The Cowra wine region is well known as the birthplace of commercial Australian chardonnay with its vineyards providing fruit for many large winemaking enterprises. While Cowra is on the Lachlan River, its near neighbour Canowindra is on the Belubula River with a different micro-climate and soils. Canowindra is best known for its historic main street, hot air ballooning and Age of Fishes Museum, however, its wines are worthy, too. Many of the local producers are small, without the resources to maintain a cellar door.
Enter Taste Canowindra, a purpose built cellar door, bottle shop, cafe, restaurant, art gallery and musical venue. Taste Canowindra is the front of house for Swinging Bridge, Rosnay, Falls Wines, Gardner’s Ground, Wallington and Pinnaroo Estate. These local heroes are augmented with wines from the Central Ranges and beyond. The food is good with regional specialties and a Spanish-inspired tapas tasting plate. Tom Ward’s award-winning Swinging Bridge Mrs Payten Chardonnay and M.A.W Pinot Noir rub shoulders with Margaret Wallington’s Rhône-inspired reds and The Falls’ amazingly fresh 2005 Semillon. Service is laid-back and friendly. Peter Bourne