OMG. It’s finally happening. The girls’ weekend made it OUT OF THE GROUP CHAT.
Six women. One weekend away. A year of negotiations and calendar scheduling. Three failed attempts, thanks to a pregnancy, a child’s broken leg, a chicken pox outbreak and an immoveable work deadline.
But IT IS FINALLY HERE. And Mudgee is not going to know what hit it.
We’ve missed a lot of goss over the last year – Bee is considering an open relationship, Josie got a promotion and Lulu is back on the apps. Ooft.
But while we catch up, let’s start the long weekend right, with some boutique shopping - Rylstone-style.
Before we hit Mudgee proper, we’re heading down Louee Street, trading sob stories while flicking through boxes of records at Rylstone Retro Records, tasting local date and almond chutney and to-die-for rocky road at The Country Plate and buying wool at Convent and Chapel Wool Shop.
We’ve already covered Lulu’s latest failed Tinder date (ouch!) by the time we arrive in Mudgee, where fashion, food, and furnishings are the theme of the main streets.
We start with a visit to Willow Collective - and bye bye money.
Someone please hold us; we cannot get enough of the relaxed, stylish options, the seasonal colours, the natural fibres and the on-trend accessories. Because you’re living the country life now, so you’ve got to dress the part. And with the store owner, Katy, recommending looks for everyone, we’re leaving with full shopping bags - and even fuller suitcases.
We’ll be drinking a lot of wine this weekend, so to keep things balanced, we’re kicking off the festivities with a gin. Baker Williams Distillery is a cosy little family operation – the person who serves you at the counter has just been out the back peeling oranges for the Orancello, or crushing grapes for a deep red Shiraz gin. They know exactly how the liqueurs are made, what they should be paired with for #drinkgoals and cocktail recipes you’ll make forever. We take home Butterscotch Schnapps for Bee’s sweet tooth, a Coffee Liqueur for Emmy’s serious caffeine addiction and a couple of classic gins because we’re going to want martinis tomorrow afternoon.
Before we head out for the evening, we stop into McKenna Terraces - our home for the long weekend. A row of recently renovated heritage townhouses, these terraces are close enough to wander home, but just off the main drag for a good night’s sleep. A gift hamper of Mudgee goodies awaits (YES PLEASE!) and with private parking in the back and a friendly country pub on the corner, you almost want to just settle in here for the weekend and not go out again. Almost.
The best spot to watch the sun set over the Mudgee valley is First Ridge Wines. Their cellar door is perched on a hill, with 360-degree rolling vineyard views. Now they’re just showing off! Grab a table for the whole gang and prepare for a range of Italian wine varieties grown on-site. These are rich, full-bodied wines made for sumptuous meals and lively conversation. Drop everything the moment golden hour hits, and fly out to the verandah for a group selfie. Get the vines in the background. Get the sunset on the hills. It’s bliss – one big table, Sangiovese flowing, the women who know you best and make you laugh the most, finally all in one place.
Back to town, and we’re pulling into Roth’s Wine Bar, the longest-running wine bar in NSW. Rumour has it that the art work on the front windows was painted by the local nuns, so the children from the nearby Catholic School couldn’t see into this den of sin. Oh, we’re clutching our pearls just thinking about it! Dinner is wood-fired pizza served in the courtyard, and the tastiest sides in town - the duck spring rolls are *chef’s kiss*. There’s a local muso playing covers in the shed and he somehow knows everyone’s favourite songs. We’re up on the dance floor, the shoes are off and you know sh*t is about to get real. Arms in the air, singing along - you can see how Roth’s has stayed open for a hundred years, no matter what the nuns say.
As promised, it’s an easy walk back to McKenna Terraces, even with shoes in-hand! The good news? There’s still two days left across the long weekend. Why did we leave it so long between catch-ups?
