Just 20km away, politicians sit in Parliament House debating the country’s future. Near Hall, to the north-west of the nation’s capital, Allan and Christine Pankhurst debate who will be master of the coming year’s vintage. As owners of the Pankhurst brand, the couple believes in taking a slightly different approach when sub-contracting their winemaking. Rather than throwing all their eggs in the same basket – or more to the point, all their grapes in one vat – the Pankhursts believe some professional winemakers specialise in [...]

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When people talk about Mudgee and its wines, there are a few names which are synonymous with the success of the region – like bread and butter; thunder and lightning; wine and cheese. In the case of Miramar Wines winemaker Ian MacRae, it’s an association with Mudgee which has been going for almost 40 years. Ian planted his first grapes in the region in 1973-74 and produced his first vintage in 1977. There are few other labels in the Mudgee region which have not at [...]

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Dry White ** Less than $7 a bottle ** Wilbertree Dry White Winemaker’s tasting notes: Clean, fresh everyday White wine, a blend of Chardonnay, Riesling Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Great value and great drinking when you do not want to open one of Miramar’s premium whites. Screwcap. Price is for a case of 12 x 750ml bottles Sells: $80 Wilbertree Cabernet Sauvignon ShirazWinemaker’s tasting notes: A medium bodied, flavoursome every day Red showing full fruit flavour and a clean acid/ tannin finish. Great value at [...]

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** Winemaker noted for whites which age well ** Winemaker’s tasting notes: Clean, fresh, bright, Semillon crispness showing through and evident on both palate and nose. The Chardonnay contributes body weight and fills out the finish of the wine. 2009 was a great year and this wine is a good example. Screwcap. Price is for a case of 12 x 750ml bottles Sells: $168 Share on Facebook

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    ** Bargain buy – just $14 a bottle **   Winemaker’s tasting notes: Doux Blanc is a blend of Semillon. Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling picked in early May. About 10% of the grapes were affected by the Noble Rot, Botrytis Cineria, but they were all raisened and concentrated in flavour and intensity to the point where only about one third of the tonnage, which would have been picked at normal maturity, was harvested. The wine is sweet and luscious but has a clean, [...]

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** Bargain buy – just $14 a bottle ** Winemaker’s tasting notes: Fume Blanc is a style consisting of predominantly Sauvignon Blanc which has had some time in Oak. In this case the effect of the wood is almost subliminal but it does change the balance and structure of the wine. The Sauvignon Blanc grassiness is evident on the nose and the palate shows some gooseberry overtones but none of the extreme tropical fruit salad we have come to expect from the New Zealand version [...]

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           Winemaker’s tasting notes: Made from 30 year old Shiraz Vines grown at Miramar. This full flavoured, soft wine was matured in French and American Oak Barriqes and Pucheons. Sealed with Stelvin caps to ensure that the wine is not damaged by faulty corks.  Screwcap. Price is for a case of 12 x 750ml bottles  Sells: $228  Share on Facebook

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Ro and Grosvenor Francis like to promote indulgence. Their day-to-day life is all about combining the best food and wine into an ambience and business which has for many years captured a loyal following. A few hundred metres from the Mudgee city centre and adjacent to the large Parklands Resort sits the cellar door, Fromagerie Café and artisan Cheese Factory.  This is the showpiece of the family business. For many, High Valley marks the start of the Mudgee food and wine trail. Under the galvanised [...]

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There is a certain rustic charm about the Burnbrae vineyard. From the moment you walk jump out of the car, you are bound to run into a member of the family or the winemaker. Breathe deeply and the air is distinctly fresh. Walk up the wooden ramp to the cellar door and sit on the verandah, and it could almost be another era. Nearby is the old winemaker’s cottage which is now a two-bedroom guesthouse. This place is distinctly “country” – a place of old-school [...]

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The longer you sit with Mudgee Wines owners Jane McLean and Bill Whalley, the more you see their passion – and their vision – to make their winery far more than just a place to make premium wines. In the first week of January 2011, they opened their restaurant and, like other wineries, will cater for Tuscan Style weddings and functions. That adds to their fully licensed bar area which can become quite busy on weekends. “We want to make Mudgee Wines a destination,” Jane [...]

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