New vintage: explore the Mudgee food and wine scene

THIS FOOD AND WINE HUB ON THE CENTRAL TABLELANDS IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND INVEST.

WITH ABUNDANT PRODUCE and a wine industry that dates back to the 1850s, Mudgee, 268 kilometres north-west of Sydney, has long been a favoured weekend destination to unwind and about half a million people visit every year to explore the region’s 40 cellar doors. However, these days, more and more people are swapping city life for the opportunities of working, investing and raising a family in this charming rural town, which has a population of almost 11,000 people. Sam Paine, a local writer, painter and performer, grew up here and later returned after moving to study and travel overseas. He now exhibits his art and does illustration work for clients who are based in the central west of NSW and Sydney. “Mudgee has grown and become more cosmopolitan,” the 34-year-old says. “It’s drawn a lot more creativity — people doing food and wine and making the escape from Sydney. It’s a very lively place now and people are exploring different things with lots of young people and families. You can always find a group interested in the same things as you and there are lots of connections and collaborations.” Sam instigated a youth theatre group two years ago and is a local councillor with the Mid Western Regional Council that plans to build a regional art gallery. “Mudgee is a place you can carve out your niche — there’s room for people to come in with a great idea,” he adds. Toni Behrens, 38, returned to Mudgee with her artist husband Warwick in 2006. They run the local art supplies store, Mudgee Art House, as well as The Mud Factory studio, where Toni hosts art classes in a rustic old shed on Lewis Street. The couple and their two sons, Ashon, 11, and six-year-old Coby, enjoy taking their kayaks to nearby Dunns swamp in Wollemi National Park. “Mudgee is a beautiful little town with a supportive community that’s constantly progressing,” says Toni. “Plus there are lots of independently owned businesses, which is really nice.” For more details, go to visitmudgeeregion.com.au and themudfactory.com.au >