Blue Mountains News

Wend your way up the Great Western Highway to Valley Heights and Lawson and pause to slake your thirst or restock your cellar at Katoomba. From Blackheath, drive down into the picturesque Megalong Valley to visit the wineries before returning to the highway.

1  Brew Mountains Brewery

Boasting 16 taps including cider, ginger beer, hard lemonade and a selection of Blue Mountains wines, the brewery hosts different food trucks each Friday and Saturday and has an intimate and personal atmosphere with a strong local focus a bush outlook.

From making seasonal beers with Blue Mountains hops and grain to local collaborations, even the 4m long bar is made from a storm-fallen stringy bark tree that was hand milled and cured over seven years and made onsite with friends.

Owner and head brewer Craig Talbot opened the taproom in 2020 and his seasonal local beers include XLA eXtremeLocalAle made with Blue Mountains hops and locally grown grains.

Opening times:
Friday 4pm–8pm
Saturday 12pm–8pm With food trucks Unit 3 2-4 Tayler Rd, Valley Heights
T: 0492 870 691
brewmountains.com.au

2  Herbs of Life

Always cultured never compromised, with no sweeteners, no concentrates, no flavourings, no extracts and nothing artificial.

Herbs of Life certified organic artisan food and beverage company in Lawson specialises in traditional raw fermented sauerkraut and kombucha tea.

Brewed traditionally with the four ingredients of authentic kombucha (Blue Mountains-sourced spring water, raw cane sugar, green tea and kombucha mother SCOBY), the handcrafted kombucha is raw, living, active, organic, ever changing. All flavours are achieved with 100 per cent organic whole fruits and fresh juiced fruit juice and spices. Herbs of Life kombucha is unfiltered, low glycemic, vegan friendly and gluten free.

Herbs of Life products are available at local markets, local stockists and online.

T: (02) 4759 3852
herbsoflife.com.au

3  Blue Mountains Gin Parlour

Relax with a flight of gins or a delicious cocktail from Blue Mountains Gin Company in the atmospheric foyer of the 1930s Avalon restaurant. You can taste the Mountain Devil Spirits named after distinctive local features such as mountain devil, Nelly’s Glen, the Wild Dog Ranges and Boar’s Head. Blue Mountains Gin Company is the first provider of craft spirits based in Katoomba and is dedicated to producing artisan gin and vodka for a growing spirits drink business synonymous with the Blue Mountains. Look for the cheeky Mountain Devil neon sign outside the Avalon at the top of Katoomba Street.

Opening times: Friday evening and Saturday afternoon
18 Katoomba St, Katoomba
avalonkatoomba.com.au/gin-parlour
bluemountainsgincompany.com.au

4  Carrington Cellars & Deli

A boutique bottle shop with so much more. Housed in the old Katoomba power station is a gourmet cellar and deli experience like no other. Browse the range of local, regional and imported deli items and the extensive selection of local and international wine, beer and spirits.

Planning a Mountains daytrip, bushwalk or picnic? Drop in for your supplies and stock up on the great selection of gourmet cheese, wine, fresh local produce, sweet treats and more. The friendly staff can even create small picnic hampers with a delicious selection of cheese, quince, artisan crackers and your favourite drop.

Free local delivery between Hazelbrook and Mount Victoria for orders over $100.

Open daily, 10am–6.30pm Parke St, Katoomba T: (02) 4782 0999
thecarrington.com.au/cellars-deli

5  Dryridge Estate

Get away from it all and relax with a leisurely repose of cheese and wine in the tranquil rural landscape of the Megalong Valley amid rambling vineyards and native forest ringed by towering sandstone escarpments.

Next to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area at the centre of Sydney’s water catchment, the Megalong Valley teems with wildlife.

Operated by Simon Doyle and Emma MacMahon since 2015, the boutique vineyard Dryridge Estate produces distinctive crisp mineral-flavoured wines from the pink granite soil.

Ask about the onsite wedding venue and picturesque accommodation while you’re there.

Opening hours:
Saturday – 11am–5pm Sunday – 11am–4pm Friday – 12pm–4pm (Winter only) Monday to Friday – group bookings (10 plus) by appointment 226 Aspinall Rd, Megalong Valley
 T: 0403 118 990
dryridge.com.au

6  Megalong Creek Estate

Sample a tipple of single vineyard wine surrounded by undulating paddocks in the light of glowing Blue Mountains escarpments. ?Established in 2002 by the Davis family, all grapes are grown onsite and handpicked and transported to Mudgee for wine making by highly regarded third generation winemaker Jacob Stein. As well as viognier, pinot grigio, pinot and shiraz, Megalong Creek Estate produces a lightly sparked Prosecco-style wine named Prozzante and a late harvest unique dessert-style wine.

The Megalong Creek Estate cellar door is open 12pm to 5pm Saturdays and 12pm to 4pm Sundays, travel restrictions permitting.

Cellar door: Saturday 12pm to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 4pm
Online orders available any time.
217 Aspinall Rd, Megalong Valley
T: 0402 358 100
E: info@megalongcreekestate.com
megalongcreekestate.com

7  Bilpin Cider

Reclining on a blanket (borrow one or bring your own) in famous apple country after wandering the orchard, visiting friendly farm animals and playing a round of lawn games … there’s more to cider than swigging from a long neck at Bilpin Cider.

There’s seven alcoholic and four non-alcoholic ciders in the range, and you can sample four of your choosing from a tasting paddle. It’s worth checking out the seasonal specials too.

Feeling peckish? The Bilpin Cider Food Hut serves apple pies, brownies, coffee and tea, and picnics every weekend and public holidays from 11am to 3pm (GF options available).

If you’re there on the first or third Sunday of each month from 12pm to 4pm (weather permitting) there’s live music.

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm seven days (except Christmas Day)
2369 Bells Line of Rd, Bilpin
T: 1300 245 746 bilpincider.com

8  Hillbilly Cider

No added sugar, no pasteurisation, no added artificial flavours.

Hillbilly Cider is all about keeping it real – 100 per cent crushed fruit fermented in pressurised tanks with minimal intervention to produce naturally sparkling ciders.

Order your cider and Hillbilly merch online and receive free shipping anywhere in NSW.

Collect your supplies from the cider shed and pick up a Neapolitan-style pizza at the same time. Pizza bases (including GF) and Nap sauce are all shed made and cooked in the onsite woodfired oven. Specialty pizzas are added to the small menu from time to time. And don’t go past the signature apple calzone with whipped cream, freshly baked to order.

Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday 10am–4pm Friday to Sunday 10am–6pm
Woodfired pizzas from 11.30am 2230 Bells Line of Rd, Bilpin
T: (02) 4567 0965
hillbillycider.com.au/visit-us

9  Craft Beverage Trail Tour

Have your cake – and wine, spirits, cider, kombucha and coffee – and eat and drink them too on a Fantastic Aussie Tours (FAT) Craft Beverage Trail Tour.

FAT managing director Jason Cronshaw said the new trail tour “means you can have a tipple and we’ll navigate the road for you”.

“We also have large storage bays under the bus, so don’t be shy about stocking up on your favourite drop.’’

Choose up to eight venues to visit along the trail for a half or full day experience. A range of vehicles is available for private charter, from small minibuses to large double-decker buses and coaches, for any size of group. 7 days subject to venue operation times.

T: (02) 4780 0700
www.fantastic-aussie-tours.com.au