Wineries in Coonabarabran, NSW?

I will be on an Astronomy trip near Coonabarabran, New South Wales, later this month. Are there any wineries near there that I shouldn't miss?

-Paul W.

Paul,

It depends what sort of wine you are after. The closest area that I know would be Dubbo (where I was born) but I don’t recommend the wines; the Zoo, yes. Next closest would be Mudgee where you will find some passable wines, but my pick would be the Orange region; the Hunter Valley is further away than these three. You essentially go from hot, to less hot to good cool climate going from Dubbo to Mudgee to Orange. All three are within a few hours of Coonabarabran. You could do all three over a long weekend.

Link to Mudgee wine region
Link to Orange wine region

If you want suggestions for wineries let me know what you prefer in wine styles.

Mike

Thanks for the info, Mike. Coonabarabran seems to be a somewhat out-of-the-way place, which is of course why we're going there for Astronomy (no light pollution). Maybe we'll get to Mudgee or Orange during the trip.

-Paul W.

I had no time to check out Aussie wine regions while I was there. There are two wineries very close to Coonabarabran. I didn't get to visit them, either. Maybe next trip.

-Paul W.

So, apart from no wine region visits, how was the star-gazing?

The star-gazing was fantastic. Darkest skies I've ever been under, and the brightest part of the Milky Way directly overhead. We didn't need flashlights on the observing field because the Milky Way shed enough light to see by. We northern observers are sadly shortchanged in terms of sky splendor. The trip was everything I had hoped it would be, and then some. I'll be back again.

-Paul W.