Award Winning Wines From Hunter Valley
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Australia’s oldest wine region
A little over two hours’ drive north from Sydney is the Hunter Valley, the birthplace of Australian wine and a favourite country escape. It’s home to long-established winemaking families and up-and-comers bringing fresh energy, and some of the leading varieties on pour at cellar doors are semillon, chardonnay and shiraz. As well as being a historic wine destination, the region’s attractions include hikes through national parks, music concerts among the vines, and excellent restaurants, cafes and produce shops.
Pokolbin is at the heart of the Hunter Valley, and it’s where many visitors start and end. But the region has several other areas with top wine, dining and activities, including Broke Fordwich, Lovedale, the Wollombi Valley and Mount View, so it’s worth looking further afield, too. Continue your discovery below.
The history of the Hunter Valley
The first plantings in the Hunter Valley date back to 1823. Some of the region’s early settlers include George Wyndham, William Kelman and James King, but it was James Busby who was responsible for bringing almost 500 vine cuttings from Europe and South Africa to the Hunter Valley. Soon, the area’s vineyards began to flourish, and today’s well-known wine names put down roots: the Lindeman, Drayton, Tyrrell and Wilkinson families among them. In the 1960s, there was a shift in tastes, with drier wines coming to the fore. These styles are what the Hunter Valley is highly regarded for today.
Hunter Valley wine styles
Semillon
Hunter Valley semillon is unique in the world of wine, famed for its ability to transform from a super-bright, super-fresh wine into one that’s nutty, honeyed and complex. Young Hunter semillon is lean and citrusy, while mature styles display sweeter, softer characters.Shiraz
Shiraz has grown in the Hunter Valley since the region’s first vines were planted, making it home to some of the oldest vines of Australia’s favourite variety. In its youth, Hunter Valley shiraz tends to be dark-fruited and with savoury spice. With age, it develops into a wine with concentrated flavour and intriguing complexity.Chardonnay
Hunter Valley chardonnay balances fruit flavours, mineral accents, and subtle oak notes, and is a style that can please all comers. Crunchy stone fruit and vanilla are common characteristics, and the wines are complex on release as well as with time in the cellar.Verdelho
Verdelho is a Portuguese white variety that has thrived in the Hunter for decades. It’s clear, fresh, and aromatic, and delightful on a hot summer’s day, particularly when enjoying the afternoon sun. This fruity white wine with bright acidity and light minerality is ideal for pairing with seafood, salad, and spicy or tangy dishes.Things to do in the Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley offers a variety of experiences, although wine is likely to be a companion throughout. Take a horseback ride through the scenic Molly Morgan Range, where glorious views can be enjoyed on track. Trek through the Yengo, Watagans, Mt Royal and Wollemi national parks, and experience the best of local and international music – Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones and Elton John have all performed in the Hunter Valley’s vineyards. Art appreciators can visit Mistletoe Winery, where a sculpture garden and gallery await exploration, and at Wilderness and Art Retreats, let resident artist Jacquie Mather accommodate you. Her peaceful stay offers a welcome space where you’re free to create. For those longing for some perspective, it’s essential to take a float in a hot air balloon. There’s no better way to take in this stunning wine country.
Facts
Wineries |
223 |
Tasting Notes |
10261 |
Geographic
Latitude |
32° 54'S |
Altitude |
76m |
Heat Degree Days |
1823 |
Growing Season Rainfall |
493mm |
Mean January Temp |
24°C |
Harvest |
Late January to mid March |
Featured wineries
Hunter Valley Wineries
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Apthorpe Estate
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Allandale Winery
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Sandalyn Wilderness Estate
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Saltire Wines
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Sevenoaks Wines
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Stonehurst Cedar Creek
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Simon Whitlam & Co
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Songlines Estates
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Splitrock Vineyard Estate
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Tower Estate
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Tranquil Vale
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The Little Wine Company
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Thalgara Estate
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The Vineyards Estate
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Terrace Vale
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Rothvale Vineyard
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Rocklea Vineyard
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Rothbury Ridge
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Robyn Drayton Wines
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Rosebrook Estate
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Racecourse Lane Wines
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Ghost Riders Vineyard
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Undercliff
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Writer's Block/Noonji Estate
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Waverley Estate
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Wattlebrook Vineyard
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Wandin Valley Estate
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Windsors Edge
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Glendonbrook
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Emmas Cottage Vineyard
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Elsmore's Caprera Grove
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Ferraris Estate
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Foate's Ridge
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Fairview Wines
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Beaumont Estate
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Benwarin Wines
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Belgenny Vineyard
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Ben's Run
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Broke's Promise Wines
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Bainton Family Wines
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Ballabourneen
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Blueberry Hill Vineyard
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Bishop Grove Wines
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Bimbadeen Estate
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Birnam Wood Wines
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Hillside Estate Wines
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Hope Estate
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Horseshoe Vineyard
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Honeytree Estate
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Crisford Winery
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Cruickshank Callatoota Estate
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Hanging Tree Wines
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Camyr Allyn Wines
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Camp Road Estate
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Calais Estate
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Casuarina Estate
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Chocolate Hills
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Chateau Pâto
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Chislehurst Estate
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Constable Estate Vineyards
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Drews Creek Wines
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De Bortoli (Hunter Valley)
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Pyramid Hill Wines
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Piggs Peake
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Polin & Polin Wines
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Peschar's
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Peacock Hill Vineyard
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Peter Howland Wines
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Petersons
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Mt Vincent Estate
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Pangallo Estate
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Millbrook Estate
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Misty Glen Wines
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Millfield
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Madigan Vineyard
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Macquariedale Estate
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Mabrook Estate
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Marsh Estate
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Majors Lane Wines
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Verona Vineyard
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Vercoe's Vineyard
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Moorebank Vineyard
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Monahan Estate
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Mount Broke Wines
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Idlewild
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Nightingale Wines
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Outram Estate
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Oakvale
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Oatley Estate
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Kevin Sobels Wines
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Lucy's Run
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Littles
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Harkham Winery
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Scarborough Wine Co
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