Sometimes, life’s best surprises come from the twists of fate that lead us to unexpected places. McIntosh Estate, Mudgee’s newest cellar door, is one of those surprises.
Opening this August 2024, McIntosh Estate has revived a vineyard planted in the 60s – a feat that wasn’t easy. Speaking with the owners Janet and Curt, it’s clear this journey unfolded exactly as it was meant to, though not without its fair share of surprises. Like many ventures in Mudgee, McIntosh Estate was born from pure passion. The owners have poured their hearts and souls into this estate, taking several gambles along the way. These businesses are exactly what make Mudgee wineries so special – where we, as visitors, get to experience the winemakers' passion projects firsthand.
Step inside McIntosh’s newly renovated rustic and modern cellar door for a warm welcome and winetasting. The estate’s collection includes nine varieties of wine (with more coming soon), produced from the grapes enveloping you and made by some of the best winemakers in the region.
McIntosh embraces the Mudgee cellar door charisma with a meet-the-maker-style tasting. Not only will you sample your way through the likes of Blanc de Blanc, Vermentino, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay (to name a few), but you’ll hear from the grape growers themselves, their passion for wine and the journey that has brought this very moment to fruition.
If you consider yourself a ‘cab sav’ lover, you’re in luck. Janet and Curt reveal, “We’ve been told the vineyard had some of the best Cabernet vines in Mudgee”, which has naturally become their main variety. Look out for the story-telling names of each vintage, including their very first in 2021, 'The Gamble', 'Gumboots' after 2022’s floods, and for 2023 'Textbook', in honour of a textbook growing season and Janet’s Diploma in Viticulture. To complement your tasting experience there is small cheese plates available and in the near future McIntosh’s very own Estate Honey, produced from the bees onsite.
Before Janet and Curt came along, McIntosh Estate was a slumbering vineyard, with 50-year-old vines quietly resting, and a plan to build a house with a beautiful view. But life has a way of surprising us.
It started with a serendipitous connection – a Qantas girl with a deep love for wine and a tech executive with dreams of building a home in Mudgee. Fate threw in its share of challenges: a ruined harvest, a global pandemic, and a steep learning curve that tested their commitment.
Yet, these two, deeply connected to the land, found a way to nurture something unexpected. With care, planning, love, and a good dose of humour, they revived the vineyard and crafted wines that embody their journey.
Away from the vineyard, metres away from Mudgee’s cafes, restaurants and shops, sits a 1930s four-bedroom house known as McIntosh Cottage. Make it your home away from home for a weekend with friends, family, or a wedding party. Run by Janet and Curt themselves, you can expect the same level of love and hospitality.
