New South Wales – Mudgee – taste of the country
MasterChef winner Kate Bracks puts new focus on Mudgee
Winsor Dobbin
The spectacular Logan Wines cellar door in Mudgee
Mudgee is a country town on the move – particularly when it comes to food and wine. Visitors will find new labels, new cellar doors and restaurants – even a new micro-brewery.
Once home to the Wiradjuri people, who gave it the name “nest in the hill”, the Mudgee region, a 3.5 hour drive west of Sydney, offers a blend of spectacular countryside, rural hospitality and growing sophistication.
There may be good restaurants and an ever expanding number of cellar doors, but the locals are unhurried and there are several welcoming country pubs where you can rub shoulders with the locals.
While there is plenty of history – former gold mining town Gulgong is just down the road - and a wide range of activities available, Lucy White, tourism development manager for Mudgee Region Tourism, says most visitors come for one reason, to sip, slurp and sample the local wines.
Mudgee and surrounds have produced wines for over 150 years – and there are better than 40 cellar doors. Major players include Oatley Wines (Wild Oats and Montrose), Logan Wines, Lowe Family Wines, Andrew Harris, Huntington Estate, Frog Rock, and Robert Stein, while there are dozens of boutique operations including organic producers Thistle Hill and Botobolar along with di Lusso, Cooks Lot, Burnbrae, Elliot Rocke, Farmer’s Daughter, High Valley and Moothi Estate.
Stop 1 – Brunch at The Farmer's Pantry
Georgie and James Caspar produce Ormiston Free-Range Pork products and their concept farm shop encompasses a providore, delicatessen and café. There’s a good range of fresh, cured and smoked meats, local jams and condiments for eating on-site or as tasting platters matched with wines from Burrundulla, whose cellar door is adjacent. Think roast pork, Burrundulla beef steak sandwiches, homemade pies and sausage rolls.
Open: Thursday-Monday from 10am
234 Castlereagh Highway, Mudgee
Phone (02) 6372 9532
Stop 2 – Tasting at Logan Wines
Peter Logan and his team produce outstanding wines using fruit from Orange, Mudgee and other rural regions of New South Wales. The cellar door is one of the most spectacular in the state. The tasting room (which uses Riedel tumblers) has magnificent vineyard views and is the venue for regular dinners and events. Visitors can enjoy a cheese platter while sampling the latest releases.
You must taste: The Logan M Cuvee sparkling wine is outstanding, while the Logan Sauvignon Blanc and Apple Tree Flat Merlot both offer great value.
Open: Daily. 10am-5pm
Castlereagh Highway, Apple Tree Flat
Phone (02) 6373 1333
Stop 3 – Tasting at Frog Rock winery
The Turner family have been growing grapes for over 40 years – and their winery is named for a striking local landmark of frog-shaped granite boulders. Their new cellar door, just five minutes out of town, overlooks spectacular gardens with a lake and picnic areas. There are two public tasting areas and a private tasting room, as well as a local produce store.
You must taste: The pinot gris and rosé are fresh, flavoursome wines.
Open: Daily 10am-5pm
Edgell Lane, Mudgee
Phone (02) 6372 2408
Stop 4 – Lunch at The Butcher Shop Café
Enjoy country flavours at the two branches of the Butcher Shop Café in Mudgee and Gulgong. You’ll find excellent coffees and hearty lunches and both venues are BYO.
Open: Daily. 8am-5pm Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm Saturday-Sunday
49 Church St, Mudgee and 113 Mayne St, Gulgong
Phone Mudgee (02) 6372 7373, Gulgong (02) 6374 2622
Stop 5 – Tasting at Robert Stein wines
With a winegrowing family lineage dating back to 1838, the Stein family produce reds, whites and fortifieds. In addition to wine tasting, the cellar door offers great views, a vintage motorcycle display and an undercover picnic area.
You must taste: The excellent cabernet sauvignon and shiraz and the superb 2009 riesling.
Open: Daily 10am-4.30pm
Pipeclay Lane, Mudgee
Phone (02) 6373 3991
Stop 6 – Go on a regional pub crawl
The Mudgee region has several historic pubs – and a boutique brewery. There are over 20 pubs in town and the nearby hamlets of Rylstone, Hill End and Gulgong. The Mudgee Brewing Company, the town’s first and only brewery, opened a new restaurant and café in May 2009 in a 100-year-old converted wool shed. Highlights on a self-guided pub trail through the region include the 1870s Royal Hotel in Hill End, which dates back to the 1870s gold rush, The Globe Hotel in Rylstone, the Kandos Hotel and the Prince of Wales in Gulgong.
Phone (02) 6372 1020
Stop 7 – Dinner at Sajo’s
A relative newcomer, Sajo’s is both a lounge bar and a restaurant – the perfect spot for a quick drink or a leisurely meal. Located in an old pharmacy building dating back to 1859, it combines heritage with a thoroughly modern ambience. Diners can choose from an a la carte menu or something simpler from the bar menu. Dishes may include the likes of scallop and prawn salad with ginger, soy and sherry or pork loin cutlet with red wine and braised figs, crispy pancetta and melted blue cheese.
Open: From 5pm Wednesdays, from noon Thursday-Friday and from 9am Saturday-Sunday
22 Church Street, Mudgee
Phone (02) 6372 2711
Stop 8 – Overnight at Burnbrae Winemakers Cottage
Mudgee offers a wide range of accommodation options; from the chic Cobb and Co boutique hotel and long-time Bed and Breakfast favourite Wildwood to the stylish The Tannery, but for a true country experience, try the Burnbrae Cottage, which is located eight kilometres out of town in Hill End Road in the Erudgere Valley. It’s within spitting distance of three wineries with the Burnbrae cellar door next door and Thistle Hill just across the road. The two-bedroom cottage is rustic and quite basic, but also charming and comfortable. There’s a well-equipped kitchen, an open fire in winter and veranda for the summer months. The adjacent cellar door is open seven days with some excellent reds from winemaker Frank Newman. Burnbrae also hosts monthly lunches and dinners.
Open: Daily
Hill End Road, Mudgee
Phone (02) 6373 3504
Don’t miss:
- A freshly brewed beer at the Mudgee Brewing Company
- Authentic Lebanese food at Deeb’s Kitchen
- Walking farm tours at Lowe Family Wines to learn about organic and dry-grown farming methods
- Coffee and cake at The Clock Café and Bar
- Wine tasting in the atmospheric old cellars at Pieter van Gent Wines
- Tasting the excellent Robert Oatley, Wild Oats, Tik-Tok and Montrose wines at the Oatley cellar door
- Weekend pizzas and Italian-style wines at di Lusso
Regions
- Explorer Country (NSW)
- Mudgee (NSW)
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In the hills surrounding Mudgee, 3 hours west of Sydney, is the home of Ormiston Free Range Pork. Founded on the three principles of Compassion, Quality and Taste ... read more
Sajo's Lounge Bar and RestaurantSajo's Lounge Bar and Restaurant offers modern Australian à la carte cuisine, a large range of local wines, cocktails and beers along with first class service. read more
Mudgee Brewing CompanyWelcome to the Mudgee Brewing Company which is all about a friendly atmosphere, fine food and of course, great beer. Established in 2007, Mudgee beer has been the ... read more
The Clock Cafe and BarLocated on the corner of Church and Market Streets in the Mudgee CBD, The Clock Cafe and Bar offers Mudgee's finest wines along with great food including mouthwatering ... read more
Deeb's KitchenLocated in Mudgee, Deeb's Kitchen opened in 1999. The restaurant is located in the old Eurunderee School House which was built in 1902. Bechora Deeb was born in ... read more
Oatley Wines Montrose Winery (Chardonnay Park, Woodbrook, Wattlebrook, Wooloomooloo, Stony Creek Vineyards)Montrose Winery was formerly owned by Pernod Ricard. It now belongs to Oatley Wines, Mudgee, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Explorer Country. read more
Moothi Estate and County View VineyardMoothi Estate is a family owned and run boutique wine producer. After searching for a suitable property to develop Phil and Sue Moore settled on the prestigous premium ... read more
Di Lusso EstateDi Lusso Estate in Mudgee, Central Ranges, New South Wales Explorer Country is a wine, olive and fig producer. At di Lusso Estate vineyards, they specialize entirely ... read more
Logan WinesLogan is a boutique winery in the Mudgee region of New South Wales. Logan is a family owned and operated wine producer with wines from both Mudgee and Orange. read more
High Valley Wines & Cheese CoHigh Valley Wines & Cheese Co is a vineyard, a winery, a cheese factory, a cafe and a shop all in the one place, in Mudgee,Central Ranges,New South Wales,Explorer ... read more
Elliot Rocke EstateElliot Rocke Estate's Vineyards are a part of the originally established estate, the oldest in the Mudgee Region (Central Ranges, New South Wales Explorer Country) ... read more
Burrundulla Vineyards (wine)The Cox family established the property, Burrundulla, almost two hundred years ago in Mudgee, New South Wales Central Ranges Explorer Country and since then, the ... read more
Pieter van Gent Winery & VineyardPieter van Gent Winery & Vineyard are located off Cassilis Road, Mudgee, Central Ranges,New South Wales Explorer Country. Accomodation on site. read more
Frog Rock Wines & Tallara Wines
The Frog Rock Vineyards are situated 5kms out of Mudgee Town on the Cassislis Rd. The age of the vines range from between 4 years to over 38 years old. read more
Farmer's Daughter Wines and Accommodation Cottages are located in Mudgee,Central Ranges, New South Wales Explorer Country. read more
Andrew Harris Vineyard (Pineway)Andrew Harris Vineyard is located in Mudgee, Central Ranges, New South Wales Explorer Country. Andrew Harris is arguably one of Mudgee's most successful and sought ... read more
Thistle Hill WineryGreat wine starts with great vines and a connection, and true commitment to the earth that sustains them. Thistile Hill believe this relationship with the land is ... read more
Robert Stein Winery and Vineyard
The Robert Stein Vineyard and cellar door is located just a short drive from the centre of Mudgee, in New South Wales. With a winegrowing family lineage dating back ... read more
Established in 1969, Huntington Estate is one of the oldest Vineyards and Wineries in the Mudgee Valley, Central Ranges, New South Wales Explorer Country. read more
The owners of Burnbrae, Tony and Jill Bryant , were previously broad acre farmers who followed their love of wines to ultimately live their dream. read more
Botobolar
Botobolar's 22-hectare vineyard established in 1971 is Australia's oldest certified organic vineyard with the vines having always been grown organically without ... read more
A hip cafe situated in an old historic Butcher Shop, hence the name. Enjoy the freshly roasted coffee inside where the open plan set up creates a friendly and social ... read more
Mudgee Visitor Information CentreSituated next to Mudgee Shire Council Chambers and opposite the beautiful Robertson Park, Mudgee Visitor Information Centre provides a welcome to visitors and residents ... read more
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