The Hilltops wine region in Southern New South Wales, centered around Young, is part of the Southern New South Wales Zone with neighboring regions like the Canberra District, Gundagai, and Tumbarumba. The area enjoys a continental climate featuring cold winters, warm summers, and stable autumn conditions ideal for gradual grape ripening and flavor concentration. The need for irrigation during the dry summer and autumn is met by the region's rich, deep soils, primarily dark red granite clays with basalt, fostering robust vine growth and providing frost protection.
Renowned for its elegant, intensely flavored Cabernet Sauvignon with briar and savory notes, and cool climate pepper and spice Shiraz with red berry fruits and mid-tannin structure, Hilltops also shines with its Tempranillo, yielding mid-weight red wines, and Nebbiolo, gaining recognition for its structure and intensity. Prosecco and Pinot Grigio offer refreshing sparkling wines and full-flavored whites, while Italian-inspired wines from Corvina and Rondinella grapes add to the region's growing acclaim.
In addition to the well-established varietals, Hilltops growers have embraced alternative varieties like Fiano, Corvina, and Rondinella, enhancing the region's wine diversity. These additions, alongside the existing strengths in Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Prosecco, and Pinot Grigio, solidify Hilltops as a key player in the global wine market.