Road test: Volkswagen Golf Style

As the morning traffic thins and the road begins to wind gently through the outskirts, the Golf finds its rhythm.

The steering feels responsive without being overly sensitive, and there's a steadiness to the drive that makes it easy to relax

It's not showy, just quietly capable, which suits this kind of day trip perfectly. 

A few minutes down the road there's Coal River Farm, which features chocolate, cheese and gourmet pantry items and condiments. It's worth stopping in to peruse through the finer things in life, even if it's just to pick up something small to take home. It's hard to leave without a bag in hand. 

Back in the car, everything feels intuitive. The cabin is comfortable, the controls are simple and within a few clicks I'm back underway. It's the kind of car that fades into the background in the best possible way, letting the drive take centre stage. 

On the way, I pass Frogmore Creek Cellar, nestled in the Coal River Valley wine region. The vineyard stretches across rolling hills, creating a backdrop that you can't drive past without at least slowing down. At Freshfield Grove, I stop to stock up on olives and extra virgin olive oil, one of those quick detours that inevitably turns into a small haul of pantry staples. 

Don't blink as you leave Coal River Farm or you'll miss the tiny hamlet of Dulcot, though it's worth pulling into Puddleduck Vineyard on Richmond Road. The deck overlooks a dam where ducks drift lazily across the water and, in winter, it feels especially warm, cosy and inviting. If the sun's out, it's just as easy to sit outside and take it all in, with the ducks occasionally waddling over as if they're part of the welcome. 

I arrive in Richmond in under thirty minutes, pulling into one of the first cafes for a cuppa and a stretch of the legs. Sipping on coffee, I wander down the main street, dipping in and out of gift stores, galleries and speciality shops that give the town its charm. 

For lunch, I call into Pooley Wines, drawn in by the sandstone entrance and the wood-fired oven crackling away. The welcome is immediate, and it's not long before I'm sitting down with a margherita pizza, a glass of wine and a view across the valley. It's the kind of place where time stretches a little and there's no real reason to rush. 

Inside the cellar door, tastings are offered and I pick up a bottle of rosé to take home, earmarked for friends visiting next weekend. Nearby, a group appears to be solving the world's problems over glasses of riesling and chardonnay, leaning back in their chairs and settling in for the afternoon. I feel like I could do the same. 

There's time for one last wander. I step into Walter & Co, where antiques, art and rare objects line the shelves. After marvelling at an early 18th century Chinese tea canister and an English folk art model car, I briefly consider whether a French art nouveau glass vase from circa 1905 could make the perfect wedding gift. I decide to sleep on it. Richmond isn't far, and there's always another day. 

Next stop is the Richmond lolly shop, Sweets and Treats, where tall glass jars line the walls, filled with every kind of sweet imaginable. I leave with a bag of dark chocolate liquorice bullets, a non-negotiable, and head back to the car. 

From here, the loop continues out towards Campania and Tea Tree, where the landscape opens up and the drive becomes the focus again. This is where the Golf feels at its best, steady through gentle bends, responsive when needed and easy to trust on the road. It makes for a peaceful kind of driving, the sort where you can properly take in the surroundings.