New England North West

Fast facts

• Best known for shiraz and whites.
• Located in north-eastern NSW.
• Armidale is 567 km (6.5 hours’ drive) north of Sydney.

Why go there

In recent years there has been a surge of interest in the development of this wine region. Locals talk of the huge potential, thanks to its unique climate and soils delivering not only top quality fruit but also a distinct style of wine with a spectrum of flavours.

The unique climate is due to the subtropical influence of summer rainfall combined with temperate cold winters. Altitude plays an important role, with the highest vineyard at 1150 m.

The pioneer of the New England wine region was George Wyndham from the Hunter Valley in the 1800s. Today it comprises several emerging wine districts, including Inverell, Tamworth and Tenterfield, which is also regarded as part of Queensland’s Granite Belt region.

The region presently has some 51 vineyards growing 508 hectares and five winemakers.

Don’t miss

• The best varieties - shiraz, riesling, sauvignon blanc, semillon and chardonnay.
• 22 cellar doors in the region, and more in development.
• Regional foods such as beef, lamb, olives, smoked and fresh trout, yabbies, poultry, pistachios, pecans, biodynamic wheat and durum wheat (for pasta).
• Local attractions - New England Regional Art Museum (Armidale), Lake Copeton, Bald Rock, Cathedral Rock, Guy Fawkes River, Gibraltar Range, Mount Kaputar and New England national parks.

Food and wine events

• Nosh on the Namoi, Narrabri in March
• New England Regional Wine Show, Glen Innes in October
• Tenterfield Food and Wine Affair, November