We arrived in Mudgee a bit late for visiting local cellar doors for tastings but the local tourist…read moreoffice advised that the Small Winemaker's Centre would still be open. The Small Winemaker's Centre stocks wine from several small award-winning local producers and service was very hospitable - we got to sample many different wines and bought several bottles each of our favourites at very reasonable prices.

Joey had only been in Millthorpe 30 minutes when he hit the ground running .... in the centre of…read moretown is a quaint but cosy little tasting house .... with a lovely roaring fire in a corner of this stone, wood & brass outhouse ..... refurbished and primed for substantial wine tasting & selling. The staff were professional ..... and knowing your product really helps with expressing the passion of the area and the committed people who produce all that is sacred. I had a great time. You never feel rushed or pressured to buy ..... but instead encouraged to give feedback on all the various types & vintages of grape .... as well as combinations. I walked out ..... well 3 steps forward .... 2 steps back with a Box of 5 different wines .... with a shelf life of approx. midnight ....... that night !!

Had lunch here on Saturday 6th June 2015. Drove along a winding dirt road not far from the heart of…read moreMudgee to this fabulous place. Lowes is very popular which is a good sign. I ordered a " grazing plate " at $30 for 3 people to nibble on while quaffing a bottle of Tinja Pinot @ $22. It was served quickly with no waiting time. The plate was expensive considering the small serves of sliced apple , mixed salad leaf, chutney, pastrami , baby olives, goats cheese, olive oil for dipping and a small loaf of bread.But is was tasty and complimented the wine . ( Some slices of Jalsberg or vintage cheese would have made the plate more appealing and given a bit more value). Our bottle of Tinja Pinot was very drinkable. The out door dinning setting of this winery is outstanding with an expansive view looking out across the valley. Rustic tables were made of big slabs of gum tree timber . The staff were pleasant and attentive. The wine tasting bar was packed and doing great trade . Was it just the glorious winters day with blue sky and chill in the air combined with laughter and lots of talking which made this a memorable occasion where I didnt have a care in the world ? I recommend you visit this winery and find out for yourself .

Two Rivers is THE winery to visit when you're in the Hunter Valley. Their wines are amazing and so…read morereasonably priced. The views from the top of the hill are beautiful, especially at sunset. The owners, Brett and Linda, are delightful people so be sure to speak with them. If you get the chance, stay at the cabin on the winery grounds and enjoy life at the winery. You'll see stunning birds and lots of kangaroos on the property. I highly recommend Two Rivers Winery!

Excellent selection of whites, limited but good selection of reds. We managed to walk out with 5…read morebottles. Service was very friendly and helpful. The top feature of this winery is the view from up behind the cellar door. Ask for permission to drive up (which is not always given, depending on work activities in the vineyards). We got the ok and went up to the outlook over the valley and the two rivers. Absolutely fabulous.

I loved this Winery ...... Organic ...... that's why ..... it tastes better ...... My first visit…read morehere was such fun ..... It was relaxed and not rushed. Our Wine technician was happy to dedicate the time to explain the subtleties of producing headache free Wine. The samples we received were very generous and purposely given in a specific order that we could appreciate the gradual shifts in grape varieties. This Winery was slightly out of the main bunch of Wineries closer to Mudgee town ...... but very much one of the better and more down to earth ones worth visiting.

Whilst visiting this estate for their degustation is pleasant enough with the food and wine (in…read morefact 4 stars worth), do not rely on taxis or buses organised by Di Lusso staff to get you home at night, even if you have paid in advance. We were left high and dry without transport back to Mudgee at 10:25pm. Di Lusso had organised a 'bus. We were picked up from various places around Mudgee then delivered to Di Lusso at the beginning of the evening. We each paid Di Lusso $15 which was supposed to include our return journey. The bus driver told us to be ready at 10:30pm but when we walked out at 10:25pm we were told the 'bus had gone. This is when the staff at Di Lusso said that they had made the call for the 'bus but at least 10 of us did not hear or see anyone walking around doing that call. When we asked the Di Lusso staff about calling a taxi we then were told the taxi company was not responding to calls. There was one taxi driver who did appear as he had been called independently and got the message that there were more people waiting for transport. He came back. The fare into Mudgee was around $30 for 6 of us. As we expected, there was plenty of wine with this meal. Had we been breathalysed we would have been over the limit to drive. This is the reason we had asked Di Lusso initially about transport. Unfortunately many people drove home possibly over the limit and questions should be asked od Di Lusso about the responsible service of alcohol.

Di Lusso Estate is an Italian winery, restaurant and function centre, located in the Mudgee region…read more Arrived around 2pm for wine tasting and lunch and noticed a lot of cars in the car park. There is outdoor seating but because it was a windy day everyone was inside. They have a wood fire pizza oven outside. The main kitchen closes at 2pm, but they still serve pizza until 2.30pm so we just made it! Did some wine tasting first bought a bottle of their moscato and sat down to order the antipasti and pizza di pollo both $25. Both pizzas pretty tasty. Staff are friendly and attentive. Great lunch experience! Open seven days.

We were fortunate to find a table having not booked and arriving 20 minutes before the kitchen was…read moreclosing. The staff were very accomodating and did not try to hurry us at all but we were sure to put our order in ASAP. The restaurant itself is absolutely lovely with a view over the dam to the mountains beyond. The service most definitely matches the fine dining that the menu suggests. We ordered the Ash crusted beef and the Slow roasted lamb shoulder along with the broccolini and the fondant potato sides. All dishes were spot on but I'll especially call out the beef. Sometimes an "ash crust" is either overpowering or just a gimmick but at Pipeclay, it added a lovely char and balanced the dish nicely. I completely understand why Pipeclay Pumphouse is one the recommended places to eat in Mudgee. From the attractive dining room, exemplary service and wonderful food, it is well worth a visit.....just make sure you book!

Oh, but we had a great time at this lunch option…read more Look at the relevant open times, but take up the opportunity if you can. Much better than the Wild Oats Cafė. I won't ask you to risk a slack meal, but you must be looking for a long good meal.