Beautiful wines, a nature-inspired cellar door, and an art gallery showcasing regional works; Rosby Wines is where family, nature and creativity meet.
The moment you arrive at Rosby Wines, a sense of calm and connection washes over you. From the warm welcome to the striking sculptures dotting the garden and the sleek new cellar door, you’ll be happy to just sit and savour this serene space that seamlessly immerses you in the countryside. But of course, the wine awaits.
Home to a small cellar door, art gallery and sculpture garden, this small family operation – run by Kay, Gerry, Amber and Cameron – welcomes you to experience its family charm, five days a week.
In 1983, Gerry and Kay traded Sydney’s hustle for the quiet charm of an 80-acre property named Rosby, complete with a weathered pisé cottage begging for a new lease of life. Mudgee’s natural beauty and tight-knit community won them over, and the region became the family’s new home.
Though producing wine wasn’t always the plan, Gerry’s curiosity led him to plant Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Initially, Rosby’s fruit supplied surrounding wineries, but Gerry’s desire to create something truly his own led to the birth of Rosby Wines. Today, Gerry leads as Rosby’s viticulturist, while Tim Stevens, from the local Huntington Estate, lends his expertise as winemaker.
James Halliday once said, ‘Many vignerons like to think that their vineyard has special qualities, but in this instance the belief is well-based.‘
The Rosby cellar door is a stunning example of modern architecture that works in harmony with the surrounding countryside landscape and the vineyard’s scenic sculpture garden. Completed in 2020 by Rosby’s neighbour, Justin Penney, this rammed earth structure has been designed to complement the original mudbrick homestead on the property. It’s sustainable, 100 per cent off-grid, and perfectly positioned to overlook the vineyard.
‘We had been planning it for many years but finished construction in 2020,‘ says Amber Norton-Knight. ‘It was probably not the best time to launch a new venture, but it was worth it.‘ It certainly was. The thoughtful design hasn’t gone unnoticed – earning the prestigious James Barnet Award for Regional Architecture in 2021.
At Rosby, wine isn’t the only thing that’s worth tasting. The cellar door has become known for its signature Burnt Basque Cheesecake, inspired by a recipe obtained from Spain’s San Sebastián. It’s become so popular that it’s now served every week; adding to the list of things to look forward to at this unique cellar door.
Connected to the cellar door is Rosby’s very own art gallery, helmed by Gerry’s creative wife Kay. What began as a private print and sculpture studio in Rosby’s garden has blossomed into the largest sculpture exhibition in regional New South Wales and the cellar door’s gallery showcasing ongoing exhibitions. Be sure to visit the gallery’s current exhibition (with a glass of wine in hand), Clusters | Close to Home by Shani Nottingham and Sam Paine.
Whether you’re in the mood for an outdoor wine tasting, a slice of famed cheesecake, or a relaxing afternoon in the sculpture garden, Rosby will serve up the goods with a cellar door experience that’s anything but ordinary.
