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 following wineries use alternative varieties to make wine in this region

• 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 Aglianico, Aleatico, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Picolit, Pinot gris, Sangiovese, Vermentino
• Elliot Rocke Estate Doradillo, Gewurztraminer
• Frog Rock Chambourcin, Petit verdot, Pinot gris
• Gelland Estate Viognier
• Jamieson Estate Barbera, Petit verdot
• Lawson Hill Gamay, Gewurztraminer, Verdelho
• Logan Wines Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, Viognier
• Louee Wines Cabernet franc, 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
• Optimiste Petit verdot
• 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
• W Wine of Mudgee Sangiovese, Viognier
• Wells Parish Wines Verdelho

Visiting the Mudgee Wine Region

Spring and Autumn are probably the best time of the year to plan a wine tour of Mudgee. There are plenty of wineries to visit 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 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.