One of the best things about the Mudgee Region is the abundance of festivals and events to attend!
Below are five must-do Mudgee events for lovers of wine, food, reading, art and the great outdoors.
For a full list of Mudgee events click here.
Flavours of Mudgee
Held in the heart of Mudgee’s CBD, ‘Flavours of Mudgee’ brings the town alive with this street festival. All of the region’s winegrowers, producers, bakers, cooks, distillers and brewers join together offering tastings and meals with a backdrop of Mudgee’s historic buildings and famous Clock Tower. Seriously good fun, for the entire family.
Black Tie @ Burnbrae
Leave no food untouched, leave no wine unopened, leave no shoe undanced… Blacktie @ Burnbrae is a night of cracking wines + beer, food to die for, the funkiest band in Australia and memories that will last a lifetime!
Mudgee Readers’ Festival
The Mudgee Readers’ Festival exists to share the joy of reading with our vibrant community. Featuring best-selling authors such as Rosalie Ham, Clare Wright, Benjamin Law, Sally Hepworth, and Michael Robotham, this annual festival combines mudgee wine, local food and books in the best way possible!
Sculptures In The Garden
Sculptures in the Garden is an annual two-day sculpture exhibition drawing established and emerging sculptors from across NSW and beyond. Wander through Rosby’s breathtaking gardens, sample boutique Mudgee wine + regional produce, take in the breathtaking views of the vineyard and countryside surrounds and enjoy the breadth of talent showcased in this expertly curated outdoor exhibition.
All proceeds from the weekends exhibition go towards a local arts initiative to create a public art sculpture walk in Mudgee’s Lawson Park with gate and catering revenue going to the Mudgee Support Group of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
Mudgee Running Festival
Perfect for both first time runners and marathoners, the Mudgee Running Festival offers four race distances to suit everyone! 5km Fun Run/Walk, 10km Fun Run, Half-Marathon & Full Marathon.
The shorter courses take you through town where you can take in the scenic Lawson Park, Cudgegong River and scenic foothills, while the longer courses weave through the picturesque Mudgee valley; past vineyards, wineries and farmland.
People often ask me what they should do in Mudgee….when they’re not on a wine tour of course! While there are so many wonderful recommendations, I have to admit that my favourite Mudgee itinerary is:
8am: Grab a coffee & bite to eat at Alby & Esther’s
9am: Take a stroll along the Cudgegong River through Lawson Park
10am: Grab a loaf of Mudgee Sourdough from Dad’s Deli.
10:15am: Visit a few local shops: Mudgee Art House, Cedar Cicada, Whatever Mudgee
12pm: Lunch at Mudgee Brewing Co.
Wine Tour: Take a half day wine tour with Mudgee Wine & Country Tours and visit three local wineries
4:30pm: Head home to rest/ get ready for dinner.
7pm: Dinner at Roth’s Wine Bar
]]>For some, it can be quite intimidating to go on a wine tour. From not knowing the viticulture verbiage to beng unsure about what a spatoon is (don’t worry, we’ll get there), the whole thing can feel a bit pretentious or confusing.
Fret not, Mudgee is one of the most down to earth wine regions and would love to help fuel your love of wine.
In an effort to make your wine tasting experience more enjoyable, we’ve listed a few Dos and Don’ts.
Do’s
- Eat a big breakfast or lunch, before you go on your tour.
- Listen to the wine expert, read the tasting notes, and feel free to ask questions.
- Inhale the wine in your glass with a deep breath before taking a sip.
- Focus on tasting wines about what you want to learn. You do not need to drink everything.
- You don’t need to swallow the wine. Plenty of tastings can be done on the tongue.
- It’s a good idea to pour anything you are finished with into the spittoon. (The designated bucket for tipping out wine.)
- Drink the water on offer to maintain adequate hydration.
- Buy wine! If you like a certain wine purchase some bottles or a case.
Dont’s
- Avoid becoming belligerent. E.g. Do not gulp the wine to purely get drunk.
- Do not wear any strong perfume/cologne or have gum, breath mints, or coffee while tasting wine as it will alter the flavour of the wine.
- Do not hold the bowl of the glass. Instead, always hold the glass by the stem as this avoids heating the wine and altering the taste.
- Do not ask for a second tasting of a certain wine unless you are planning to purchase it.
- Do not be a wine snob or know-it-all. Wine tasting is subjective.
- Do not have preconceived notions about what you like. Each variety can taste different depending on where and how it is made. Stay open-minded!
Don’t want to feel lost on your next wine tour? Here are six basic terms that will help you understand what you’re drinking and tasting.
Acidity
When someone is talking about the ‘acidity’ of wine, they’re referring to the fresh, tart and somewhat sour attributes of the wine and how they work with the tannins to create a well-rounded taste.
Sweet
Sweetness in wine is reflective of a grape’s sugar content and is contrasted to dryness. Very dry wine is produced from early picked low-sugar grapes, while sweet wines are made from late picked high-sugar grapes.
Oak
Many red and some white wines are aged in oak barrels. Depending on the length of time, some red wines can come across with undertones of smoke, spice, tobacco or leather in red wine, while whites may exude vanilla, caramel, butter or spice.
Body
You’ve probably heard someone refer to wine as, ‘light, medium or full body.’ They’re talking about the weight of the wine on their tongue. A common comparison is the way skim milk, whole milk and cream feel in your mouth.
Minerality
Also referred to as ‘crispness,’ minerality represents a certain presence in wine that tastes like minerals such as stones, chalk or metals.
Tannins
Speaking of tannins…. Tannins in wine come from grape skins and seeds in the wine making process. Tannins have the effect of leaving your mouth and cheeks dry. Very tannic wines do well with rich foods as they help cut though the fat and the food helps mellow those tannins.
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