From a week in 1979 to exhibit the region's finest drops, the Mudgee Wine + Food Festival (September 7 to October 7) has aged to one of the country's longest running events of its kind.
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The Festival was established in 1979 - as Mudgee Wine Week - when a small band of visionary winemakers saw the opportunity in banding together to showcase the region's unique wine quality.
Since then it has continued to grow and expand, becoming the 'Festival' in 1985, and now encompasses the entire month of September and the October long weekend, bringing together not only the winegrowers but the region's best produce, chefs and cooks to share the Mudgee experience.
Leading the way - and to celebrate four decades - there will be the 40th Anniversary Festival 'Ruby' Launch at Craigmoor Pavilion on Saturday. Which will kick off a month of festivities, including signature events such as the Mudgee Wine Show Trophy Dinner (September 13), Go Tasting and Go Grazing (September 14 and 21, respectively).
Along with Flavours of Mudgee (September 28), when the heart of Mudgee comes alive with a festival in itself. All of the region's winegrowers, producers, bakers, cooks, distillers and brewers join together offering tastings and meals with a backdrop of Mudgee's historic buildings and famous Clock Tower.
Jess Chrcek, president of Mudgee Wine Association said the festival proves Mudgee is a vital part of wine in Australia.
"We're celebrating the past 40 years of festival, making it one of the country's longest continuously running wine festivals and proves Mudgee is a vital part of the history of wine in Australia," she said.
"To the association that's something we're extremely proud of as it means our members have trusted us for four decades running to showcase the region on their behalf. We have grown the event from 2 days to a full month and this year our guide lists over 200 events from September 7th to October 7th - a massive achievement.
"In terms of the greater community, we are such a collaborative industry that we offer something for everyone. This year we have everything from morning yoga sessions amongst the vines to trivia nights to structured vertical tastings and lazy Sunday afternoons where the kids can play and the adults can relax with some top wines and great food.
"History will always play an important role - We've even gone for a fun, old school retro look with our festival guide and posters this year, an homage to that all important history.
"We've definitely dusted off some beauties! Having this chance to celebrate the past is a great opportunity to embrace the future as well. We've had such amazing success with our events in years' past that we've sick with a similar formula for a long time."
Born in 1979
Sunshine and large crowds on Saturday and Sunday brought Mudgee's first wine week to a successful close. The winemakers are so pleased with the response that plans for a second wine week are under way.
- Mudgee Guardian, September 25, 1979.
The ongoing coverage of the first Mudgee Wine Week from the Guardian's archives show that it was an instant hit. And for the first morning reported that, "Mudgee's main streets took on a continental atmosphere with tables, coloured umbrellas, and wine tasting on Saturday morning".
It was officially opened by Mr K J Seppelt, deputy chairman of the Australian Wine Board.
"Today I believe you are producing around a million bottles yearly - not a lot by national standards, perhaps, but your Wine Show results show that it is high quality wine," he commented.
"What you have seen around this area with your wine industry is in many ways a model for what has happened for the whole Australian wine industry."
At its conclusion, the decision to make it an annual event was a given.
"A crowd of more than 2,500 attended the Mardi Gras street carnival on Saturday afternoon," Gil Wahlquist, chairman of the Mudgee Shire Tourist Committee, said.
"This was of great financial benefit to the Mudgee Police and Citizens Boys' Club as well as being a great social success.
"On behalf of the wineries, I would like to thank the many district organisations which promoted wine during the week. Excellent publicity was received. There were a lot of visitors from Sydney and a lot from the west of the state too.
"Mudgee is being regarded as the wine centre for Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst and Lithgow."
- Full details of the 40th Mudgee Wine + Food Festival can be found at visitmudgeeregion.com.au