Hunter Valley Wine Country – New South Wales

Nothing is more restful than a drive through wine country no matter where it is. The vast vineyards of thick twisted vines, the usually flat or rolling hills of the countryside and the sunny weather makes for a pleasant view. All of this and the added pleasure of stopping in to taste the products of the various wineries makes touring wine country a very appealing day trip. Make sure that there is a designated driver with you as it is easy to over-indulge without realizing it or go on commercial wine tasting tours and leave the driving to someone else.

About 2 hours north of Sydney lays the fertile Hunter Valley and its abundance of world-class wineries. Those wineries are a huge tourist magnet and, in turn, have presented a great opportunity for impressive boutique wineries to easily market themselves to an international market.

The gently rolling hills and nutrient rich flats of Hunter Valley in New South Wales makes it almost perfect wine country. These two features, combined with the climate, the terrain and close proximity to Sydney Cove, led to the area being a desirable area for vineyards as early as 1831. This establishes it as Australia’s oldest wine region and makes it historically important.

Unofficially Hunter Valley is divided into two areas, Lower and Upper Hunter Valley. The largest concentration of vineyards and wineries is in the Lower Fraser Valley near Cessnock and Pokolbin. More that 70 wineries are spread through the valley and visiting them all is impossible to do in one or two days. Plan on spending a leisurely week in this beautiful area to experience all that it has to offer.

A few wineries that should be on your list to visit are:

Pepper Tree is nestled into the Brokenback Range’s foothills and has vineyards that cover roughly 39 ha. Their knowledgeable Chief Winemaker and their fine grapes combine to produce a range of wines that includes award-winning Shiraz and Chardonnay wines. They also offer specialized merchandise such as food condiments, clothing and wine accessories.

Another winery worth visiting is Ernest Hill Winery. Originally planted in the late 60’s and early 70’s, this winery has about 10 ha covered in vines and consistently produces a variety of award winning wines. Visitors can stroll around and then partake in a wine tasting with one of the Wilson family members.

Established in 1866, the Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard produces some of the finest wines in Hunter Valley. Their knowledgeable Cellar Door staff is very personable, thereby making your visit quite enjoyable. In addition, a museum has been opened in the original winery. Some original winemaking equipment has been preserved and is on display for visitors to see.

No trip to Hunter Valley would be complete without stopping at the Smelly Cheese Shop. Set in the village of Pokolbin, this 4-year-old shop has grown in leaps and bounds. Without a doubt, it is a gourmands delight. The shop has quickly become a favorite of visitors and has opened a second location at Tempus Two Winery. You can’t fail to find something that pleases you among their wide range of product.