Where to find great wine in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales and have a great wine-tasting experience!
One of the best ways to spend a weekend in NSW is by going to the countryside. For those planning to wine and dine, the Hunter Valley is a haven for homegrown wines. The three-and-a-half hours’ ride to reach Sydney’s local wine region is absolutely worth it!
Here’s a quick rundown of nine of the best Hunter Valley wineries you need to try on your next country getaway.
1. Pepper Tree Wines
Pepper Tree Wines has a gorgeous timber cabin and garden as its base. Its location alone is reason enough to entice you to visit. Its beauty is further enhanced during autumn when the trees display gold and red hues along the countryside hills.
One of their famous wines is the Tallawanta Grand Reserve Shiraz. Prepare to walk out the door with a bottle after tasting it! You can also enjoy a sumptuous dinner in the Circa 1876 restaurant where you can eat while you gaze upon kangaroos wandering in the vines outside.
Pepper Tree also provides a winery tour where they teach you about winemaking, followed by wine tasting in the swanky members’ room.
2. Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard
The name already says it all – this winery offers Certified Organic wines made from their holistic and sustainable vineyard. They aim to serve wine that has tasting notes of the source – where the grapes have been grown. They don’t use any pesticides, herbicides or chemical sprays. Their unique Basket Press wines and French-style Rose is a must try.
Krinklewood’s location is also to die for, as it is set in a French-inspired provincial garden. You’ll also appreciate the Broken Back Range and Wollombi Brook as a magnificent backdrop while you sip your wine.
3. Audrey Wilkinson Winery
The history of Audrey Wilkinson Winery goes back to the year 1866. It is one of the first vineyards to be grown in the Pokolbin area and is located at the slopes of the Broken Back Ranges along DeBeyers Road, giving you a 360-degree view of the majestic structure.
Now managed by the Agnew Family, the vineyard is able to produce 12,500 cases per year. Their secret to being on top of their game for over a hundred years is experimenting with new varieties. Some of their popular wines include Chardonnay, Shiraz, Semillon and an interesting Gewurztraminer.
4. Bimbadgen Winery
The meaning of the word “Bimbadgen” in the Indigenous language means “place of good view”. And this place sure doesn’t disappoint, because you will have an overlooking view of the Hunter Valley together with its unique bell tower.
Their sources of wine do not only come from their own. They also source from other cellars such as the Palmers Lane and the McDonalds Road vineyards. If you want to witness winemaking in action, check out their open-plan winemaking facility.
Visitors appreciate the fact that the tasting rooms are spacious. Some of the must-try include the Chardonnay, Shiraz, Semillon, and Shiraz Viognier.
5. Brokenwood Wines
Brokenwood Wines was established in 1970 and is one of Australia’s most reputable wine labels in Hunter Valley. It is also consistently rated as a 5-star winery. Its owners make constant improvements to the place, which now includes a big tasting room with circular tasting “pods”.
The winery also has a spacious outdoor terrace, two private dining rooms, two private tasting rooms and a wine museum. Here you can try fruit-based wines that have good acidic balance. Make sure to taste the popular Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, Cricket Pitch Range and the highly acclaimed ILR Reserve Semillon.
6. Scarborough Wine Co.
What this winery has to offer is perfectly summarised in their tagline, “Our home. Your wine.” The family-run winery is guaranteed to make you feel at home, matched with stunning views.
There is one tried and tested way to maximise your experience here – Schedule a sit-down tasting (comes with a complimentary cheese platter!). Sit back, relax and savour the breathtaking view of the vineyard with the Broken Back Mountain Ranges in the background.
Make sure that you don’t miss out on their bestsellers, which include the Chardonnay, Shiraz and Pinot Noir. They also have their friendly and approachable staff available to give other wine suggestions based on your preferences.
7. Tyrrell’s Wines
Tyrrell’s Wines started in 1858. The family was able to build upon their inheritance from 60 acres to 900 acres today. The vineyards are located in their home in the Hunter Valley, and other regions such as Heathcote in Victoria.
Their domestic and international awards over the years serve as a testament to the quality of their work. They were also named as “Winery of the Year” in 2010.
They have a widely acclaimed winemaker’s selection that you need to try, such as the 2017 Vat 47 Chardonnay, 2017 Vat 9 Hunter Shiraz and 2017 Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet.
8. Gartelmann Wines
Gartelmann Wines is a small family-owned wine producer in Hunter Valley. They source grapes from the Lower and Upper Hunter Valley, Rylstone, Mudgee and Orange regions of NSW.
You’ll fall in love with their small country house themed cellar door. They also use this as an opportunity to feature local artists like Katrina Rose – definitely a sign of the good things to come.
Their most popular wines include the Shiraz, Semillon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet and Petit Verdot. After wine tasting, you can head over to their café that serves breakfast and lunch.
9. Oakvale Wines
Oakvale Wines has been stomping grapes since 1983. They’ve certainly proven their place in the industry with over a hundred years of service to wine lovers all over the world. The team is proud to have a hands-on approach with minimal intervention to its winemaking practices.
Their philosophy is to make the best out of the old and new, sourcing their fruit from the region’s oldest sites and then processing it using the high-end technology and science. Such techniques produce vibrant and elegant creations that the visitors will surely enjoy.
Try-out their bestsellers when visiting: 2017 Limited Release Shiraz, 2020 Rosé, and the Sparkling Bellini.
Discover the best wineries with Hunter Valley Tours
With so many options on the table for wineries, it’s hard to know where to start. Book a tour with a company like us who has been servicing the area for years – we’ll help you experience the best wine Hunter Valley has to offer. Call Hunter Valley Tours today, and let’s plan it out!
