Our Story

Our Story

A Place to Connect, Celebrate, and Slow Down

We built Cupitt’s Estate to be the kind of place we love visiting, where good food, great wine, and genuine hospitality come together in a setting that feels grounded, generous, and full of life.

What began as a small family farm has grown into a much-loved destination on the NSW South Coast, just outside the village of Milton. Nestled between the vines and overlooking Burrill Lake and the Budawang Ranges, you’ll find our boutique winery, restaurant, luxury villas, cellar door, and wedding venue all shaped by a shared passion for craftsmanship and connection.

Cupitt’s is proudly family-owned and run by Rosie and Griff Cupitt, alongside the next generation Libby, Tom, and Wally. Together, we’ve created a place shaped by the values we live by: sustainability, creativity, generosity, and care. Our menus showcase produce from our kitchen garden and local growers. Our wines follow flavour over tradition; expressive, approachable, and a joy to drink. And our hospitality? It’s the kind people remember.

Welcome to Cupitt’s Estate — a place to celebrate, unwind, and create your own unforgettable moments.

After selling the Bowral Hotel and their Southern Highlands farm, Rosie and Griff Cupitt retired to their beloved holiday home in Narrawallee — finally ready to slow down. But that didn’t last long. Griff missed life on the land, and Rosie, a trained horticulturist with a passion for design, was deepening her studies in viticulture.

A vintage with winemaker friends sparked a new obsession, and Rosie changed her degree to winemaking. Before long, vines were planted, a small vineyard and winery were taking shape, and the farm was shared between cattle grazing and grape growing.

To sell the wine, Rosie and Griff figured they’d need a cellar door — and perhaps a small restaurant. Rosie, who had a love of cooking, originally imagined serving rustic, seasonal meals in a table d’hôte style, depending on what was growing in the garden. Fortunately (for everyone), further research led to a more practical plan: a full restaurant built alongside the cellar door, perched above the underground wine cave.

They opened with no hospitality experience — just heart, hustle, and a commitment to doing things well. The restaurant quickly took off, and what began as a humble idea has grown into a destination people return to, time and time again.

Cupitt’s Estate sits onWashburton Farm,a 75-hectare property rich with history and incredible views. Overlooking Burrill Lake and the Budawang Ranges (with iconic Pigeon House Mountain on the horizon), it’s long been a special place on the South Coast.

Originally settled by William Tuckerman in the early 1800s, the land was used for dairy farming for generations. When Tuckerman’s daughter Sarah married neighbour George Simmons, their properties merged, shaping the boundaries of what is now Cupitt’s Estate.

One of the property’s most striking features is the old stone creamery, built in 1851. Lovingly restored by the Cupitt family, it became our original Cellar Door and is now one of the oldest commercial buildings still in use in the area. Today, it sits beside our restaurant, a quiet nod to the farm’s past, and the foundation of something new.

The Cupitt family purchased Washburton Farm in 2001, and while the dairy cattle are long gone, the spirit of the land and the care it deserves remains at the heart of everything we do.

From the beginning, we believed that if we could make great wine in a beautiful place, people would come. With views over rolling farmland, just minutes from Milton and Ulladulla, this land had so much potential and we couldn’t resist the chance to bring something special to life.

Cupitt’s Estate officially opened in June 2007. What started as a simple idea to grow grapes, make wine, and serve delicious food has grown into a thriving destination loved by locals and visitors alike. Over the past 18+ years, Rosie and Griff Cupitt, their sons Tom and Wally, and Tom’s wife Libby have worked together to realise their vision: to create an unforgettable food and wine experience, and a workplace people are proud to be part of.

Today, we’re lucky to share that journey with an incredible team of passionate, talented individuals who bring fresh ideas, energy, and heart to everything we do. As a family, we still work closely together every day, tasting, making decisions, solving problems, and sharing the joy of what we’ve built.

Our goal remains simple: to keep making Cupitt’s the ultimate place to escape, connect, and enjoy life’s good things — people, produce, and place.

At Cupitt’s, we honour the influence of traditional French and Italian winemaking, but we’re not bound by it. As progressive winemakers, we follow flavour over formula crafting wines that are expressive, balanced, and designed to be enjoyed. Every wine we make is created with purpose: to elevate good food, spark connection, and reflect the character of its origin.

We work with fruit grown here at Cupitt’s Estate and across New South Wales’ most respected cool-climate regions including Hilltops, Tumbarumba, Orange, and the Canberra District. Sourcing from multiple sites gives us the freedom to respond to the season, explore different styles, and create wines that reflect both place and possibility.

Our portfolio is made up of three wine families:

Signature Wines– Limited releases that represent the pinnacle of our craft and character.

Classic Wines– Timeless varietals, made with integrity and drinkability front of mind.

Festive Wines– Lively, easy-drinking styles perfect for relaxed moments and celebration.

Whether you're a seasoned sipper or just discovering your palate, our wines are made to bring joy at the table, in the vineyard, or wherever life finds you.

The Wineryis the heart of the business; it is the reason the family are here; suitably, it is situated in a unique underground “wine cave” beneath the restaurant. Guests can see down to the cave and barrels through a glass viewing portal at the entry to the restaurant. Wine tasting can be experienced by visitors in the ‘creamery’ adjacent to the restaurant every day, 

The Restaurant and Kitchenis the engine room of the business. Without the beautifully prepared and creative dishes from the Kitchen, our products could not stand out (food and wine pairing are highly recommended)

The Cupitt's Estate Brewerywas established in 2014 and is the longest-running brewery in Shoalhaven.

Cupitt's Estate Villasoverlook the eucalypt tree line, perched atop the rolling green hills of the Estate, our luxury Villas are a uniquely stunning experience.

The Kitchen Garden, compost, worm farm, and chickens are in the paddocks adjacent to the cottage and winery. Please take time to visit and see what is in season. This garden plays an integral part in the creativity of the menu and cocktail list. 

Catch our Black Angus Herdgazing in one of the many pastures. 

Walk through the Sauvignon Blanc vineyardand taste the estate-grown ‘Alphonse’ inspired by 19th-generation winemaker Alphonse Mellot 

Our Luxury Villas offer a tranquil retreat for those looking to unwind in style on the NSW South Coast. Perched on the hilltop and overlooking the estate’s vineyards and eucalypt treetops, each villa is designed to immerse you in nature with a touch of indulgence.

Just a short stroll from our award-winning restaurant, cellar door, and winery, the villas combine privacy, comfort, and direct access to everything Cupitt’s Estate has to offer. Wake up to the sounds of birdsong, enjoy a barista-made coffee on your deck, and end the day with a glass of wine as the sun sets behind the Budawang Ranges.

We offer two types of accommodation:

Estate Villas– Spacious, light-filled villas with king beds, curated interiors, and vineyard views.

Estate Bath Villas– Featuring all the comforts of our Estate Villas, with the added luxury of a freestanding outdoor bath on the deck perfect for a soak under the stars.

Whether you're here for a romantic getaway, a celebration, or a midweek escape, our villas offer the perfect place to slow down and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

Cupitt’s Estate is a place where good food, great wine, and live music come together in a setting like no other.

We’ve been hosting Sunday Sessions with live music for over a decade — it’s become a beloved weekly ritual for locals and visitors alike. During warmer months, we also feature Friday evening live music, perfect for kicking off your weekend with a wine in hand and a view across the vines.

Our award-winning restaurant near Milton and Mollymook follows a true farm-to-table philosophy. We grow a wide range of seasonal produce right here on the Estate, from vegetables and herbs to citrus, stone fruit, and edible flowers — all of which find their way onto the plate.

Dine casually in the Wine Garden, where our alfresco menu is served with sweeping views and live tunes, or settle into our Dining Room for a curated, seasonal menu that reflects the best of the South Coast honest, fresh, and made to be shared.