The Auswine Forum

Which region that is within 3 hours drive from Sydney should I visit on the special Sydney APEC long weekend? I have been to the Hunter too many times!

I don't think you'll be able to drive to Orange from Sydney in 3 hours. More like 4 hours, and could be the same for Mudgee...
There's a lot of good food in Orange though, some really top restaurants, and quite a number of good wineries. Pack your winter woolies if you go.

From Sydney Canberra would be the closest, then Orange and Mudgee. It's been a long time since I've done the run from Sydney to Canberra - those were the days!

All three regions have their attractions and so it really depends on what you are looking for in terms of wine.

Orange is cool climate with (I believe) the highest vine plantings in the country, and quite underrated IMHO. The Chardonnays are worth looking at. The wineries can be visited using Orange as a base - see map

Canberra and Mudgee have greater variation in elevation but Canberra would be considered a cooler region. The biggest problem with the Canberra region, at least for me, is that it is very spread out. See this map. Coming from Goulburn you could hit those before Canberra and then circle through to Yass. But (again in my experience) you need to be well organized and I would call ahead if there are some wineries you really don't want to miss.

Mudgee can be bloody hot (in summer) and has the earlier harvest. Cabernet used to be the big thing. Again you can visit the wineries using Mudgee as a base -see map. Mudgee is a nice place to visit but I always have a hard time finding wine I enjoy.

Regional wine web sites - Canberra, Orange, Mudgee.

Mike

I had to think hard to decide whether to vote Orange or Canberra but in the end a clear win to Canberra - there is just more here to look at. You can guess that the "here" means I a Canberra resident - guilty but I still think I may be a Sydneysider at heart.

I intially thought Orange but that was mainly for Canobolas Smith.

Canberra there are significantly more. Clonakilla and Mt Majura just for starters.

Don't be silly. You can never go to the Hunter too many times. I don't get to go enough!
GW

I have been to all 3 and enjoyed them all for different reasons in the past 8 months, but I voted for Orange. I was there only a few weeks ago (the week it snowed) and have to say I was not only impressed by the wine but the food, accommodation, coffee and people etc were also fantastic. We stayed out of town in a converted shearers quarters and spent a few days eating good food and drinking great wine. The highlights were :

Canobolos Smith - including some barrel and pre-release samples
Selkirks for dinner. A two-hat restaurant that has won best restaurant in regional NSW a couple of times. (Just go with the recommended wine-by-the-glass with each course)
Borodell on the Mount for lunch. I expected Selkirks to be good; this was a complete surprise. Try the white-bait fritters or the linguine with truffles.
Coffee - didn't have a bad cup in three days; and I am VERY fussy when it comes to coffee.

Plus if you go to Orange you can also visit my favourite 'unknown' winery on the way out or back. Seriously, if anybody is travelling out that way, visit Winburndale Wines about 10km east of Bathurst. You should phone first, but they have been one of the most impressive of all the wineries I have tried in the last year.

mudgee is really good.

Well APEC is over, and I had a good time going to the Canberra District.
Best wines tasted:
Clonakilla Riesling, Hilltops Shiraz, Shiraz Viognier
Helm Premium Riesling, Premium Cabernet Sauvignon
Brindabella Hills Riesling, Shiraz, Merlot, Rose
Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon

Also went to Mudgee on another weekend (3.5 hrs drive). Not impressed at all. Best were the offerings from Elliott Rocke (the ice wine is good), Farmers Daughter (merlot).