St Maur Farm Wines

St Maur Farm Wines is a family-run single-estate vineyard on Old Argyle Road just outside Exeter, in the Southern Highlands wine country between Moss Vale and Bundanoon. The Panizzutti family works 16 acres of volcanic soil with northern Italian winemaking traditions, and pours at a rustic cellar door set in a vintage dairy farm building, open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am to 4:30pm. It is one of the region's most dog-welcoming cellar doors, listed by VisitNSW among the Highlands' pet-friendly wineries.

Dogs at St Maur

Dogs are welcome inside the tasting room and around the garden areas, and VisitNSW notes the cellar door keeps a dedicated menu for four-legged visitors. The farm animals are part of the appeal, with babydoll sheep and Highland cattle on the property. Visits are best booked ahead, and groups of six or more need an appointment; the number is 02 4883 4401.

The wines

The LOT 41 range is the estate's premium tier, built on low yields, natural cultivation and patient oak, with a Pinot Noir that expresses the cool-climate side of the Highlands alongside Pinot Gris and Merlot. The Saint Series wines are named as a nod to the treasured animals of the farm, a fitting flag for a place where dogs have always been part of the routine.

A run before the tasting

Exeter has its own fenced dog park close to the village, and Bundanoon's off-leash options are a few minutes south, including the reserve space at Jordans Crossing and the fenced enclosure in the village. Both make a good burn-off before a seated tasting.

Close by with the dogs

The Exeter Fenced Dog Park, Bundanoon Fenced Off-Leash Dog Park and Jordans Crossing cover the exercise runs. The Cabin and Baringa Bar and Cafe are the village coffee stops. The Exeter destination page and the NSW wineries index list the rest.