Hunter Valley's best wine and food festivals

If you've been waiting for the Hunter Valley's tasting season to pick up, the next few weeks are when it really does. The region, Australia's oldest wine country, keeps a steady stream of festivals going across Pokolbin, Lovedale and Broke, and there are two big ones coming up that are worth planning around.

The first is the D'Vine Food and Wine Festival, running across 11, 12 and 13 September in Pokolbin. It's built around the 'Around Hermitage Wine and Food Trail', centred on Hermitage Road, and this year's theme is 'Meet your Makers'. The program mixes winery visits, cultural experiences, paired tastings, casual street food and live music, with the Friday opening up with a casual start and the Winemaker Showcase. A couple of things make it easy to do: Saturday transport by bus between venues is included in the ticket, and there's a free shopping concierge and accommodation pick-up and drop-off for anyone staying with 'Around Hermitage' providers on Hermitage Road, Deasy's Road, Old North Road, Sweetwater Road and Mistletoe Lane. It's family-friendly, though some events are 18+, so it's worth checking individual listings before you go. Smart casual with closed-toe footwear is the suggested dress.

If you'd rather keep it closer to home, Taste of the Hunter Valley lands in the Newcastle CBD on 26 September at The Station, on the corner of Scott and Watt Streets. It's the one that brings the wineries, chefs, distillers and stalls from across the Hunter Region right into the city for the day. Beyond the wine, beer and spirits sampling, there are Discover Stage sessions, mini golf, giant lawn games, jumping castles, family rides, cheese, deli and market stalls, food trucks, live local music and face painting. There's a bar, a pop-up wine bar, public toilets, and it's both family and pet-friendly, with free entry for kids and a limited run of 2026 show bags available to pre-purchase.

Between those two, the Hunter Valley Wine and Food Festival runs as a broader seasonal celebration throughout the year across wine country, with tastings, long lunches, cooking demonstrations, food and wine pairing, masterclasses and exclusive events spread across Pokolbin, Lovedale and Broke. For something more regular, the region keeps a busy weekly calendar: Friday Night Wine & Chill at Saddlers Creek, Locals Night at Esca Restaurant on Thursdays, the Entwine Food Hub at Calais Estate on Fridays and Saturdays, the Handmade in the Hunter markets every Saturday, Sunset Sessions at Bimbadgen on Fridays, the Pokolbin Market on Sundays, the Friday Sundowner at The Little Wine Co and the Winmark First Saturday Lunch on the first Saturday of each month. Saddler's Creek also runs its Wine Walks on Sundays, with the next ones on 9 August, 23 August and 6 September. If you're after a specific date, the Hunter Valley Verdelho Dinner is on 7 August, Comedy All Stars at Saddler's Creek on 8 August, and the Hunter Valley Highland Games at Saltire Estate on 22 August.