the simple way from Bilpin apples.

Spirits: The Old Shed Distillery

The Old Shed Distillery (2419 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin) is our family’s cellar door. We make gin, vodka, a single malt whisky and cellos from fruit and botanicals grown in Bilpin. Tastings are free. Tasting boards are $24 for any two spirits (excluding whisky) or $55 for any four spirits including whisky, each with your choice of two Sodasmith mixers. We’re open Thursday to Sunday from 11am, and every day in the NSW school holidays. Dogs are welcome.

Craft beer

• Gypsy Fox Brewing Co (North Richmond): a dog-friendly taproom pouring small-batch beers, often with food trucks.

Planning a Blue Mountains cellar door day

• The Bells Line of Road loop: start with a Hawkesbury winery in the morning, head up the mountain for lunch at a Bilpin cidery, then finish with a tasting at The Old Shed. See our guide to things to do in Bilpin for orchards and stops along the way.
• A Megalong Valley day: base yourself around Blackheath and spend the afternoon at the valley’s vineyards.
• Let someone else drive: Hawkesbury Valley Winery Tours runs day trips through Bilpin, so nobody has to be the designated driver. If you are driving, designated drivers get a free small sample of each Old Shed spirit except whisky.

Are there wineries in the Blue Mountains?

Yes. The Blue Mountains’ vineyards are in the Megalong Valley, near Blackheath, including Dryridge Estate and Megalong Creek Estate. Closer to Bilpin, the Hawkesbury wineries at Ebenezer and East Kurrajong are an easy drive down the Bells Line of Road.

Which Blue Mountains cellar doors are dog-friendly?

Dogs are welcome at The Old Shed Distillery in Bilpin, and Gypsy Fox Brewing Co in North Richmond has a dog-friendly taproom. Check with other cellar doors before you bring your dog.

Opening hours change with the seasons, so check with each cellar door before you set off.