Cowra

The Cowra region, best known for its Chardonnay, Verdelho and Shiraz, is located in central NSW. The region is 350 km (or a 4 hour drive) west of Sydney and includes the township of Canowindra as well as the main centre, Cowra. At 310m above sea level the area has an excellent climate for rich, golden Chardonnays.

The area was originally inhabited by the Wiradjuri people who were perhaps surprised to hear that the first white explorer, George Wilson Evans, who entered the Lachlan Valley in 1815, declared the area unfit for white settlement. Nevertheless, white settlers began entering the area by 1831 and the township of Coura Rocks had begun in 1840. By 1847 the township was known as Cowra and the village proclaimed in 1849. In the 1850s gold prospectors were passing through on their way to the gold fields at Lambing Flat (Young) and Grenfell and the town experienced steady but unspectacular growth thereafter.

Without doubt the single most famous event in Cowra’s history was the mass breakout by over 1,000 Japanese prisoners of war on August 5, 1944. Armed only with makeshift weapons, the prisoners threw themselves on the barbed wire fences and into line of the machine guns. More than 350 Japanese escaped, though all were recaptured during the following week. A total of 107 POWs were wounded and 231 prisoners died, as did four Australian soldiers.

While there is much in Cowra today to remind of this tragic history, there is also much evidence of the friendship that has grow up with the people of Japan since, including the Australian World Peace Bell (a replica of that at the United Nations awarded to Cowra in 1992 for its contribution to world peace), and the Japanese War Cemetery (the only one of it kind in the in the world), proposed by the Japanese government when they saw the attitude of the Cowra returned servicemen to tending the graves of the Japanese dead.

Just to the north of Cowra, 33km on the road to Orange, is the historic town of Canowindra (pronounced Ca-noun-dra), surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, orchards and traditional farms, Canowindra is a classic country town with much to offer the discerning tourist, including the ardent wine buff.

While vines, as in so many areas, were first planted in the 1800s, it was not until the 1970s that the current crop of vineyards began. The Cowra Estate first planted its vines in 1973, and since then there has been tremendous growth in wine production in this region. In the 1990s major expansion began as larger companies, such as Rothbury and Richmond Grove, as well as smaller boutique vineyards such as Brokenwood began planting. Nowadays, Cowra has over 1,700 hectares of vines in 35 vineyards that together produce more than 10 million bottles of wine per year.

Most of Cowra’s vineyards can be found in the valleys of the Lachlan and Belabula rivers, which come together at Gooloogong to become the Lachlan, that then continues on into the Murrumbidgee. The soils are similar to that found throughout south-east Australia, slightly acidic and only moderately fertile. The climate is hot and dry with an average temperature much higher than in the Hunter, and comparable to the Riverina region further west. Rainfall can be high in the growing season but humidity is low with some danger of frosts in spring.

The Windowrie Estate was the first winery to be built in the region, which now has 12 cellar doors as well as food and wine events such as the Cowra Cork and Fork in November and the Cowra Wine Show in July. The annual Cowra Wine and Food Festival held in November, used to be known as the Cowra Chardonnay Festival and was renamed to reflect the growing significance of other grape varieties as well as the quality of the foods of the region.

Cowra has a long history of fine produce, in particular, prime lamb, beef, wheat and green and white asparagus. In recent times, however, the region has diversified and now smoked trout, and sheep milk cheeses, are just some of the delicacies you can find on local menus at various times of the year. While its wineries include Catherine’s Ridge, the Cowra Estate, Falls Wines, Hamiltons Bluff, Kalari Wines, Mulligan Wongara Vineyard, The Mill Winery, Rosnay Organic Wines, and Windowrie Estate. While in nearby Canowindra can be found the Falls Vineyard Retreat and Tom\\\'s Waterhole Wines.

In addition there is much to see, such as the Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre, World Peace Bell, Rail Museum, Darbys Falls Observatory, and the Age of Fishes Museum. Ken Nakajima created the Kaiyushiki (strolling) garden at Cowra, designed to take each sightseer on a voyage of discovery around the sites of Japan. The garden includes an open air Tea House, a working Pottery House, Tatami room (a traditional Japanese living room) and a Bonsai House.

Held at the gardens each year is the Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival), a Japanese celebration of the arrival of spring. During the four day festival can be enjoyed Ikebana, Origami, Calligraphy, Shibori, Karate, kite flying, tea ceremonies, music recitals, sake tasting, local food and wine, pottery, bonsai demonstrations, Sumo Wrestling and kimono dressing.

In Canowindra is to be found the spectacular Age of Fishes Museum, home to an incredible 360 million year old fossil collection, and nearby is the Canowindra Trading Post, which not only has beautiful antiques but the Canowindra cellar door and gallery. A short drive north-west of Canowindra is the Nangar National Park of over 3,400 hectares.  Nangar has a striking cliff line on the northern boundary, known as Nangar Ridge. From the lookout on top of the ridge you can see the vast valley below. Also recognised as the Ballooning Capital of Australia, for years hot air balloon enthusiasts have found the climate and topography, not to mention the scenery of Canowindra, perfect for ballooning. Stopover in Canowindra in April for the Canowindra Balloon Festival and later in the year for the Canowindra Springfest.

Cowra is above all a white wine region that specialises in excellent but reasonably priced Chardonnays. Verdelho also seems well suited to the region though both Riesling and Gewurztraminer are gaining in reputation in the region. The Cowra region has also diversified into soft, red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz.