Visitors come to Mudgee for adventure, historical country charm, and most importantly for region’s biggest drawcard, the wine. With a rich winemaking history dating back 1858, the region boasts award-winning drops. If you’re one who truly appreciates the art of wine making and savoring the tasting notes or someone who wants to discover more then it’s time to visit the best wineries in Mudgee.
There are two ways to enjoy wine tastings, DIY your way around but do your research first and make sure to book ahead especially if you come on a weekend as some places will require prior reservation. Or join one of the many wine tours available locally. If you’re planning the tastings yourself, set aside an hour for each place, some will take a little more time especially for the upgraded experiences with tours around the vineyards and cellars.
With over 40 cellar-doors, mostly family owned, you can be unsure where to start. So, we’re rounding up some of the crowd favorite – fine wines, amazing view, spectacular cellars, extraordinary views, and fantastic ambience.
Moothi’s picturesque location by the hillside takes full advantage of the fantastic view of Mudgee and its surroundings. Pull-up a seat as you enjoy a flight of the winery’s finest as you take I the view of the vineyards. The estate also offers a gastronomic experience with its selection of lunch menu, local cheeses, house-made pastrami and in summer time fresh cherries which you can pick from the winery’s orchard.
If you’re up for Italian varietals, First Ridge is the place to be. Have a taste of authentic Prosecco, pinot grigio, and the finest Sangiovese and Fiano in the region. Recognized twice as Best Small Cellar Door, First Ridge is the perfect venue to try something you haven’t had before. With cellar door made entirely out of shipping containers with glass frontage, you have front row seats to beautiful Mudgee sunsets.
Lowe Wines is one of the best wineries in Mudgee offering well-rounded experiences with its tasting, picnic and dining options.
Take a pick between the 50-minute tasting experience to learn more about the art, more like science, of wine making and the personalized tasting. There’s also a premium experience that adds a walk through of the wines by the senior team with thorough appreciation of the tasting notes and stories.
If you’re up for a more relaxed experience, help yourself to an array of blankets and cushions for a picnic around the beautiful vineyard. Choose a bottle, freshly baked breads, cold cuts and other condiments.
Although located further away, in a more remote and rural area than the other cellars, Bunnamagoo must still be in your list for a lot of reasons. It is one of the big wineries in the area with gorgeous cellar door. The view of the terrace overlooking the vines and the small lake is just wonderful especially when the weather is in your favor. A gorgeous spot to have a picnic too. It has been awarded the Best Cellar Door and offers experiences to both new to wine and wants to discover more and for connoisseurs. Enjoy the wine, the expertise of the sommelier and the scenic vineyard from the tasting room’s floor-to-ceiling windows.
With gorgeous aesthetics, absolutely incredible views and celebrated floor to ceiling windows Logan is a must visit when in Mudgee. Perched atop a hill, Logan Wines has stunning 360 degree views. Soak up the sights at the Apple Tree flat and savour the wines through it’s 60-minute or 90-minute tasting experience, which now comes as a seated tasting due to new normal restrictions.
If you’re looking for elegant and classic cellar that’s a little bit moody, Pieter van Gents offers just the perfect place. Walk through low lit cask hall, surrounded by wine barrels. The standard tasting consists of six wines and includes several whites including dry chardonnays, full bodied reds and shiraz.
Huntington Estate has some of the best wines in Mudgee as rated by James Halliday with 5-star winery five times! Try their full-bodied reds along with dry whites and fruity rosés. Enjoy the wines at the tasting room while enjoying the views of the vineyard. Take a seat at the picnic tables and enjoy the beautiful lawn with the finest wine with freshly baked sourdough topped with prosciutto and brie.
With six generations in the winemaking business, but the Cellar by Gilbert is a foray into something new. Opened in 2016, it’s tasting room offers a taste of delicious wines from locally-sourced grapes. Sip on their signature wines paired with their popular grazing boards for a truly relaxing afternoon.
Known for its Riesling, Robert Stein is a charming stone cottage with vines crawling up its edifice. A storied vineyard with history that can be traced back to the very first Rhine Riesling that survived in Australia. If you’re looking to splurge on a special dining experience with wine pairing menu, dine at their restaurant the Pipeclay Pumphouse. The gorgeous view of the lake and the vineyard is an added extra that only enhances the sensory experience making it one of the best wineries in Mudgee to visit.
If this list is not quite enough, check out the other wineries and cellar-doors around Mudgee too.