Mudgee Wine Region

Mudgee is yet another Australian wine region whose history can be divided into two distinct phases, the first in the middle 19th Century and a second modern phase dating from the 1960s.

Current Weather in Mudgee

Mudgee is on the inland side of the Great Dividing Range about 250km West of Sydney. Its location is just across the Divide from the Hunter Valley, but the climate in Mudgee is much more continental. The altitude of the region, about 450m means that it escapes the severe heat that might otherwise be experienced in such a northerly location.

Although this is by no means a cool climate region, its vintage is a full month behind that in the Hunter Valley. There are about forty wineries in operation here, some have affiliations in the Hunter Valley, but many are quite small.

Di Lusso Estate and Manfield Wines and Lowe Family Wines are the standout varietal pioneers in the Mudgee region with emphasis on Italian varieties. Vinifera Estate have gone down the Spanish road with Tempranillo and Graciano.

Experience in other warmer regions suggests that Petit Verdot could have a future in this region. It would seem that the Mudgee region is too warm to get full varietal expression from most white varieties.

The list below shows the range of varieties used to make Mudgee wines

5 Corners Wines Gewurztraminer
Andrew Harris Vineyards Verdelho
Blue Wren Verdelho
Botobolar Crouchen, Marsanne
Burnbrae Winery Petit verdot, Sangiovese
Clearview Estate Mudgee Barbera, Pinot gris, Sangiovese
Creeks Edge Wines Chambourcin, Verdelho
De Beaurepaire Wines Petit verdot, Verdelho, Viognier
de Mestre Wines Viognier
Di Lusso Estate Aleatico, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Picolit, Pinot gris, Sangiovese, Vermentino
Elliot Rocke Estate Doradillo, Gewurztraminer
Frog Rock Chambourcin, Petit verdot
Lawson Hill Gamay, Gewurztraminer, Verdelho
Logan Wines Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, Viognier
Louee Wines Nebbiolo, Petit verdot, Pinot gris, Verdelho, Viognier
Lowe Family Wines Barbera, Pinot gris, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Zinfandel
Mansfield Wines Albarino, Grenache, Mourvedre, Pedro Ximenez, Petit manseng, Tempranillo, Tinto Cao, Touriga, Vermentino, Zinfandel
Miramar Gewurztraminer
Mountilford Sylvaner
Mudgee Growers Petit verdot, Verdelho
Mudgee Wines Chambourcin, Durif, Gewurztraminer, Petit verdot, Trebbiano
Oatley Wines Barbera, Pinot gris, Viognier
Petersons Glenesk Estate Chambourcin, Durif, Gewurztraminer, Petit verdot, Verdelho, Viognier, Zinfandel
Pieter van Gent Muller Thurgau, Verdelho
Poet's Corner Barbera, Sangiovese
Prince Hill Wines Barbera, Pinot gris, Sangiovese, Verdelho
Robert Stein Gewurztraminer
Seldom Seen Gewurztraminer
Shawwood Estate Verdelho
Vinifera Wines Graciano, Grenache, Tempranillo
Wells Parish Wines Verdelho

Spring and Autumn are probably the best time of the year to visit Mudgee. There are enough wineries here, and a range of other attractions, that at least a weekend or perhaps a few days is needed for a wine tour. There is a wide range of accommodation options available in the town and in the surrounding countryside.

A quick internet search will turn up plenty of motels, self contained cottages, guesthouses, caravan parks and camping grounds. The nearby towns of Gulgong and Rylstone are also worth visiting.