It’s 2019 and I was lucky enough to bring in the New Year exploring the beautiful Hunter Valley. I have never been before and wasn’t sure what to expect of it. We chose it because it was the cheapest for us to visit over the holidays with a group of friends. I am so glad that we did, because I was absolutely blown away by it in the little over 4 days that we spent there. So I thought I would share with you some of the top things to do in the Hunter Valley based on my experience, starting with the wineries of course!
The Hunter Valley has some of the most incredible scenery I’ve seen. Rolling green hills covered in vines as far as the eye can see. I was amazed by how beautiful the scenery was as we drove around between wineries which really added to the experience of the place. That, and the dazzling sunsets, an abundance of wildlife and awe-inspiring storms. To top this off, you have some of the most beautiful cellar doors I’ve seen. There really is so much to see and experience in this large wine region, it isn’t just about the wine! But, that is pretty damn good too.
But what about the wine?
Because you don’t really see Hunter Valley wines in bottle stores, you would be forgiven if you assumed there wasn’t much wine grown in the Hunter Valley. I know I wasn’t sure what to expect. But when I got there I found out that there are actually over 150 wineries in the region! It is also the birthplace of Australian wine being the oldest wine producing region dating back to 1832 (although the Barossa has the oldest vines today). Because of these facts, the region is rich in history and you are surrounded by wine everywhere you look. Not a bad situation to be in if you ask me!
The key varieties grown here are the Semillion and the Shiraz, however, there truly is something for everyone. It is Australia’s hottest winery region and these humid conditions create some of the most unique wine in Australia. Young producers are now coming through and experimenting with new grape varieties too, so whilst there is a lot of Chardonnay to try, you can also get your hands on some great Tempranillo and Barbera to name a few (the Chardonnay didn’t disappoint either).
With over 150 wineries in the region, although we had 4 days of tasting wines we merely scratched the surface (although I bought so many bottles we had to add an extra 10kg to our luggage). It would be impossible to try all the wineries in one trip, so you have to prioritise. This is why I’ve created this list of my highlights from our recent trip, so you can start planning yours! So without further ado, here are my top picks of wineries to visit in the Hunter Valley!
Usher Tinkler
Location: 97 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Go there for: Experiencing a wine tasting in a church
You’ve got to try: 2014 Reserve Shiraz
Cost of tasting: $5 per person, redeemable on a per person purchase of wine
Opening hours: Open 7 days, 10am-5pm
Why I loved it
We had Usher Tinkler recommended to us by a family friend, but I had read about it before the trip. Like many of the wine families in the region, Usher Tinkler started up his own winery away from the family Tinkler winery to blur the lines between traditional and contemporary wine. The result is wines that are tasty, different and fun.
The cellar door is located in the old Pokolbin Church which has been renovated beautifully. I loved the huge window that lets in a lot of natural light and has a nice view out to the garden. As soon as you walk in they have music blasting, something different to the other wineries we visited. We sat down at a table and were taken through their key wines, which included everything from Prosecco to Tawny by one of the guys in the store that was dressed in casual clothing and explained the wines like you would to a friend. I absolutely loved this approach because it felt like you were hanging with a friend rather than it being so formal.
The wines
The wines were absolutely delicious. They have a few different ranges with fun labels, something you don’t get a lot of in the Hunter Valley. My favourite labels were on their Nose to Tail range which depicted the animal that the wine went best with. However, it was the 2014 Reserve Shiraz that stole the show for me. It was full-bodied with a great vanilla taste and a fruity nose. Although it was on the more expensive side, I decided it was definitely worth bringing a bottle home!
Usher Tinkler is a great option for those that want to try something different in the Hunter Valley. Throughout our time there a lot of people said that the new winemakers were the ones being watched eagerly as they tried new things, and so you really should experience it for yourself. Their tastings can also be paired with an extensive selection of beautiful salamis and cheeses. We would have grabbed some if we hadn’t just had breakfast!
Gundog Estate
Location: 101 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Go there for: Fantastic wines and a fun tasting experience
You’ve got to try: 2017 Rare Game Shiraz and 2017 The Chase Semillion
Cost of tasting: $5 redeemable on purchase
Opening hours: 7 days, 10am-5pm
Why I loved it
Looking back on the trip, this was my favourite tasting. We visited Gundog Estate when we went to Usher Tinkler on New Year’s Eve but they weren’t open. Gundog Estate is located right next door in the old Pokolbin schoolhouse, so we popped in there for a tasting. We also wanted to visit it because later in the year my partner’s cousin is getting married at their Canberra winery Afterwards I remembered that they won the Gourmet Traveller 2018 Best Small Cellar Door, and for good reason!
When we sat down the lady taking us through the tasting said: “The tasting is $5 and redeemable on purchase, but I’m so confident that you’re going to buy wine from us that I’m not going to charge you.” I absolutely loved this confidence! She proceeded to take us through their extensive wine list with so much great knowledge and information. It had to be one of the most interesting tastings that we had, and did we have a lot of wines! The page is double sided and full of great wines, it makes it so hard to choose!
The wines
The great thing about this tasting was you could compare the tastes of the wines from their Vineyards in the Hunter and in Canberra. This made for a really interesting tasting experience. The wines also varied in price so there was something for everyone’s wallets. We fell in love with the 2017 Rare Game Shiraz which had a great complexity and delicious oaky flavours. The 2017 The Chase Semillion was also one of the best Semillions that we tried the whole trip!
Although the cellar door may not be as grand as some of the others in the Hunter Valley, the tasting experience at Gundog Estate was by far the best. I had the best time trying all of their wines, and only wish I’d had more room in my suitcase to grab a few more bottles. Each wine we tried was so different and unique there was something for everyone.
Tulloch
Location: 638 De Beyers Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Go there for: Experiencing one of the older wineries
You’ve got to try: 2017 Barbera Cellar Door Release
Cost of tasting: Complimentary for their basic tasting (they also have experiences which prices vary for)
Opening hours: Open 7 days, 10am-5pm
Why I loved it
We visited Tulloch wines as it was near our accommodation and definitely had a name we had heard of. They also won the Star Cellar Door from Gourmet Traveller Wine for 2018. There are a lot of institution wineries in the Valley, and although some seemed a bit commercial, Tulloch had a completely different feel. It made me question whether we should have tried more of the older wineries on our visit, but at least we have some left over for next time!
Tulloch has been operating for 122 years and is one of the oldest wineries in the valley. This rich history is celebrated at the cellar door. I really enjoyed looking at all the vintage bottles as you walk in and viewing the old pictures taken so many years ago. You can even do a wine tasting on the back of one of their old trucks!
The cellar door itself is located on a beautiful property with a long driveway, perfectly manicured gardens and a two-storey tasting house. There aren’t that many vines but you don’t notice it because of how beautiful the gardens are.
We had a great tasting at Tulloch. We were given the freedom to choose which wines we wanted to try (their tasting list is extensive), and given some guidance along the way. Although they recommend 6 tastings, you can try more if you want. The best part is that their base tasting is complimentary, which is something that isn’t common in the valley. You can also pay a fee to try different tasting experiences, including sampling their ‘museum’ wines.
The wines
Tulloch wasn’t afraid to try new varieties. Although they had the classics, they also had wines such as Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Barbera and Tempranillo to try. I am a sucker for these varieties and hadn’t found much in the valley, so I had to try them all! I loved all four, but the stand out was the Barbera. It was rich and heavy with a whole heap of fruit and punchy tannins.
Tulloch is a great winery to visit if you want to experience the rich history of the valley. The cellar door is beautiful and traditional, and there are so many wines on tasting you will have trouble choosing just one! Also, they have a patisserie attached to the winery that has incredible pastries and coffee. Perfect after you’ve done a few too many wine tastings and need a pick me up!
Harkham Wine
Location: 266 De Beyers Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Go there for: Trying something different
You’ve got to try: Saba Shiraz 2011 or the Aziza’s Chardonnay 2017
Cost of tasting: $5 redeemable on purchase
Opening hours: Friday 12-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm (although they were open every day we were there)
Why I loved it
We actually stayed next door to Harkham wines and so became quite familiar with them over our time there. Drew who was managing the cellar door was living next door to us, and he ended up taking us through the wines on a couple of occasions. Pop Up, the most energetic fun loving dog, was also a crowd favourite!
Harkham Wines is one of the only natural wine producers in the valley, so is a great spot to try wine in its unadulterated form. This means the wines can be quite different, and may not suit everyone’s palette, but for me, I found the experience really interesting. The wines were juicy, packed full of flavour and kept you guessing.
The wines
I really enjoyed a number of the wines from this producer, including their Rose which we had a couple of times. However, it was the Saba Shiraz 2011 that stood out to me the most. It was so delicious and full of fruit flavour. However, if you are looking for something with a slightly cheaper price point (the Shiraz will set you back $80), the Chardonnay is incredible. It doesn’t drink like a classic Chardonnay but has enough flavour that both my Chardonnay loving partner and Chardonnay hating friend enjoyed it.
Drew is going to kill me for bringing this up, but they also have the most incredible chocolate liqueur for tasting that makes for the best dessert with some ice cream. I don’t usually get interested by the sweet chocolate liqueurs at a tasting, but this is the best one I’ve ever had. However, what it doesn’t do is outshine the incredible wines they have on offer. So when you head to the cellar door, don’t ask for the chocolate, ask for the Shiraz!
Audrey Wilkinson
Location: 750 De Beyers Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Go there for: The best views
You’ve got to try: 2018 Rose and 2017 Tempranillo
Cost of tasting: $5 redeemable on purchase
Opening hours: 7 days, 10am-5pm
Why I loved it
When we visited Audrey Wilkinson for the first time, we accidentally missed the wine tasting because the views were so stunning. Granted we arrived a bit late, but even so, we decided to have a walk around and experience the beautiful location rather than head inside. Luckily, our wine tour the following day came back so we were able to sample the wines the second time around!
Audrey Wilkinson is perched on the top of a hill with a beautiful cellar door. However, it is the sweeping views of their vineyard that steal the show. As far as the eye can see there are vines, and on the horizon, you see the beautiful rolling hills of the Hunter Valley. It was by far the most picturesque place we visited in the Hunter Valley. It’s no wonder they won the 2018 Best Additional Experience Award (did I mention you can do helicopter rides?).
And then you have the wines. We were on a tour so had a specific tasting, but I snuck a couple of extra ones in afterwards as I wanted to try them. The cellar door is full of light and absolutely stunning on the inside. We sat down at a large table and were taken through the wines with a lot of explanation on the flavours. Although the tastings were quite small, there were plenty of wines to try!
The wines
Some of my favourites were the 2018 Rose and the 2018 Tempranillo. The Rose was definitely one of the best I had in the valley as it was so refreshing with a balance of fruit and acidity. The Tempranillo was a nice medium-bodied wine with a hint of spice that cut through the red fruit flavours. This was the one I had to sneak a taste of at the end, and it was so good I had to grab a bottle!
If you are looking for a great spot to visit in the Hunter Valley, Audrey Wilkinson will not disappoint. The views are incredible, the wines are great and overall the experience is magical. Plus, if you are looking for a prime Instagram spot, this is where you’ll find it!
Glandore Estate
Location: 1595 Broke Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Go there for: Wine and chocolate pairings, and cute wine dogs
You’ve got to try: 2014 Regional Series Hunter Tempranillo
Cost of tasting: Dependant on pairings or wine tasting
Opening hours: 7 days, 10am-5pm
Why I loved it
We went to Glandore Estate on our wine tour, and I was glad we did. I was a little sceptical of the chocolate and wine pairing before we arrived. Normally on wine tours, the chocolate stop is a bit touristy and not really worth the time spent there. But when we turned up at this winery I had no doubt that it was going to be something special.
Glandore Estate was established in 2005 and focuses on producing great wines that are traditional to the Hunter Valley but also experimenting with new varieties. The Glandore Estate Cellar door is incredible. The structure of the building is so nice to look at and full of timber. The Cellar Door is a light-filled room with plenty of space and a great fit out. But the best part is the verandah with panoramic views of the vines and a peaceful feel. This was where we did our wine and chocolate pairing.
This had to be my favourite winery that we visited on the tour. We were taken through the wine and chocolate pairing by a charismatic guy that brought the wine back down to basics, rather than focusing on stuffy terms. He was clever with the tasting, getting us to try different combinations for ourselves to understand the characteristics of the wine. It was such an interesting and enjoyable tasting! I’d really recommend doing it if you’re interested in learning more about pairings. I learnt so much from him!
The wines
The stand out wine for me was the 2014 Regional Series Hunter Valley Tempranillo. It had such a complex flavour with savoury, spicy notes. I also loved their Rose which was really refreshing! We went in for a bit more of a tasting after the pairing and I really enjoyed all the wines. The staff were knowledgeable and really keen to talk all about their wines, so make sure you head here for an experience you won’t forget!
Also, if you love dogs, we got to meet one of their wine dogs called Nutmeg. She loved to play ball!
Tamburlaine Organic Wines
Location: 358 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Go there for: Organic wines
You’ve got to try: 2016 Reserve Orange Malbec
Cost of tasting: Complimentary
Opening hours: 7 days, 10am-5pm
Why I loved it
I wanted to check out Tamburlaine because they are one of the largest producers of Organic wines in Australia. My partner was a little sceptical, but he was driving so I promised to only give him the ones I thought he’d really enjoy! I wasn’t sure what to expect myself, as I haven’t had a lot of organic wines, but I was keen to give them a try!
The cellar door is on a block with horses out the front and beautiful green fields. The entryway is covered in vines surrounded by a beautiful garden. It feels very peaceful and serene. When you walk in the door though, you can tell that Tamburlaine is popular. There were so many people there, but despite this, we were served right away! The service was so great, and we learnt a lot about their wines throughout.
The great thing is that unlike other wineries in the Hunter Valley where you’re charged more for tastings of their Reserve collection, Tamburlaine is happy to provide tastings of all of their wines. I was of course immediately drawn to their Reserve collection as it had so many interesting varieties. However, their entry-level (wine lovers) wines were also great drinking wines (particularly their sparkling Rose).
The wines
One of my favourites was the 2016 Reserve Orange Malbec. Although the grapes were not from the Hunter Valley, this wine was absolutely incredible (you can tell by the number of awards it has won). It was rich but had a great balance of fruit and spice throughout. Orange is a far cooler climate region than the Hunter Valley, so it was interesting comparing the wines from there. We actually got to try the Shiraz from the Hunter Valley and from Orange to compare. It was really interesting how much spicier the one from the Hunter Valley was!
Whether you are a lover of organic wines or not, Tamburlaine has something for everyone’s tastes and budgets. I loved the welcoming feel of the cellar door and the wide range of wines available to taste. I only wish we’d had more room in our suitcase because the Wine Lovers wines would make for great everyday drinking! We did grab a bottle of the Malbec because it was something special.
Scarborough Wine Co.
Location: 179 Gillards Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Go there for: Great tasting experiences with cheese
You’ve got to try: 2016 Yellow Label Chardonnay
Cost of tasting: Range from complimentary, $5 or $10 (we opted for the $5 tasting redeemable on purchase)
Opening hours: 7 days, 10am-5pm
Why I loved it
We went to Scarborough Estate because someone recommended it to us for its great tasting experiences. It definitely doesn’t disappoint in this department! For $5 we got not only a sample of delicious cheeses to share but more than 10 tastings across their Offshoot and Classic ranges. Although you can opt for a complimentary tasting, paying the extra $5 is well worth it.
We were sat down at our own table and had someone take us through the wines personally which I thought was a nice touch. Each of us got three glasses and we tried the wines in flights of 3. I thought this was a great idea because it meant you could taste and compare the wines that they brought out in your own time, rather than experiencing them individually. We even got a sneaky taste of some of their other wines!
The wines
One of my favourite wines, which was quite surprising to me, was their 2016 Yellow Label Chardonnay. Although the Semillion was also really good, the Chardonnay was really rich and buttery without being overpowering. I didn’t taste any other Chardonnays like this on our trip, and it was interesting to compare it to their Blue Label Chardonnay which was completely different. However, if you aren’t a Chardonnay fan, this win won’t be for you. Definitely opt for the Semillion which was also fantastic!
The winery also has great scenery with a beautiful view out over the valley from the back of the cellar door. Also, they have a great spot for some Instagram photos in their carpark if you, like me, are into it! We got a little too excited when we saw the frame and the boys were not impressed. But if you’re after some great pictures in the grape vines, Scarborough Wine Co should be on your list.
Margan Estate
Location: 1238 Milbrodale Rd, Broke NSW 2330
Go there for: Their award-winning restaurant and beautiful scenery
You’ve got to try: Their Rose and the 2016 Breaking Ground Barbera
Cost of tasting: Ours seemed to be complimentary after we had lunch
Opening hours: 7 days, 10am-5pm
Why I loved it
I booked us in for lunch at Margan Estate on our first full day in the Hunter Valley because I’d read about it everywhere. Margan Estate won the 2018 Gourmet Traveller Cellar Door with Best Food, so I knew it would be good. We were almost going to miss our lunch booking because we got distracted at another winery, and I’m so glad we made it because this estate was something special!
Margan Estate is located in Broke which is a little further away from the main area of Pokolbin, but well worth the 20-minute drive. We got there and parked right in front of the rows of vines which flanked the driveway up to the estate. You then walk through their beautifully manicured garden to the sandstone buildings of the cellar door. The sandstone entrance was such a beautiful site and had a really grand feel to it. I am a sucker for this sort of look and so I fell in love before I even walked in the door.
Inside the cellar door is really dark and moody, which is a contrast to the bright feel of the restaurant. The restaurant was definitely one of the highlights of the trip, and lived up to the award it’s been given. We had a delicious meal there, but afterwards, I wanted to try some more wines that I’d seen on the wine list.
The wines
The tasting experience was great as we were able to pick and choose which ones we wanted to try. Margan Estate had some interesting varieties which made for a great tasting, including their Barbera and a Tempranillo Graciano Shiraz which were both incredible. One of my favourites though was their Rose which we enjoyed at the restaurant. It was perfectly balanced between a sweet start and a dry finish and went perfectly with lunch on a hot day.
Margan Estate is the perfect stop for lunch on your winery tour, but don’t forget to grab a tasting at the cellar door on your way out! The food and the wines won’t disappoint, and to top it all off their incredible cellar door exterior is a site worth seeing in itself!
Brokenwood Wines
Location: 401-427 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Go there for: Their beautiful brand-new cellar door
You’ve got to try: 2018 Rosato
Cost of tasting: varies, we paid $10 redeemable on purchase per person
Opening hours: 7 days, 9.30am-5pm (Sundays 10am-5pm)
Why I loved it
The final cellar door on the list is Brokenwood Wines. I know this is going to be a bit contentious with the others on my trip because none of us overly loved the wines, but I think it is definitely worth a visit! Brokenwood finished an expansion of their cellar door in December 2018, and it is something not to be missed. It is absolutely beautiful with a wooden exterior that sits beautifully perched on a slight hill, masking the commercial winery behind. There are also two restaurants, and the Cru Bar and Pantry is a great place to eat if you don’t want to do fine dining.
The cellar door has high ceilings that let a lot of natural light through. Instead of the traditional long bench, they have tasting pods that are circular benches where the server stands in the middle. I really liked this design because it felt more intimate when tasting, but also meant they could fit more people in! There was also a feeling of luxury as you had to go up to the front desk before tasting and you were then assigned your pod.
The wines
The tasting is probably the most expensive one we encountered. It was $10 which you had to pay upfront, and was redeemable only on your personal purchase. But it is worth it to experience Brokenwood. The tasting itself was quite interesting. Our server would always pour two wines and get us to try the difference between them which I thought was a nice touch. My favourite was a wine I enjoyed at lunch with a pizza: the 2017 Rosato. It was perfect on a hot day and really refreshing. The other wines were nice, but as Brokenwood is so commercial you can easily find them in a bottle store.
Whether you want to fork out for a tasting or not, it is still worth visiting Brokenwood to see the beautiful Cellar Door. The food is also fantastic, so it’s worth adding to your itinerary!
The final word
So there you have it, my first instalment of Things to do in the Hunter Valley. Even though it felt like we went to a lot of wineries, we’ve really only scratched the surface. There is so much to see and so many wines to taste, I know we will have to go back! It can be overwhelming with so many wineries around to know where to go, so I hope this list helps you to plan your trip out a little better.
There is a great mix of small and large producers in the Hunter Valley, so my advice is to make sure you get a mix. It is really interesting to compare the wines across the wineries as they are so vastly different. You can’t go wrong with a good mix!
Where are your favourite places in the Hunter Valley? I’d love to hear about them so I can start planning a second trip!