Mudgee Travel Guide Part 2: Drinking

The Mudgee Region is home to some of Australia’s finest vineyards, but there is more to this area than just wine. With a huge range of local beers and distilled spirits available for tasting and purchasing as well, Mudgee has something for every taste!

Vineyards

Robert Stein Winery & Vineyard – Pipeclay Lane, Mudgee

Located just a short drive from the centre of Mudgee, the Robert Stein vineyard has been producing award-winning reds, whites and fortifieds for 25 years. This single estate vineyard does everything on-site, including growing, maturing and bottling the grapes. The premise also features an impressive vintage motorcycle display and is home to the beloved Pipeclay Pumphouse Restaurant with beautiful panoramic views and locally sourced produce.

We got to enjoy a wine tasting from Jacob Stein himself, the chief winemaker at Robert Stein Vineyard. He has been awarded the prestigious Gourmet Traveller Wine ‘Young Winemaker of the Year’ and his passion for wine and paddock to plate eating was infectious.

Robert Stein’s passions in life were wine and motorcycles. Over the years he gradually amassed a collection of rare vintage motorcycles, which are now on display to the public. The Robert Stein Vintage Motorbike collection is free to view when you visit the winery and offers an extensive collection of motorcycles, collectables and photographs on display.

Jacob also took us on a tour of the farm, where his passion for locally sourced and ethical produce was clearly evident. Pipeclay Pumphouse, the restaurant located on the grounds of Robert Stein Winery, features an innovative seasonal menu that changes dependant on what’s growing in the vegie patch or available on the farm.

Bunnamagoo Wines – 603 Henry Lawson Drive, Eurunderee

Owned by the Paspaley family (those of pearl jewellery fame), the vineyard at Eurunderee was selected as the site for some of the earliest vineyards in the colony including the first plantings of chardonnay. It’s no wonder this area is regarded as one of Australia’s best wine regions!

Pay a visit to the cellar door and try their famous wines whilst enjoying the breathtaking views around the vineyard. The extensive lawns and gardens are frequently hired out for weddings and functions including Mudfest, an International Short Film Festival.

At Bunnamagoo, the focus is on traditionally-made wines, which are available for tasting from the cellar door 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm.

You can also book a tour of their state of the art winery to get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look of what it takes to produce award winning wine.

Lowe Wines – 329 Tinja Lane, Mudgee

Lowe Wines specialises in small batch winemaking and is a certified organic facility. They are leading the field in sustainable techniques throughout their vineyards and on the farm. The organic and biodynamic Tinja farmlands of Mudgee are untrellised and unirrigated, and produces lower yields of distinctively individual grapes varieties, one being Zinfandel.

The principal of the business is David Lowe who has been working in the wine industry since the age of 15. We enjoyed a tasting range of their wines at the cellar door with him, and they also serve Lowe Food Platters every weekend.

Lowe Wines have a self guided Wine Walk and Cycle Trail through the grounds that takes in views of the gardens, vineyards, donkeys and even the “chook palace”! I also highly recommend booking in to dine at the nearby acclaimed restaurant The Zin House (and you might get to meet their friendly dog, too!).

Brewery

Mudgee Brewing Company – 4 Church Street, Mudgee

Mudgee Brewing Co. is Mudgee’s only boutique micro-brewery and restaurant, housed in a former wool shed that is over 100 years old. It’s the perfect spot to sample some ice cold beer, Mudgee wine and of course, the local food. The brewery is also the home of live music in Mudgee, featuring live music three nights a week.

We got to sample a range of their boutique beers, which are all natural and have no preservatives.

The perfect accompaniment to all the beer drinking has to be the chicken wings with ranch dressing and the armadillo fries with bacon, mozzarella, sweet Chilli & ranch dressing.

Distillery

Baker Williams Distillery – 194 Henry Lawson Drive, Mudgee

Baker Williams Distillery is a Mudgee-based Micro Distillery that makes handcrafted spirits and liqueurs focusing on regional flavours. I highly recommend paying a visit to their cellar door to meet owners Nathan and Helen and for a product tasting of their spirit range. All of their bottles are sourced from France and feature their iconic drip of black wax down the front.

This delicious cocktail features their phenomenal butterscotch schnapps which is velvety rich & indulgent, combined with coffee liqueur and cream. It’s truly heaven in a glass and the perfect drink to round off a meal!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my drinking highlights of Mudgee, and don’t forget, if you’re feeling peckish I’ve rounded up Mudgee’s best eats here!