Soak up the romance of the luxury villas on Cupitt’s Estate, a two-generation winery and brewery that crowns the coast of Ulladulla and Mollymook in southern NSW.
Sign up to our free newsletter here for more travel inspiration. You also get your own copy of our travel ebook — it’s on us!
Cupitt’s Estate is a small but highly-acclaimed family-run winery and brewery in the South Coast of NSW, not far from the rocky shores and sensational beaches of Ulladulla and Mollymook, a few hours’ drive from Sydney.
We first came here on a tip-off from a friend when we stayed at Bannisters years ago. Although a few things have changed — the deck at the back of the cellar door is much bigger and the car park has grown too — the wine, beer and warmest of welcomes are just the same.
Perhaps the biggest difference is the accommodation that’s on offer here now.
Check out our video of Cupitt’s Estate’s accommodation, experiences and dining:
Where to stay at Cupitt’s Estate
Looking out over the estate’s 75 hectares, the Cupitts have built ten beautifully appointed villas. These villas feel more like high-end hotel suites, just without the impersonal corridors and lobby.
Each one is separated from its neighbours and angled in such a way that makes them completely private.
As with a suite, there’s a lounge and dining area, as well as a kitchenette. But what sets these villas apart is the deep-fill bath tub outside on the balcony.
At night, you can enjoy the conflagration of stars overhead from your soak, and in the daytime — if you’re lucky — the estate’s cows will be grazing in the paddock next door.
Our villa comes with a breakfast hamper replete with crusty sourdough, fresh fruit and muesli, and in the fridge is yoghurt and milk.
Instead of the usual coffee pod machine, the Cupitts have supplied clever fold-out coffee bags that sit in your cup and brew.
It’s details like this that shows just how much thought has gone into these villas.
For more of our stories on the South Coast, hotel reviews, restaurants, things to do, click here.
Click here to find great deals on other accommodation around the South Coast.
Down the corridor is the bedroom. Its enormous bed is so comfy, and the soft furnishings and artworks add to that homely yet stylish touch here.
The bathroom’s on the small side, but it has everything you need, including a rainfall shower and high-quality Australian-made bathroom amenities from Leif.
The kitchenette and minibar are well stocked — of course with Cupitt’s wines — but also with premixed cocktails from the winery’s bar. There are even oversized ice cubes in the freezer, a cocktail mixing set and heavy tumblers to give that cocktail bar feel to your drink.
There’s also a basket of goodies in the kitchenette. In particular chocolates from nearby Woodstock are worth a nibble. Staff at the winery also recommend going to the shop in Woodstock to try the chocolate at the source.
Cupitt’s Estate Cellar Door
Beyond the villas, the winery has a beautiful outlook, just perfect for a delicious glass of wine or craft beer, both made right here. The winery has a few small vineyards, but a lot of the wine they make is with grapes from other parts of NSW.
The beer, however, is all made on-site and is as good a reason as the wine to come and visit Cupitt’s.
Wine tastings usually happen at the cellar door in this historic building from 1851. The building was once the creamery of the dairy that stood here.
The family used to make their own cheese, continuing the tradition of the property. It’s a shame they don’t do that anymore, as the cheese was excellent, but it’s a lot of extra work.
While you’re here, don’t forget to sign up to the wine club for discounts on lots of things including wine, beer, dining and accommodation. And first dibs on wine deliveries of course.
Otherwise, you can sign up to the Cupitt’s Wine Club here before you visit.
But we’re having our wine tasting down in the barrel room.
As part of the Tour & Taste experience, we’re tasting wine that’s spent plenty of time in this room already.
When the Cupitts built the winery in 2001, they had the forethought to not only create a beautiful space to grow, make and enjoy wine, but also an underground cellar to store it.
Under the winery itself, more like something you’d find in Europe than on the NSW South Coast, the subterranean barrel cellar is a very special place.
There’s something so magical about drinking wine in a room like this, surrounded by barrels, deep underground.
Dining Options at Cupitt’s Estate
Back top side, we’re ready for dinner. On the deck and in the wine garden, you can enjoy casual dining with pizzas and a range of other tasty plates.
For a more formal meal experience, Cupitt’s has an excellent restaurant with views out over the countryside.
Check out Christina’s stunning food photography!
Oysters with views out over the vineyards and South Coast countryside
Scallops sautéed in green garlic butter
Roasted figs with capocollo and whipped ricotta
Mains – fries in the middle and on the right, pork rack and grilled rapini
Blistered octopus with charred cavolo nero and a romesco sauce
Dessert of caramelised figs, salted hazelnuts and dark chocolate ganache
We start with some fresh oysters with a mignonette, then move through the gears with scallops sautéed in green garlic butter and roasted figs with capocollo and whipped ricotta.
Next to us the sun sets, sparkling off Stony Creek in the distance as it runs into the sea.
For mains, we go for pork rack and grilled rapini, and beautifully tender blistered octopus with charred cavolo nero and a romesco sauce. And a bowl of fries of course.
We share a dessert of caramelised figs, salted hazelnuts and dark chocolate ganache before wandering back to our villa for a blissful night’s sleep.
