Discover Hilltops: High Country Wines with a Distinct Sense of Place

Having begun our regional series at home in the Hunter Valley, we now turn our attention to Hilltops, a cool, elevated wine region centred around the township of Young, west of Canberra. 

Here, altitude, a dry continental climate and diverse soils combine to create wines with generosity, structure and a distinctive freshness. 

High Country Wine Country 

Vines were first established in Hilltops in the 1970s, with vineyards today sitting at elevations of approximately 450 to 600 metres above sea level, creating a very different growing environment to our home in the Hunter Valley. 

Hilltops experiences a cool, dry continental climate, with cold winters that can occasionally bring snow, followed by warm summer days and cooler nights. 

This variation between daytime and evening temperatures allows grapes to develop flavour and ripeness gradually while retaining freshness and natural acidity. 

Harvest typically arrives later here, running from late March through to May. 

Soils, Altitude and Variety 

Across Hilltops, vineyardsare planted on a diverse mix of deep gravelly red soils, basalt and sandy decomposed granite. 

While Shiraz is one of Hilltops’ established varieties, the region’s conditions also lend themselves beautifully to a diverse range of varieties and styles. 

At Hungerford Hill, this versatility is an important part of what draws us to the region, allowing us to produce wines that are expressive, balanced and distinctly Hilltops. 

Our 2024 Classic Tempranillo Hilltops, awarded 95 points by the Halliday Wine Companion, is a wonderful example, showing the character and potential of alternative varieties grown in this cool, elevated region. 

Adding another dimension to what this relatively young wine region can offer. 

Of course, a region is about much more than climate and soils. 

Our relationships with growers throughout Hilltops give us access to carefully selected vineyard sites and fruit that reflects the individual character of the region. 

Working closely together from season to season means vineyard decisions, fruit selection and harvest timing can all be considered with the finished wine in mind. 

It’s these relationships, built over time, that allow us to capture what we value most about Hilltops: generous fruit, freshness, structure and a clear sense of place. 

Hilltops at Hungerford Hill 

For Hungerford Hill, working across different New South Wales wine regions gives us the opportunity to explore how variety and place come together. 

Our Hilltops wines are an important part of that story. 

From classic Shiraz through to expressive Mediterranean varieties, they showcase the depth and versatility we continue to find in this high-country region. 

Generous fruit. Spice and structure. Freshness from altitude and cool nights. 

Distinctly Hilltops.