The Hunter Valley is an ideal weekend getaway with stunning vistas, great cellar door experiences and divine dining. The Hunter Valley is known for its award-wining Semillon and elegant Shiraz and with over 150 cellar doors in the region, you’re spoilt for choice. If you want to delve beyond the big name wineries and discover some hidden gems, head up some back roads to smaller, boutique wineries for a more intimate experience. We bring you a boutique list of wineries that showcase the regions best.
One of the most picturesque wineries in the Hunter Valley, Audrey Wilkinson offers tasting inside a country-house style cellar door. With warm, entertaining staff and impressive wines with Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz all stand outs. This socially savvy winery even has an Audrey Wilkinson sign to sneak into photos for the selfie society.
This family-owned, biodynamic winery is set on a picturesque property with gorgeous cellar door and leading the way in sustainable viticulture. With a fresh & lively Blanc de Blanc to start your tasting, there are plenty of elegant wines to try including the Francesca Rose from 100% estate-grown vines. Sit in the sunshine surrounded by Provencal gardens with a cheese platter and you’ll think you’ve been transported to France.
For a complete food & wine experience, visit Margan’s cellar door & Margan Restaurant at Broke. With spectacular views of the Brokenback Ranges you’ll be able to taste limited release wines only available at the cellar door. Winemaker, Andrew Margan produces wines that are ready to drink upon release, matched perfectly with food and have optimum cellaring potential.
Andrew Thomas specialises in Hunter Valley Semillon and Shiraz to create wines of distinction. You can taste these exquisite wines at the Small Winemakers Centre and pick up a bottle of his Semillon Verjuice, a great accompaniment in cooking.
Gundog Estate is a boutique wine producer owned and operated by the Burton family. The cellar door has a contemporary and relaxed ambience and the team has a sense of fun. There is also a Gourmet Pantry onsite to keep the designated driver busy while you taste these exquisite wines.
Relaxed and friendly cellar door showcasing some outstanding wines. With a talented and highly acclaimed team of winemakers led by Liz Jackson and Greg Silkman, the team make wines for other producers and bottling services for many wineries in the region. Daily wine tours of the winery and bottling line will give curious winos an insight into the daily operations of a working winery.
The beautiful cellar door and tasting lounge is upstairs overlooking the winery, vineyards and courtyard. Comfortably furnished and with wide verandahs taking in some spectacular Hunter Valley vistas, Keith Tulloch is in a commanding central position of Pokolbin. Cellar door tastings attract a $5 charge (redeemable on purchases). Book in for lunch at Muse Kitchen, a delightful restaurant focusing on simple cooking with great locally sourced produce.
Start the day with a Champagne breakfast at Peterson House & Cuvee Restaurant or glass of bubbles with an oyster platter at their Oyster Bar. Peterson House is the specialist producer of sparkling wines in the Hunter Valley. Taste a great selection of traditional sparkling varieties including outstanding Peterson Pinot Chardonnay and some museum releases if you’re lucky. In winter, enjoy fireside tastings in front of a blazing fireplace in the cellar door.
Housed in the Peppers Creek village adjacent to Enzo Café, David Hook Wines is a contemporary cellar door space in a charming sandstone building. David Hook specialises in single vineyard wines made from the Hunter’s traditional varieties of Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz as well as emerging grape varieties such as Pinot Grigio and Barbera. Tastings are $5 redeemable on purchases.
Adina Vineyard is a family-owned estate in the Lovedale region with popular Emerson’s Restaurant onsite. In addition to beautiful wines enjoy farm fresh olive products including olives, tapenades and olive oils grown and processed on the property. Stay onsite in Adina’s contemporary lodges overlooking the vines and indulge at Hunter Valley Reflections Day Spa.
Book your Hunter Valley accommodation at alluxia.com with no booking fees or contact info@alluxia.com for more getaway inspiration.
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