Mudgee has been a favourite destination for many of our friends over the years. Just a four hour drive from Sydney and it offers great wines, walks and food. One of the best restaurants in the area is the The Zin House
The meal was planned to be the highlight of our weekend away and it did not disappoint. In fact it reminded me of Milton’s visit to Blue Hills at Stone Barns.
In this post:
The Zin House Location
Located on a hill alongside Lowe Wines , it has sweeping views of the valleys and hills. With the drought broken it was a verdant green. It’s around 12 km from Mudgee, and an easy flat cycle but too far to walk. If you arrive by car you will need to plan your responsible driving carefully.
How to Book The Zin House
With the current pandemic we had to book 6 weeks in advance. Bookings are made directly from their site, and you can search for a time that suits. The good news is by the time you turn up for lunch the $125 per person degustation was a faint memory.
My tip is to head for the 12 noon start so you can enjoy a leisurely lunch.
Organic locally sourced food
The food is organically and locally sourced either from Mudgee or further afield in Orange. They have a philosophy of minimal waste for example the whey from churning the butter is included in the ice cream.
There were at least three vegetable plots as part of the restaurant/winery complex. Growing everything from jerusalem artichoke to broad beans. We saw staff picking vegetables from the garden as needed. Even the farm where the lamb was sourced was visible from our seat.
The staff were friendly and helpful, as souse chefs explained every meal or staff topped up our drinks. We we assured there was no hurry to finish our meal
The Zin House Degustation Menu
The only option available is the degustation menu. You are able to advise them your preferences/allergies in advance and this was confirmed on the day.
We enjoyed all of the food and paired wines.
SATURDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2020
SOURDOUGH MISO BUTTER
WHIPPED FETA BLACK GARLIC. MARKET GARDEN BEETS & CARROTS HEMP SEED DUKKAH RYLSTONE OLIVE OIL
2011 Lewe Gentleman’s Daughter Methode Champenoise ORANGE
JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE. LEMON JAM, HOSHIGAKI, CURRANT & SMOKED ALMOND DRESSING
2019 Lowe Dragonfly Field Blend MUDGEE
FETTUCCINE SMOKED EEL BRAISED LEEKS, BUNCHING ONIONS FENNEL PANGRATTATO
2018 Lowe Headstone MUDGEE
BURRANAH FARM LAMB SHOULDER. SPINACH PUREE, ZEN GARDEN BRASSICA, RED WINE JUS
2016 Lowe Black 5 Shiraz MUDGEE
LEMON TART BUTTERMILK ICE CREAM CRYSTALLISED NUTS
2009 Craigmoor Botrytis SSB MUDGEE
Cheese Course
A SELECTION OF LOCAL CHEESES,HEMP SEED LAVOSH, CRAB APPLE & QUINCE
2005 Lowe Reserve Shiraz MUDGEE
S125 FOOD / $65 WINE FLIGHT
Cheese Course $15pp / $30pp matched wine
Wine Pairing and Cheese Upgrade
You will get upsold the paired wines at $65 per person and we went with the flow. We also had a couple of top ups (for tasting purposes only). You should still be able to drive home.
They will attempt the cheese plate upsell later in the lunch. Most of the cheeses come from High Valley cheeses. As we had visited their shop located at 137 Ulan Road Mudgee the day before (highly recommended) we passed as we still had cheese back at the AirBnb.
Mid Meal Break
One of the highlights of the meal was being able to take a mid meal break. Between Pasta and the Lamb course we were able to stroll around the veggie gardens and relax in the sun. The staff topped up our glasses and said take as much time as you want.
Where to stay
We stayed at Short Sheep winery which was an easy backroads drive after lunch. It’s a great location being a short walk from one of my favourite Mudgee wineries Huntington Estate.
Summary
While The Zin House is not the cheapest place to eat it’s a great place for a special occasion. We plan to return.
