Food and wine in Central NSW

Why go there

Central NSW is a great place to discover some of the best produce, wines and dining experiences in the State. Orange, the centre of the biggest apple and pear growing area in the country, is now known as a high quality source of rare and exotic produce.

Mudgee’s vineyards were established as early as the 1850s while other regional cities such as Dubbo, Bathurst and Cowra have also established their reputation for fine food and wine.

Wineries

There are several wine-producing regions in Central NSW, making wines of widely varying character. Chief among them is Mudgee, where robust and deeply coloured cabernet sauvignon and shiraz wines and concentrated chardonnays typify the region’s 50 wineries.

Cool growing conditions in Orange guarantee premium fruit for locally-made wines that are now available at more than 30 cellar doors in the area. Dubbo has a small but growing wine industry and Cowra is known for its exceptional chardonnay.

• Farmer’s Daughter, Mudgee Celebrated small producer of shiraz, semillon and merlot.
• Kalari Family owned boutique vineyard in Cowra that specialises in verdelho and fortello. 
• Ibis Wines Premium boutique producer of pesticide-free wines in Orange. 
• Huntington Estate High quality, distinctive Mudgee wines known for their finesse.
• Vinifera Boutique vineyard in Mudgee specialising in Spanish red varietals.
• Windowrie Estate Pioneer winery in Cowra well known for its chardonnays, shiraz and tempranillo.
• Canobolas-Smith Wines, Orange Hand picked fruit and French oak help tp produce beautiful wines.
• Orange Highland Wines Friendly cellar door set amidst beautiful gardens.

Where to dine

• Cobblestone Lane Innovative contemporary cuisine served with style in Bathurst.
• Lolli Redini Italian-influenced menu works wonders with the excellent local produce in a splashy dining room in Orange. 
• Selkirks, Orange,  Modern Australian food that pays homage to the classics.
• Tonic Shining light in sleepy Millthorpe delivers full-flavoured country cooking with a modern twist.
• Union Bank Wine Bar and Wine Store Features local wines, perfect for relaxed meals, Orange
• Racine at La Colline French provincial-style cuisine in a pretty vineyard setting in Orange.

Where to get fresh produce

• Mandagery Creek near Orange sells farmed venison, a lean and exciting alternative red meat.
• Mudgee Honey Haven sells an aromatic range of golden honeys.
• Newtown Providores in Dubbo, a gourmet deli with all the essential ingredients for  great home dining.
• Sonya Begg’s free-range snails produced for the table at Ross Hill Vineyard, Orange.
• Farmers’ markets in this region are worth a visit on their own – bookmark monthly markets in Bathurst, Dubbo, Mudgee and Orange.