Just five minutes north of Mudgee’s charming town centre, Yeates Wines is a boutique winery that has quietly earned a devoted following among locals and visitors alike. Family-owned and passionately run, this small-batch winery crafts an impressive collection of wines that celebrate the region’s rich terroir.
From bold, full-bodied reds to their beautifully crisp, Portuguese-inspired Albariño. Best enjoyed from the striking architecturally designed cellar door overlooking the vines, Yeates offers a relaxed and memorable tasting experience that perfectly captures the heart of Mudgee wine country.
The cellar door
If the wine doesn’t convince you to stay a little longer, the cellar door certainly will. Thoughtfully designed with rammed earth, corrugated steel and warm timber, the space strikes the perfect balance between rustic Australian charm and understated Southern European elegance. Inside, a crackling fireplace, well-loved armchairs and effortlessly mismatched furniture create the kind of atmosphere that instantly makes you feel at home.
Step outside, however, and you’ll quickly discover the real showstopper. Wrapped in climbing grapevines, the expansive verandah overlooks a picture-perfect landscape of vineyards, rolling hills and a tranquil dam that seems to shimmer in the afternoon sun. Whether you settle into a chair with a glass of vino in hand or roll out a picnic rug on the surrounding lawn, it’s the sort of place where one tasting flight somehow turns into an entire afternoon.
Open Thursday to Sunday from 11am until 5pm, Yeates Wines is well worth adding to your Mudgee itinerary. Be sure to book ahead, particularly on weekends, as this much-loved cellar door is no longer one of Mudgee’s best-kept secrets.
The wine tasting
Wine tasting at Yeates feels refreshingly unpretentious. There’s no pressure to swirl your glass with theatrical flair or suddenly become an expert on tannins (unless that’s your thing). Instead, it’s about slowing down, discovering something new and enjoying great wine in even better company.
The tasting experience showcases the winery’s thoughtfully crafted small-batch wines, each poured with genuine passion and plenty of local knowledge. Whether you’re drawn to a rich, velvety Shiraz, a classic Cabernet Sauvignon or their beautifully crisp, Portuguese-inspired Albariño, there’s a good chance you’ll leave with a new favourite—and perhaps a bottle or three tucked carefully under your arm.
Take your time as each pour tells a story of the region, the seasons and the family behind the label. Ask questions, sample something you wouldn’t normally order and don’t be surprised if your “quick tasting” quietly transforms into a long lunch on the verandah. After all, some decisions simply deserve a second sip… purely for research purposes, of course.
Wander Mak 
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