Four Mudgee wineries have achieved five-star ratings in James Halliday’s bestselling Australian Wine Companion for 2017, two of which earned the book’s highest rating of five red stars.
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Logan Wines and Huntington Estate have been rated five-star wineries.
Robert Oatley Vineyards’ and Robert Stein Vineyards’ red five-star rating signifies consistent excellence and five-star quality over the last two years.
It’s a very good reference tool because a lot of people follow it into the region because it has a very strong representation in it
- Peter Logan
Just 10 per cent of the wineries (282) listed in the 2017 companion received the top rating and 181 producers received a black five-star rating.
Robert Stein winemaker Jacob Stein said the area was well represented in the companion, which had a specific and dedicated audience.
“I think that it shows that the region is strong, with 12 wineries producing wine – and 18 producers in the book - to have four up there is pretty good,” he said.
“It gets wine-focused people to Mudgee: That’s where there’s a big benefit, we still get people rocking up with the 2015 and 2016 books.”
Peter Logan said that while four wineries received the five-star rating there’s a halo effect that will benefit others in the local area.
“It is important, a lot of people do use it as a reference, but it’s not the be-all-and-end-all and there are a lot of very good wineries that haven’t been rated as five stars who probably deserve that accolade,” he said.
“But it’s a very good reference tool because a lot of people follow it into the region because it has a very strong representation in it. People might come here for [the five-star wineries] but while they’re here they’re going to go elsewhere as well.”
He added that the listing is a strong selling point.
“It certainly helps with exports because overseas distributors see James Halliday as the word on Australian wineries, which makes it easier when you’ve got a rating in it,” he said.
The Mudgee region wines listed in James Halliday’s Wine Companion are; Bill Byron Wines; Bunnamagoo Estate; Charnwood Estate; De Beaurepaire Wines; di Lusso Estate; Ernest Schuetz Estate Wines; Gooree Park Wines; Heslop Wines; Huntington Estate; Logan Wines; Lowe Wines; Mansfield Wines; Quilty Wines; Robert Oatley Vineyards; Robert Stein Vineyard; Rosby; Vinifera and Yeates Wines.
