Best Wineries To Visit In Hunter Valley

Best Wineries To Visit In Hunter Valley – We finally made it to Hunter Valley! As wine lovers we’ve been slowly making our way through Australia’s wine regions and for some time the Hunter Valley has been on our bucket list waiting to be ticked off. On our way to Queensland we finally got a chance to check it out and it certainly did not disappoint. As expected, the wine is excellent and the region is stunning!

With over 150 wineries, the Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region. It is also a favorite destination for interstate and international visitors. Every year they come to the region to enjoy the wonderful range of wines on offer.

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With so many wineries in the valley, it’s clearly impossible to see them all in a few days, no matter how hard we try (and we tried!). But we tried a few during our four-day stay. Here are our favorites.

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Ivanhoe is an 80-hectare vineyard located in the small town of Pokolbin, at the foot of the Brokenback mountain range. The place is amazing and of course the wines too.

Ivanhoe produces high quality boutique wines that are only available at the cellar door. We booked their cheese and wine tasting experience and sat downstairs in the tasting room next to the glass windows overlooking the vineyards.

We looked at a very long list of great whites (I really liked their horseradish and Chardonnay), some smooth, mellow reds, and some big, bold reds. Their wines were lovely and we took several bottles home.

We were lucky enough to have a curious lizard come in and join us for a taste, followed by a visit from a hunting spider. I hate these guys! This led to a conversation with our sommelier about how they pick the grapes at night and wear gloves and face shields to avoid the giant golden spiders that inhabit the vineyards. I will never work as a vintner for sure!

What Is The Best Way To Get Around The Hunter Valley?

This winery at Black Creek Farm was my favorite winery in the Hunter Valley. This small, family-run winery is run by a French couple and has a provincially inspired cellar door. Our wine tasting was on the farm’s porch overlooking the vineyards, with hills in the distance. It was such a cozy and beautiful setting that we could have easily sat out the afternoon!

The owner Jean was very friendly and gave us detailed tasting notes for each wine. The wine tasting was much more personal than at many of the larger wineries. All the wines we tried were 5 stars and we brought home several bottles!

I forgot to mention, if you love dogs, their wiener dog is very cute and loves to greet you!

Established in 1998, Piggs Peake Winery sources their grapes from a variety of locations (More, Mudgee, Orange, Young, McLaren Vale and Hunter Valley) to produce wines that come out of the box!

Of The Best Wineries In The Hunter Valley, Australia

I don’t know what I love more about Piggs Peake Winery, their unique wines or the funny names they give them! We started the tasting with a nice drop of prosciutto (Piggs Peak’s version of prosecco!), followed by Sows ear Semillon, Hogshead Chardonnay, Savvy Pig, Wiggly Tail Marsanna, Hog’s Breath, Hog’s Sword and more. You know what I mean by their names. !

We tasted it in the cellar, among barrels of wine and workers going about their daily tasks. We sat at a table with a wine barrel, which made the taste even more authentic. Their bold reds were amazing, so if that’s your wine, this is your place!

Tyrrell is one of the oldest family owned wineries in Australia. Founded in 1858 by English immigrant Edward Tyrrell, fifth generation Chris, Jane and John are now running the business. It is a popular Australian wine brand and is widely available in bottle shops across the country. But I still recommend visiting the winery for the experience.

Tyrrell Vineyard is the historic home of the Tyrrell family and our tasting was held in a room as old as the winery itself! Historic decor with family portraits and other old memorabilia hanging on the walls added to the ambiance. Our server told us stories about the Tyrell family and was very knowledgeable about each wine we tried.

A Different Cellar Door Guide

As expected, the wines were of a high standard and there was plenty of sparkling, white and red to try again. Overall it was a great experience.

This was the first winery we visited in the valley. We had a great tasting on their terrace outside the cellar door with a beautiful view of the surrounding vineyards and Mount Luna. The guided tasting was informative and well paced so we enjoyed every drop of their wonderful wines. Most of their wines are sold through their exclusive wine club, so as you would expect, the quality of their wines is top notch!

There are so many great places to stay in the Hunter Valley. We recommend using HotelsCombined to search all major accommodation sites. Just 2 hours north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley has so many amazing vineyards and wine tours that it should be on the bucket list for anyone visiting New South Wales!

Before my trip to the Hunter region, I had no idea how historic the wineries were, some even dating back to the 1800s! I had a wonderful day not only drinking wine but also learning about its history.

Our Top 3 Hunter Valley Wineries For Your Spring Bucket List

Although many wines are produced throughout the valley, Hunter wines are best known for Semillon (a dry, crisp white) and Shiraz (a full-bodied, spicy red).

Even if you’re not a wine aficionado like me, you’ll still enjoy the beautiful views of the sprawling vineyards and mountain plateaus of the broken back ridge. You’ll also find many distilleries, breweries, and even a cheese and chocolate factory in the area!

I think 2 nights is the best time here. I’ve narrowed it down to my top five to experience the many wine tours in the Hunter Valley, plus all the information you need to get to the Hunter Valley and find accommodations and pick the best wineries to visit!

Hop aboard for a full day of tasting on one of the Hunter Valley’s most popular wine tours. These day trips depart from the Hunter Valley itself, Sydney or Newcastle.

Where To Eat And Drink In The Hunter Valley, Nsw

Join a small and friendly group for a fun day of music. Stopping at 3 different wineries for wine tasting, as well as short stops for local cheeses and chocolate along the way, you’re sure to enjoy the delicious lunch included on these tours.

What I love most about guided winery tours is that you have a designated driver so you can enjoy your day to the fullest!

For those who want to see the sights at their own pace, a tour bus is a great option!

If I were staying in the Hunter Valley, wine tours like this would be my choice of all Hunter Valley tours.

Petersons Wines Broke Road

Hop on and off the bus wherever you want for the most customized wine tours in the Hunter Valley.

Buses run from 10:15 to 17:00. Stock up on plenty of wine for the day, or head home early if a half-day excursion is enough. Check out the schedule here to create your own itinerary.

Established in 1970, Brokenwood Wines is one of the Hunter Valley’s best known wine brands. Discover the world of wine on The Brokenwood Journey. Within 2 hours, you will be led by a private guide through a tasting of 6 wines and canapés in a private tasting room. The chef will explain the pairings before continuing on a behind-the-scenes tour of the winery, including samples straight from the barrel.

Alternatively, for those looking for unique and detailed winery tours, VIP Soil to Cellar adds a Brokenwood Semillon and oyster tasting along with an extended private winery tour of the vineyards of the famous Shiraz Cemetery. Enjoy a 4-course meal in a private kitchen paired with award-winning wines, but be sure to make room for a charcuterie plate and barrel preview before taking home your very own vineyard Shiraz. to enjoy later.

Hunter Valley Elbourne Wines

The 1-hour flight takes you over the Hunter Valley, famous for its stunning views of the wine region, before enjoying a delicious breakfast with wine pairings.

If I had an extra day, this would be my other choice of Hunter Valley wine tours.

Enjoy the ultimate romantic experience at a winery. Depart in a private helicopter for a scenic 15-minute flight to the Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard on this half-day tour.