The Southern Highlands has a wealth of wineries; however, the cellar doors can sometimes feel like function centres more geared towards weddings and bridal parties, serving the same cheese and crackers you can buy from Coles.

If you’re simply looking for an easy-going winery to spend an afternoon by the fire with a cool-climate pinot noir, Dawning Day in Exeter is the best place for it. The family-run micro-vineyard offers guided tastings of its premium cool-climate wines, but if you just want to mind your own business with a full glass, go forth. Visit in summer and there’s also a lush lawn engineered for picnics with cheese plates and lightly chilled gamay.

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