Mudgee Town Center & Honey Haven

Mudgee has much to offer to people of all ages and tastes. The town is renowned for its many delightful cafes, where tourists can find some great food and try out award winning wines. The article “Wine Tasting in the Australian Town of Mudgee” says the following about the attractions offered by the town: “Mudgee is geared up for tourists and has plenty to offer, including the Colonial Inn Museum, Honey Haven – a small shop that makes and sells locally produced honey and honey related goods such as the alcoholic drink Honey Mead, a miniature railway for the children, and of course, the ubiquitous wineries lining the short ‘tourist drive’ on Cassilis Rd leading out of town.” http://charlotte-baird.suite101.com/wine-tasting-in-the-australian-town-of-mudgee-a326083

Wine, Cheese and Chutneys:

After exploring the Mudgee town center, you should head out of town towards Cassilis Road and the roundabout which has a clock tower.  Within a radius of 10 kilometers, you will find around 20 wineries producing fantastic Australian wines. There are also numerous other attractions and activities for visitors to enjoy.

One place worth checking out whilst you are in Mudgee is High Valley Wine & Cheese Company – a great shop that combines locally processed cheese with fine Australian wine. It is also an excellent place to stop by for tea and try out some of their delectable homemade cream and scones.

Further down Cassilis Road you will find Frog Rock Wines. The establishment combines locally produced olive oils and chutneys with tastings of Australian wines, with the additional aesthetical backdrop of a local photographer’s work. The garlic olive oil and caramelized onion are highly recommended!

Another wine establishment on Cassilis Road worth visiting is Robert Stein Winery which also features a motorcycle museum. This small winery is a treasure for both lovers of Australian wines and motorcycle enthusiasts who want to see a brilliant collection of items belonging to the winery’s founder.

Australian Chardonnay gained popularity around the world for its unique flavor when it was first introduced around 30 years ago. It was kind of fruity but with a very dense and creamy texture that was nothing like other wines. Nowadays though, Australian Chardonnay is a lot more refined with a complexity and elegance that appeals to wine lovers as well as first-time drinkers. The ezine article “Sweet White Wine – Australia’s Top 3” talks about the top three white wines in Australia. It says the following about Chardonnay: “It is lighter and has more structure. It has the fruity notes of peaches and nectarines. Some of the best chardonnays in the country come from the Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River, Western Australia. Particularly famous for their clarity and pristine elegance are the wines in their Art Series.” http://ezinearticles.com/?Sweet-White-Wine—Australias-Top-3&id=6645367

Australian Riesling is a dry wine renowned for its floral flavors, but those that come from late harvests assisted by noble rot Botrytis cinerea bring about sweet white wines that are loved by all with a sweet tooth. Barossa Valley is known for producing the liveliest kind of Riesling white wines in Australia. Clare Valley and Eden Valley, which too are located in South Australia, also have some great Rieslings.

When it comes to producing Semillon, Australia can be compared to the Bordeaux region in France. Semillons grown in the Hunter Valley, South Australia and Western Australia are dry creamy wines with some citrusy hints. Semillon wines produced in these areas are usually allowed to age for around five years or more in order to ensure the best aromas and flavors, which include honey and roasted nuts. Like Riesling, Semillon is also assisted by Botrytis cinerea for producing wonderful sweet wines.

As well as these, there are several other white wines in Australia which are highly regarded such as Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Blanc and Muscadelle. But the above three definitely top the list.

Though being the leading variety amongst all Australian red wines, Shiraz hasn’t always dominated the market. The article “Red Wine Varieties in Australia” provides great insight into Australian red wines. It says: “Until the mid nineties cabernet sauvignon was regarded as the superior variety and this was reflected in the prices paid at the cellar door. In more recent years the demand for exports has been mainly for Australian shiraz and cabernet has lost ground in the battle for consumer preference in Australia as well.” http://darby-higgs.suite101.com/red-wine-varieites-in-australia-a68755

Shiraz’s reign on the top began in the mid 1950s when it outshined Grenache to become the most preferred Australian red wines variety. At that time, the majority of winemakers were focusing on fortified wine, commonly referred to as Port.

What does the future hold? Looking ahead, the position of Shiraz appears unassailable; however, there are some challengers stealing the limelight. Wine consumers without doubt are a fickle lot and fashion changes quite quickly. Some of the varieties that are constantly attracting attention in Australia and are expected to do well in the years to come include Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot as well as the emerging varieties such as Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Durif, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Greco de Tufo and Aglianico. During the last few years, winemakers in Australia have been on the lookout for red wine varieties that are more suited to hotter climates, thus switching their focus on South Italian varieties. You can find a large number of wineries throughout the country specializing in these varieties.

Summary: The wine scene in Australia is changing constantly. Though Shiraz is still expected to continue its domination, there will definitely be a large number of new contestants attempting to establish themselves in the Australian red wines market – keep watching for the next ones to taste!

The ezine article “Top Winemaking Regions in Australia and the Best Australian Wines” talks about Australia’s major wine regions and says the following about Margaret River wine: “Located 268 kilometers away from the city of Perth, fans of different wines can visit this place which is a 3-hour drive away from the city. The wineries in this region offer the best-tasting varieties, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin, Chardonnay, Shiraz, and Merlot. Most wineries offer wine-tasting activities to their visitors, although many need not come to the region to taste the great wines. They can purchase these from the retailers that offer online wine sales.”http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Winemaking-Regions-in-Australia-and-the-Best-Australian-Wines&id=6242805

With more than 140 wineries and almost 5,500 ha under vine, the Margaret River wine region is without doubt one of the world’s most popular and vibrant wine producing areas. Although it accounts for only 3% of Australia’s total grape production, it is responsible for more than 20% of the country’s premium wine production. The region stretches over 100 kilometers from north to south and is around 30 kilometers wide in parts, comprising the undulating hills of Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste, and bordering the Southern and Indian Oceans.

Generally, the climate of the Margaret River wine region resembles that of the Bordeaux area in a dry vintage. The near ideal humidity levels and the avoidance of extreme temperatures during the wine growing period together with perfect soils result in Margaret River wine of consistently top quality fruit with strong flavor. Vintage takes place between February and May each year, depending on the climate and the resulting ripening. The Margaret River wine region utilizes a combination of machine harvesting and hand picking to make sure that the fruit is removed at optimum ripeness in a timely way.

Amongst the major wine regions in South Eastern Australia are the Clare and Barossa Valley areas north of Adelaide that are famous for Shiraz; immediately south is McLaren Vale that is famous for Sauvignon Blanc; the Coonawarra area in the south that is famous for Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon; and Hunter Valley close to Sydney that is famous for its Chardonnay varieties. In Western Australia is Margaret River that differs significantly from the southern areas because of its cooler climate. Though this vast continent is home to numerous other wine regions, these are the most popular ones that the average consumers are aware of.

Since all of Australia’s wine producing regions are in the southern hemisphere, vintage variability here isn’t as extreme as in the northern hemisphere of Western Europe. The climate is usually good that is a great plus for the local wine makers. Unfortunately, however, this consistency sometimes leads to the fallacy that each vintage is as good as the previous one. This misconception, undoubtedly created by large wine companies which dominate the local wine scene, is gradually being shattered as smaller companies successfully start exporting their less homogenous beverages. It is important to remember that Australia is a big country and thus the quality of different areas’ harvest can vary quite significantly. However, compared to regions in the northern hemisphere, it is correct that Australia has a much more consistent weather overall.

Australia is truly a wine producer’s paradise in numerous ways. Its diverse soil conditions and microclimate allow for extraordinary range of wine grapes as well as wine varieties: red and white, sparkling and sweet. During the last few years, there has been a great rise in the global popularity of Australia’s wines. But again, Australian wines make a head start over their rivals in the northern hemisphere. Grape harvests in Australia take place from late January through early May because of its below-the-equator location. Therefore, Australian wines get released half a year earlier than northern hemisphere beverages of the same vintage.

The Western world is generally considered to be the traditional wine producing and consuming region of the world. However, the fact that 20 of the world’s top wine producers are located in 10 different nations show the vastly fragmented nature of global wine industry. Nevertheless, the market is becoming increasingly consolidated as numerous producers look toward developing countries to exploit the international market. Moreover, volume growth of worldwide wine has somewhat been dampened in recent times due to changing consumption patterns in key Western European markets such as France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, with younger consumers moving away from conventional daily wine consumption to more occasional drinking.

In Australia, wine is an essential part of the local lifestyle, associated closely with both leisure and business. Australian wine has built a worldwide reputation for its value and quality. Wines produced in Australia have won major international awards, competing successfully against longer-established global wine industries. On the international level, Australia was ranked seventh in the list of global wine producers in 2009 with 1,178,440 tonnes of wine production. Australian wine exports have grown at a fantastic pace in recent years and the country is consistently ranked amongst the world’s top 10 wine producing nations.

Being a hugely diverse country with nearly every soil type and climate, Australia is amongst a few wine makers that produce all major wine types. The country makes a complete range of esteemed wine styles from fruity, deep whites and full-bodied reds through to fortified, dessert and sparkling styles. Today, there are 2000 wine producing companies in Australia and the industry employs some 31,000 workers. Moreover, there are over 167,000 ha under vine throughout the country. Renowned Australian wines grace the menus of top restaurants in the world and can be found on the shelves of supermarkets and wine shops across the globe.

The grape varieties used to make Margaret River sparkling wines are Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Sparkling is produced predominantly from red grapes. Since red grapes are immediately pressed after harvest to get the white juice, they are called “White from Black”. Moreover, some varieties of sparkling wines are made from white grapes to ensure more delicate beverages. These are known as “White from White”.

Sparkling wine is generally suitable for functions and parties. Its sweetness can range from dry “brut” varieties to sweeter “doux” styles. Sparkling goes well with meat, cheese, sea food and fruit. For instance, meat like chicken, flank steak, turkey and port tenderloin; cheese such as goat cheese, cream cheese, brie and provolone; sea food such as scallops, lobster, halibut and shrimps and fruits like blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry go well with Sparkling wines.

Though Margaret River Sparkling varieties are produced from different wine grapes using different production methods, they all have more or less the same characteristics. Sparkling wine has a delicate effervescence and flavor. Hence, in order enjoy the wines’ full characteristic, they must be served chilled.  For the best taste, store Sparkling in the refrigerator for three to four hours prior to serving.

Margaret River Sparkling is a wine variety that has been growing in great popularity in the South West. Nowadays, you can find a number of local vineyards producing top quality white and red varieties. One winery that has especially built a solid reputation for its excellent Sparkling wines is Windows Estate. Founded in the year 1996, this boutique winemaker is situated on the border of Wilyabrup and Yallingup areas. The excellent terrain of the property, bordering a national park that is adjacent to Indian Ocean, provides an ideal atmosphere to nurture world class wines and produce top quality fruit.

Another establishment known for its Sparkling wines is Howard Park. The winery has recently set up a new ultramodern Method Traditionalle Sparking facility, which is WA’s first large-scale totally integrated Sparkling facility. Like other local wines, Margaret River Sparkling is all set to make its mark on the national and international stage.

Moss Wood produced its first vintage in 1973 with around 250 dozen bottles. Initially, a couple of hectares of Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon were planted. In the subsequent years, plantings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Semillon were made. The current owners, Clare and Keith Mugford, bought the business from Pannell in 1985. Even though Pannell didn’t have any formal qualifications in winemaking or viticulture, he did possess a remarkable intuitive feel for grapes and made the wines with conviction and passion. The Mugford’s continued the good work of Pannell.

Since taking charge, Clare and Keith have constantly sought and utilized new technology and knowledge to enhance wine and grape quality. Together, they’ve created an array of wines which are known for their consistency over several vintages and ability to mature superbly.  The unwavering goal for Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon has been that of highest possible quality, continuously aiming to produce flawlessly great fruit and perfect wine. Every decision made at the winery and vineyard is based on the likely effects it is going to have on wine quality.

One of the icon wines in Australia, Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon is truly cabernet sauvignon at its best. Clare and Keith love the challenge of continuously producing the wines of best possible quality. By working hard to implement suitable vinicultural and viticutural advances, they seek to further enhance their understanding and knowledge of premium winemaking and allow Moss Wood to uphold its well-earned reputation as Australia’s leading high quality, specialist winery. Their wines have undergone great refinements during the last decade. For lovers of fine wine visiting the South West corner of WA, make sure that you don’t leave without trying out Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon.

Margaret River reds are known as being one of Australia’s finest. The region has become renowned for its dry, fruity reds and the elegant Shirazis an excellent example of the region’s premium style, offering great current drinking together with the potential to mature gracefully. Margaret River Shiraz first gained international acclaim in 2000 when Evans and Tate received the “best red in the world” at London International Wine Challenge. Later, Fermoy Estate triumphed on the London stage in 2010 when their Reserve Semillon 2009 won Gold.

Shiraz grapes are used for making some of the most famous and expensive red wines in Margaret River. They are mostly sourced from the northern end of the region. The northerly warm exposure offers full flavored ripeness and richness to the wines. Some of the fruit also comes from the south where colder climate adds some spice- rich fragrances of plum, currant muffin, smoked ham-hock and briar berry lead to a rich and lush palate. All of this ties together with unassertive but firm tannins and gentle acid.

Shiraz is one of the most preferred wines in the world today. It has a wide, very powerful range of aromas and flavors. The bouquet offered by Shiraz is bountiful, including berries, espresso, black pepper and chocolate. The wine can either be blended or used as a varietal. Nowadays, winemakers in Margaret River produce a host of Shiraz styles, ranging from full bodied to light bodied wines.

Shiraz is amongst a few wines that can be served with several different types of cuisines. It matches well with beef as well as other hearty foods. It can also be used with Mexican, Indian and other spicy cuisines. The fact that Shiraz grapes take a significant amount of time to ripen makes them very sweet before they even go through the wine production process.  This ensures that the wine’s taste doesn’t overtake the cuisine, while at the same time cuisine doesn’t dominate the taste of wine. You can also have this wine on its own. For the finest taste, serve Shiraz at a chilly temperature of 64F.

Though the Margaret River wine region of WA is widely known as the producer of elegant yet powerful Cabernet Sauvignon, it has also garnered a reputation for its quality white wines, particularly Sauvignon Blanc blends. Today, the region is producing some of Australia’s most excellent value-for-money white wines while several red blends have also proved outstanding. Margaret River is suitable for the production of almost all the classic varietal wines. The region has the most reliable climate compared to all of Australia’s major wine producing regions. Its latitude combined with the ever-present moderating influences of the Indian Ocean give it high rainfall in winter and an even heat accumulation during the growing season.

The permutations of Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc can either be used as single varietals or in conjunction with a component dominant. It can even be blended with Chenin Blanc to create a local specialty often referred to as Classic Dry White. But in the majority of vintages, the region mixes together the two varieties like no other place does: Semillon (or Chenin Blanc) obtains a pleasingly herbal grassy cut that shades imperceptibly into Sauvignon Blanc. Elegance and intensity similarly blends together in wines which are hardly ever less than distinguished.

Depending on the weather, Sauvignon Blanc’s flavor may range from sweetly tropical to aggressively grassy. This is an ideal refreshing wine for almost all occasions, showing loads of gooseberry and a hint of subtle tropical fruits and nettles. Once slightly chilled, the wine matches well with cheese or fish. It is also one of the few wines which go well with sushi.

If you want to try out Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc, you should sample the varieties produced by Oceans Estate. Their 100% Sauvignon Blanc won bronze medal at the 2010 Perth Wine Show and the 2010 Royal Adelaide Wine Show. Those with a passion for Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blend should look no further than Preveli Wines. Their 2010 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc won gold at the 2010 Australian Small Winemakers Show and silver at the 2010 Margaret River Wine Show.

Find out more on The Margaret River Guide.com.au