The Hunter Valley’s finest wines take centre stage

From Newcastle, the Hunter Valley makes an easy change of pace: a wine region with vineyards planted as early as the 1820s, three distinct areas to explore and a cellar door for almost every kind of wine drinker. The region is best known for Semillon and Shiraz. Young Hunter Semillon is usually fresh, with citrus and apple notes, while bottle age brings more developed flavours. Shiraz is fuller-bodied and fruity, with some producers working with vines that are among the oldest in the world. Chardonnay, Verdelho, Cabernet Sauvignon, sparkling wines and varieties such as Tempranillo and Sangiovese add plenty of choice.

Pokolbin is the busiest starting point, with more than 60 cellar doors. At Tyrrell’s Wines, five generations of family winemaking and vineyards dating back to 1858 shape the tasting experience. Its Vat 1 Semillon is one of the region’s best-known wines, while the Old Patch Shiraz has received four perfect 100-point scores for separate releases from James Suckling. Tastings run at five set times, and bookings are essential; the cellar door is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Enclosed shoes are required for winery access, and all guests must be over 18.

Nearby, Mount Pleasant Wines offers a more structured look at Hunter history. Founded in 1921 by Maurice O’Shea, the estate includes the Old Hill and Old Paddock vineyards, with Shiraz plantings at Old Paddock dating to 1880. Its tasting options range from the 45-minute Discovery Tasting at A$25 per person to longer Heritage, Art & Wine, Mothervine and Icons experiences. The Signature Tasting costs A$45 and includes cheese, olives and crackers. Hours vary between the information supplied by the winery, so check before setting out; bookings are strongly recommended on weekends.

For a modern cellar-door setting, Brokenwood Wines has tasting pods, an outdoor Terrace Wine Bar, The Wood Restaurant and a wine museum at its McDonalds Road site. Gundog Estate, housed in the historic Pokolbin School House, is open daily from 10am to 5pm and has a carbon-neutral operation. Its range includes Hunter Semillon, off-dry and wild Semillon, Riesling and rosé. Hope Estate adds beer, gin, vodka and liqueur tastings alongside wine, with estate tastings from A$20 and premium tastings at A$30, including a cheese tasting plate. It is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm; it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The quieter Lovedale area suits visitors who prefer smaller family and boutique vineyards. Gartelmann Wines combines tastings with breakfast at The Deck Cafe, while Allandale Winery is positioned for views towards the Brokenback Range. De Bortoli offers daily tastings from 10am to 5pm for A$10 per person and is known for Noble One Botrytis Semillon. Other stops include Capercaillie, Wandin Estate, Stomp! Wines, Lucy’s Run and Molly Morgan Wines, which opened in late 2024 and has a pet-friendly cellar door.

In Broke-Fordwich, the landscape changes again, with vineyards around Broke at the foot of the Brokenback Range. Margan is known for sustainable vineyards and a rammed-earth cellar door, while Krinklewood Biodynamic Winery takes a holistic organic approach. Winmark Wines combines wine with an outdoor sculpture park and contemporary art gallery, and Whispering Brook produces both wine and olives. These areas can be visited as separate day trips, or combined with a guided tour from operators including Dave’s Tours, Two Fat Blokes Gourmet Tours, Hunter Valley Wine Tours, Boutique Tours and Ted’s Tours. The iHop Hunter Valley bus loops between 14 stops and more than 40 establishments, giving visitors another way to move between cellar doors without planning every stop around a car.