Whilst travelling in Australia and based in Sydney, we travelled to the New South Wales wine region of Mudgee, one of the country’s top food and wine destinations!

Wine enthusiasts visiting Australia and New South Wales know all about Hunter Valley and its wines but increasingly more have heard of Mudgee and are curious to experience its food and wines and we would certainly recommend they do! Mudgee offers a genuine and authentic visitor experience and this was exactly what we enjoyed spending a couple of days here. The people are genuine, hard-working and welcoming and visiting the region’s wineries here is a real joy. We loved our wine tour to Mudgee - read all about it below!

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About the region of Mudgee, NSW

Mudgee is one of Australia’s greatest food and wine destinations and there is something for everyone here - history, arts, culture, nature, scenery and of course gourmet food and wine experiences! Mudgee is definitely a region for foodies and it’s also the quintessential Australian destination - rolling hills, vineyards and lovely towns and villages.

Mudgee is located amongst the hills and around the beautiful Cudgegong River. In fact the word, ‘Mudgee’ is the indigenous word for ‘Nestled in the Hills’. The main town of the region is also called Mudgee, a lovely town with an elegant, tree-lined main street, some beautiful, historic buildings, art galleries and museums and naturally, lots of welcoming cafés and bars.

Another key centre for wine in the Mudgee region is Rylstone, which offers more of a nature experience, with nature parks and great places to eat - it is also known for olive oil production.

Why is Mudgee famous?

Mudgee is famous for its gourmet food and wine experiences, its beautiful scenery and its 19th century charm and character. There are said to be two different Mudgees, the ‘old-school’ Mudgee stuck in time and somewhat proud of not having changed with the times. Then there is the other Mudgee, the newer Mudgee, the one where you can find seriously great wineries, craft breweries and distilleries, wine bars and pubs and hip, trendy eateries. We probably experienced a bit of both, but we certainly loved the new Mudgee with all it offers the wine tourist!

How far is Mudgee from Sydney?

Mudgee is about a 3.5 hour drive from Sydney. You can travel there by train and coach, but the best way is really to drive yourself, as you can enjoy a great, scenic road trip via perhaps the Blue Mountains (as we did - see later), or via the beautiful Hawkesbury and Hunter Valley or via the Bylong Valley Way, connecting the towns of Kandos, Rylstone and Bylong. If you have the time - take it to explore this beautiful country! 

What is the best time of year to visit Mudgee?

The best time to visit Mudgee is either in the Spring (September - November) or in the Autumn (late March-mid May). A great time to visit is in September to enjoy the Mudgee annual ‘Food and Wine’ month - a real gourmet and culinary celebration!

 Mudgee vineyards and wines  

The Mudgee wine region in New South Wales is located to the west of the Hunter Valley region, about 500 metres up on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Its origins (back to 1858) are almost as old as those of the Hunter Valley but it wasn’t until the 1970s that it became more well-known, as the trend towards cooler climate wines started to gather pace.

Mudgee has some of Australia’s highest vineyards and its temperate climate is characterised by warm days, cool nights, lots of sunshine and minimal rainfall. 

Mudgee was traditionally known for its intense Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons but it is increasingly rated highly for its excellent Riesling and Shiraz wines. Some of the best Mudgee wines today are made from these 2 grape varietals. Today the Mudgee region produces over 40 different grape varietals and there are more than 35 cellar doors welcoming visitors to learn about its fabulous wines.

Best Mudgee Wineries and cellar doors

With 35 cellar doors to choose from - here is a list of ‘must-visit top 10’ Mudgee wineries! Some feature amazing views, a restaurant or a boutique hotel, but they all offer an excellent wine tasting and a very warm welcome!

Don’t forget that Mudgee is also home to some wonderful craft breweries, distilleries and pubs so take some time out to explore these too!

Our Mudgee wine tour

Our Mudgee wine tour from Sydney started with a trip into the Blue Mountains…

The Blue Mountains

The beautiful Blue Mountains was always on our list of Australia ‘must-visits’.

The weather wasn’t too great unfortunately, but we managed to catch a few breaks in the cloud and mist to get some of those amazing views! Sadly we couldn’t ride on the famous Katoomba Scenic World train as the mist was just too low, but we caught a glimpse of the famous Wentworth Falls and rock formations, including ‘the Three Sisters’  by chasing cloud breaks in the car!

We stayed a night in the 3 star ‘Leura Gardens Resort’ which we can really recommend for value for money and we had a fabulous, memorable lunch at the famous, quirky ‘Yellow Deli Cafe’ on Katoomba High Street -  a landmark renowned for its delicious, wholesome food and unique hobbit hole-like decor.  

If you get the chance, make sure you try to visit the Blue Mountains World Heritage Site - it really is spectacular.

From here we went on to the town of Mudgee where we stayed for a couple of nights in an Airbnb with a lovely couple who gave us some fascinating insights into Mudgee’s history! We could easily walk into the town from here and loved exploring the main avenue - ‘Market Street’, with its many cafés and bars.

Our tour of 4 Mudgee wineries and cellar doors

During our 2 days in Mudgee we visited 4 wineries: Firstly Lowe Family Wines, a leading biodynamic wine producer, with a winery, farm and top restaurant; Robert Stein, one of the grand masters of Mudgee, producing award-winning red, white and fortified wines; Gilbert Family Wines, a ‘young gun’ Mudgee wine producer with a fabulous cellar door in the centre of Mudgee and First Ridge Wines, with its spectacular views and award-winning Italian wines.

The majority of Mudgee’s wineries and cellar doors are located around the town, making it easy to enjoy your own wine tour by car.

Our visit to Lowe Family Wines

Lowe Family Wines is a certified organic and biodynamic winery, vineyard and farm.

Tinja Farm was originally a cattle and sheep farm with agricultural land - vines were only planted here in the 1970s. David Lowe - 6th generation farm owner but 1st generation winemaker - took the farm over from his parents and decided to focus on the soil and transition to organic farming processes. The farm was certified organic in 2005 and biodynamic in 2013/14 and it is now a very stable ecosystem, but it has been a 20 year and ongoing project.

David and wife Kim Currie make a formidable team running Low Family Wines and offer a superb wine and wine tourism experience.

Lowe wines

Tinja farm comprises some 1000 acres, with about 40 acres under vine. The focus is on cultivating grape varieties which flourish in dry and often drought conditions. The soil is predominantly quartz and shale and the vineyards lie at an altitude of 492 metres. 

Lowe farms predominantly red grapes including Shiraz and Zinfandel (the flagship Lowe wine) and in more recent years they have planted new Italian varieties. 

Lowe specialises in small batch winemaking from vines that are un-trellised and un-irrigated and produces wines that speak distinctly of the terroir and region. See the Lowe wines here.

Lowe wine tourism

Lowe Family Wines has diversified over the past 5 years and seen significant growth, growing their team from less than 10 to over 70 staff. Today there are 7 businesses to look after including a top restaurant (the equivalent of a Michelin star restaurant), a winery, cellar door tastings, the farm, an events business and a food business!

Visiting Tinja Farm and Lowe Wines is a real experience with lots to discover and it’s open every day of the week.

Lowe Family wines cellar door tastings

At Lowe you can select a range of wines to learn about and taste in the great tasting barn and there is always the opportunity to meet the winemaker! You can enjoy fabulous views over the countryside and vineyards whilst you taste your wines.

You can also buy a hamper and picnic food, borrow rugs and go out into the farm and enjoy the land, the animals and the spectacular views. You can pick up a map and enjoy walking trails around the farm.

Note: It’s possible to walk in on the weekends but it’s advised to book a cellar door visit in advance on weekends.

Zin Restaurant 

Zin Restaurant at Lowe Family Wines happens to be the best restaurant in Mudgee and the set menu showcases the best of the organic and biodynamic produce grown on the farm’s land and the freshest of local/seasonal foods.

The restaurant is open Thursday-Monday for lunch (and dinner in the summer months)  - pre-booking is required.

Lowe Family Wines accommodation

There is accommodation onsite in the vineyards for 2 people - called the ‘Shed’.

Why visit Lowe Family Wines?

We spent a wonderful few hours at Low Family Wines, exploring the farm, tasting the wines and spending time with owner and winemaker David Lowe. The focus at Lowe Wines is on quality experiences and appreciating the great food, the wine, the nature and the farm. We certainly did that and we loved the passion that all the staff have for the land, for the soils and for the produce grown and made here. 

Our visit to Robert Stein Winery

The Robert Stein Winery and Cellar Door is located just a short drive from the centre of Mudgee and is one of the oldest, best and most well known wineries in the Mudgee region. The winery is part of a 600 acre working farm, located in a beautiful setting with fabulous views over a lake and the vineyards and mountains beyond. The Family farm surrounds the vineyard, where Angus Cattle, Dorper Sheep and Free Range Berkshire Pigs roam on native grasses, pasture and winter crops. 

Robert Stein Winery is known for its exceptional Riesling wines and it has a 5 star rating from Australian wine critic, James Halliday.

About Robert Stein wines

With a wine growing family lineage dating back to 1838, the vineyard, which was established in 1976 and now reaches some 60-70 acres, is now producing award-winning reds, whites and fortified wines. Set up by Robert Stein, the current winemaker is 3rd generation Jacob Stein. 

The vineyards are planted at an altitude similar to that of Clare Valley in Southern Australia and the climate here helps to produce some stunning wines with a distinct regional character. Robert Stein is certified organic in the winery, but not the vineyards and they also buy in some grapes.

Robert Stein Riesling

The Stein family has a long history with Riesling, dating back to 1838 and was among the first to successfully plant the variety outside of Germany, in Australia. Since 2008, The Robert Stein Riesling range has won over 50 gold medals and 30 trophies at numerous local, national and international wine shows.

Robert Stein wine tourism

A visit to the Robert Stein cellar door includes the vineyard, the winery and the farm, as well as a restaurant and a popular Motorcycle Museum!

Robert Stein offers a range of tastings 7 days per week. It’s essential to book ahead on weekends.

You can choose to accompany a wine tasting with a food platter including cheeses, sausage meats (from the farm pigs) and local sourdough bread. There is also the opportunity to enjoy a ‘Behind the Stein’ experience during harvest time - a chance to see the harvest, tour the winery and vineyards and spend time with the winemaker.

The Robert Stein Restaurant

Much of the produce off the farm is used at the ‘Pipeclay Pumphouse Restaurant’, one of the best restaurants in Mudgee, located at the winery and open over the weekend for lunch and dinner, offering fresh, local and seasonal ‘paddock to plate’ food. 

Robert Stein Motorcycle Museum

Whilst visiting the winery, take a look inside the Motorcycle Museum - home to Robert Stein’s collection of motorcycles, rare motorcycle collectables & photographs.

Why visit Robert Stein?

Visit Robert Stein to soak up the wonderful location, taste the award-winning wines - especially the Rieslings - and enjoy some of the wonderful farm produce!

Our visit to Gilbert Family Wines and The Cellar by Gilbert

Gilbert Family Wines is a family-owned winery and popular cellar door, which is located on the edge of the town of Mudgee. Gilbert Family Wines was established in 2004 by fifth generation winemaker Simon Gilbert, who was later joined by his son, Will Gilbert. The family farm 42 acres of vineyards in Mudgee, but also have vineyards in the wine regions of Orange and Eden Valley.

About Gilbert Wines

The Gilbert family first planted grapes in Eden Valley, South Australia, 6 generations ago - in fact they were the first to plant Riesling grapes here. Today the 2 winemakers, Simon and Will focus on quality fruit and a careful use of oak to make their award-winning wines. The wines are crisp and fresh, full of elegance, structure and purity and the wide range includes superb sparkling wines (including a Pet Nat sparkling wine), as well as Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Shiraz and Pinot noir wines. 

Will was awarded ‘Gourmet Traveller Young Winemaker’ of the year in 2021 and is known for his Pinot noirs.

Gilbert wine tourism

The main focus for welcoming visitors is the cellar door in Mudgee - The Cellar by Gilbert. This beautiful sandstone building was opened in 2016 and offers an elegant and relaxed wine bar atmosphere, where you can enjoy a Gilbert Wines wine tasting. There is also a lovely outdoor space in the vine covered pergola in the courtyard.

From Thursday through to Sunday you can also enjoy some locally sourced small bites and food platters. 

Note - it is highly advisable to book in advance!

Why visit Cellar by Gilbert

We spent a thoroughly enjoyable  hour or so in the beautiful Cellar by Gilbert and were most impressed by the range of wines. Both the wine bar and the outside space offer a lovely relaxing way to discover some superb Mudgee wines! What a great way to spend an hour or so whilst in Mudgee!

Our visit to First Ridge Wines Mudgee

First Ridge Wines vineyard and cellar door are located in an elevated position (500 metres) just 5 minutes south of Mudgee. We were advised we absolutely needed to visit First Ridge as the views are fantastic, the wines are great and it’s known as the best Mudgee cellar door experience! And we found that all of these are true!

First Ridge Wines was established in 1998 when John and Helen Nicholas first planted Italian varietals, starting with the Sangiovese and Barbera varieties, on their vineyard plot outside of Mudgee. The cellar door opened in 2015. 

About First Ridge Wines

John and Helen farm 17 acres of vineyard here in this idyllic spot high up on the hillside close to Mudgee. Their wine consultant had convinced them that their soils and the climate would perfectly suit the growing of Italian varietals and today First Ridge is known for its Barbera, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Vermentino, Fiano and Pinot grigio wine - and they also produce a wonderful Prosecco.

In total John and Helen farm 10 different grape varieties - all Italian apart from some Tempranillo, Merlot and Shiraz vines. All of the award-winning wines are made at the Gilbert Family Wines winery.

First Ridge Wines wine tourism

First Ridge Wines was awarded the title of 'Best Small Cellar Door in Mudgee' in 2020 and 2021, by Gourmet Traveller - how wonderful that John and Helen decided to share their wonderful vineyard location and wines with wine tourists and wine lovers, as this place is such a treat!  

The cellar door is housed in two adjoining shipping containers with beautiful west-facing views over the surrounding countryside and spectacular sunsets. All tastings are complementary and nibbles are provided, including fabulous Italian olives! 

See here for more information and to plan your visit to First Ridge!

Why visit First Ridge Wines 

Wow, this visit was special! The views from the cellar door are just incredible and we were lucky enough to experience a wonderful sunset here - it was magical. The wines were excellent as was the warmth of the welcome and the hospitality. Don’t miss this!!

Planning a trip to Mudgee, NSW

As we’ve said earlier a trip to Mudgee is all about genuine, authentic experiences, beautiful countryside and great food and wine, so here’s what you need to know!

Accommodation in Mudgee

There are lots of lovely places to stay all around the Mudgee countryside, as well as in the town centre, from bed and breakfasts and farm stays to glamping, luxury cabins and tiny houses. There is a good selection of Airbnb accommodation and a  lot of self-contained boutique accommodation, holiday parks, hotels and motels.

Particularly recommended is Sierra Escape, Perry Street Hotel (luxury, boutique hotel) and the Mudgee Guesthouse. 

Best Restaurants in Mudgee  

There is no shortage of restaurants, cafés, wine bars and pubs in and around Mudgee! 

Best pub food Mudgee

We enjoyed Mudgee’s great pub food whilst we were there and had a great Chinese meal at the Woolpack Hotel and a lovely meal in the popular Paragon Hotel - both in the centre of Mudgee.

We also had a fabulous Aussie breakfast at Eltons on Market Street, Mudgee - a popular Mudgee institution!

Best winery Restaurants Mudgee

We’ve already mentioned 2 top Mudgee winery restaurants - ‘Pipeclay Pumphouse Restaurant’ at Robert Stein Wines and Zin Restaurant at Lowe Family Wines - great wines attract great food so always look at dining in a winery.

Also look at the breweries if beer is more your thing! The Mudgee Brewing Co. is a local favourite here and apparently the food is great as well as the ales and the entertainment!

Mudgee things to do 

So in addition to eating, drinking and visiting the fabulous wineries, there’s lots of other great things to do whilst in the Mudgee region, including nature, arts and culture. Why not visit the state-of-the-art Mudgee Arts Precinct, Australia’s newest regional gallery, and see exciting contemporary exhibitions or join a workshop. From the gallery, you can also explore the Cudgegong River and Lawson Park Sculpture Trail - and there is an excellent Mudgee visitor information centre here too!

See here for more ideas for the Mudgee region and here for the town of Mudgee.

Planning your Mudgee wine tour

If you're inspired to see Mudgee for yourself, here’s some examples of Mudgee wine tours - alternatively contact us and let us help you plan your own wine travel itinerary to ensure you get to experience the best that beautiful Mudgee has to offer!

Conclusion - our personal highlights

We loved our time in Mudgee - it just felt to ‘real’! Perhaps not so manicured or picture perfect as the Hunter Valley, but that’s Mudgee’s charm. The wines and food were great and the people were so welcoming and proud of their produce and their region - we’d love to visit again one day!

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