The air’s getting cooler. The sun’s setting sooner. Winter is here, which means it’s time to light the fire, switch off your phone and snuggle up with someone cosy. And if you’re looking for a getaway that embraces the “winter but make it chic” aesthetic? Pack your woolly jumper, the one who keeps your bed warm and come to the Mudgee Region.
No boring stay this winter, please. Let’s go a little more off the grid at Glenayr Farm. Settle into a glamping tent or villa in the peaceful surrounds of a 320-hectare sheep and cattle farm. Just the two of you, the roaring fire pit, an outdoor hot tub and the stars. Let the stress slide off you, as you make your way up the hill for a broad view of peaceful farmland, or just cuddle up by the fire and forget about the world. Perfection.
From here on, it’s all about slowing down to enjoy the best things in life, like love and romance - and cheese. And wine. And burnt Basque cheesecake.
One of Mudgee’s essential food experiences awaits at the top of a hill overlooking the Lowe Family vineyards. At zin food + wine house, you’ll graze your way through plates of fresh, seasonal produce, grown in the garden outside or sourced from local growers and carefully selected suppliers. zin food + wine house is a hatted restaurant, but in the best kind of way. One that embraces the unpretentious joy of eating. There are no secrets here, just the best food, fresh off the farm. The team is even happy to share their recipes, so you can make them together at home.
Winter wine in Mudgee is best served with a side of cellar door experience, and you’ll find that winning combination at Rosby Wines & Gallery, with its unique blend of winery and art gallery. Every October, the grounds of Rosby host a major outdoor sculpture exhibition, featuring artists from across Australia. For the rest of the year, this family-run vineyard serves some of Mudgee’s most delicious wines, alongside impressive exhibitions of local and visiting artists. Sit in the stunning Rosby garden, surrounded by sculptures, and take your time with a bottle of wine and their famous burnt Basque cheesecake.
Just across the road is the bright and airy cellar door of Bunnamagoo Estate Wines. Get comfortable and let the knowledgeable Bunnamagoo team find a wine to suit your taste. Take a seat around a barrel outside or bring your own lunch and picnic rug to set up on the green. The two of you, a bottle of red and nothing but the vines, the Mudgee hills and the birds. It’s the perfect place for peace, quiet and connection. And wine.
Back in Mudgee town proper, wander down the main street of boutique shops to pick up something you won’t find in a chain store in the city. Byrnes Jewellers is a family-owned business with a 50-year history. Step into this long-running jewellery store to find a deluxe chess set or a set of cuff links for a formal evening out. Who knows, maybe it’s time for someone to buy someone else a ring - you’re in Mudgee after all. The sun is setting golden, you’re about to finish up the best weekend of your lives, with a quiet night by the fire pit… #putaringonit #itsabouttime #omghesdroppingtheknee
If you think all this romance is cheesy (pun intended!), embrace the cheese in all its glory with a visit to High Valley Cheese Co, a boutique cheese factory with a cosy, semi-outdoor tasting room. Taste your way through a selection of locally made cheeses, including marinated fetta, blue cheese and aged cheddar. Peek into the cheese factory to see how these flavours come to life and to take home a delicious taste of the Mudgee Region. Oh, and don’t sweat it - if you eat all the cheese tonight, you can always come back for more in the morning. That’s the thing we love most about the Mudgee Region…
