Kersbrook Hill Wines & Cider

Founded in 1997 by winemaker Paul Clark, Kersbrook Hill is the quiet north's standard-bearer — a family-owned vineyard and winery that has grown to a list of dozens of wines alongside its signature basket-pressed apple cider, made the traditional way from locally grown fruit.

The cellar door has recently found a fitting new home: the family took over the old pub in the centre of Kersbrook and turned it into an eclectic, welcoming tasting room. The move means there is more on offer than a lineup of tastes — gourmet pizzas come out of the kitchen all day, there is proper coffee, and the beer fridge nods to the building's former life. It is open seven days, which makes it a reliable anchor for a day exploring the Hills' less-travelled northern valleys.

Pair a visit with a walk or a paddle at the nearby South Para Reservoir Reserve, and you have the makings of a very good day a long way from the tourist crowds of Hahndorf.