The Hunter Valley is one of the oldest and most famous wine regions in Australia, boasting many of the large names in wine, including Lindemans Wine, Tyrell’s Vineyards and Wyndham Estate. The Hunter is a popular escape situated 160 kilometres north west of Sydney and is internationally-acclaimed for producing world class semillon and shiraz.
Following is a list of ten things for wine lovers to do in The Hunter. Obviously the list can never be exhaustive so all feedback and suggestions on extending this list is welcomed.
Image source: flickr
1. The Boutique Wine Centre
Located in the heart of the Hunter Valley wine country on Broke Road in Pokolbin is The Boutique Wine Centre, a cellar door style showcase for the tasting and sale of some of Hunter Valley’s leading boutique wine companies and an ideal place to begin your exploration of the region.
Meerea Park’s Alexander Munro
Glenguin Estate’s Schoolhouse Block
Château Pâto Shiraz
Postcode Cabernet Sauvignon
2. Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard
Perched atop a foot hill of the Brokenback Mountain Ranges in one of Hunter Valley’s best locations is the Audrey Wilkinson Cellar Door with breathtaking views, award-winning wines and a museum.
Image source: flickr
The vineyard is the oldest planted site in Pokolbin set high on 270 acres in the historic “Oakdale” Vineyard with the Brokenback Range just west of the estate.
Museum Reserve Semillon
The Ridge Semillon
Reserve Chardonnay
The Lake Shiraz
3. Peterson House
At the gateway to the Hunter Valley vineyards is the Peterson House Cellar Door. Peterson’s are the only producer of sparkling wines in the Hunter Valley and are also one of the few producers using méthode champenoise in Australia.
Image source: flickr
Whilst it is well worth a visit when in the Hunter Valley the sparkling just doesn’t compare after visiting France’s Champagne region
Sparkling Blanc de Blanc Chardonnay
Sparkling Merlot
4. Scarborough Wine Company
Situated on a stunning 30-acre hillside vineyard on Gillards Road in Pokolbin the Scarborough Wine Company grows chardonnay and pinot noir.
White Label Chardonnay
Yellow Label Chardonnay
5. Hunter Valley Gardens
Take a break from the wine tasting and explore the Hunter Valley Gardens. Spanning over 60 acres it has many outstanding features including 10 differently themed garden areas with over eight kilometres of pathways.
6. Moorebank Vineyard Estate
Moorebank Vineyard Estate is a boutique vineyard estate that produces an extensive range of sustainably grown wines.
Moorebank Merlot
7. Roberts Restaurant
Need lunch or dinner? Situated on Tower Estate at Pokolbin, Roberts Restaurant is one of the Hunter Valley’s most celebrated restaurants located amongst the vineyards in a National Trust slab cottage dated circa 1876 filled with rustic antiques.
8. Constable Estate Vineyards
Constable Estate Vineyards is a boutique family vineyard cradled against the backdrop of the Brokenback Ranges, the vineyard of 15 acres includes the classic grape varieties of chardonnay, semillon, verdelho, cabernet and shiraz.
9. Bluetongue Brewery Cafe
Mix it up with a visit to the Bluetongue Brewery Cafe, the Hunter Valley’s first boutique brewery, located in the Hunter Resort.
10. Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop
The Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop has a fabulous selection of local and imported cheese and a comprehensive range of delicatessen products.
The Best Sake Daiginjyo Manotsuru
Kirin Brewery Yokohama
Go-Shu Blue Super Premium Junmai Ginjo Sake
Champagne
Asahi Brewery Osaka
scott j
C Ohara
Chris
Japan Australia
Jay Dee
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lina
freedomwv
Fidel
Haikugirl
Nice blog. Glad to go through the pictures of wineries. Audrey looks good. Wish if I could visit the place.
There is a theme accomodation at Casurina estate.
I highly recommend the Frech Bordello room – theres even maids outfit (infortunately the fat tart I took couldnt fit into it!).
Dan, does the themed French Bordello room compete with this:
http://www.loneleeplanet.com/2010/03/top-10-love-hotel-room-themes/
Daniel, I’m not fat. I’m just big boned.
Reesan, Audrey Wilkinson is indeed the best vineyard for views and for buttery Chardonnays. I think you’ve nailed the best places to see. The only place you left out was the Potters Brewery. Their Hunter Kolsch is outstanding.
http://www.pottersbrewery.com.au/
Potters Brewery looks cool. It’s now on my to-do list!
I was at the Sydney cellar door today in Hyde park and was trying to remember where we got that schoolhouse block that time we went there. Did a google seach and ended up here. I should have just called…couldn’t find any schoolhouse but did get some of the moorebank merlot. Sneaky skinny 500ml bottles!
Those 500ml bottles are criminal!
Do they have cask wine? I don’t want to drop my standards….