An emerging Australian wine region located in the Central Ranges Zone of NEW SOUTH WALES. It’s situated about 190 miles west of Sydney on the western side of the Great Dividing Range. It is as warm as the HUNTER VALLEY but is less humid and not as cool at night. There are approximately 4,000 vineyard acres. The most widely planted white varieties are CHARDONNAY, SÉMILLON, VERDELHO, and SAUVIGNON BLANC; the main reds are Shiraz (SYRAH), CABERNET SAUVIGNON, CABERNET FRANC, PINOT NOIR, and MERLOT. Initially, white varieties were the mainstay, but red varieties have been planted in higher quantities over the last few years, including new introductions of BARBERA, SANGIOVESE, and TEMPRANILLO. Much of the Cowra grape harvest is trucked to wineries to the south or west to MUDGEE or Hunter Valley.