Mudgee
HISTORY IN THE HILLS
Elegant wines, excellent produce and a bustling town are the hallmarks of this verdant valley.
Tucked behind the Blue Mountains, the Mudgee wine region is cradled by an outer rim of hills. In fact, the name ‘Mudgee’ is based on a local Aboriginal word meaning ‘nest in the hills’.
Grapes were first grown in Mudgee in the 1850s and its rich history can be seen in its well-preserved sandstone buildings. But it’s also a region firmly in the present. Passionate producers have built a thriving food and wine scene where boutique wineries and cellar doors abound.
32° 54'S
latitude
149° 34’E
longitude
1,922HA
total vineyard area
Climate and Altitude
Lying on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, Mudgee has some of Australia’s highest vineyards. Its temperate climate is characterised by warm days, cool nights and lots of sunshine.
441MM
growing season rainfall
23C
mean temperature
227-1242M
altitude
The Environment
The hilly region of Mudgee is about three-and-a-half hours north west of Sydney and is surrounded by mountains and rugged bushland.
Climate
Summer and autumn days are warm, with temperatures dropping at night and during winter. There’s less rainfall here than in some of the surrounding areas.
Soil
The brownish-coloured soils are generally loam over neutral clay.
Top Varieties Grown
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
These outstanding wines are deep purple in colour with generous flavours of berry and dark chocolate and can be aged for many years. Cabernet is sometimes blended with Merlot and Shiraz.
CHARDONNAY
Chardonnay from Mudgee is consistently good and many can be aged for several years or more. They’re full-flavoured wines made in a diversity of styles.
SHIRAZ
Shiraz is a flagship variety here, with styles ranging from elegant and bright to full-flavoured and robust. Shiraz is also blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier.
RIESLING
A rising star in the Mudgee wine region, Riesling produces dry to slightly sweeter wines with refreshing citrus flavours.
