Escape To A Wine-Tasting Adventure In Hunter Valley, Australia

If you enjoy wine, then you won’t be disappointed if you visit the Hunter Valley region in Australia. In fact, the area is the oldest wine-growing area in the country. Located in New South Wales, the Hunter Valley is renowned for its vineyards, galleries, cooking schools, dining, spas and golf courses.

Sample an Endless Number of Wines

This is the ideal locale to sample area cheeses, as well as savour handcrafted chocolates and sourdough bread created by local producers. You can take part in a wine tasting master class or choose to sample a wide selection of wines at one of over 150 cellar doors.

Indulge Your Epicurean Side and Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Not only can you indulge your epicurean side, but you can also make an escape to outdoor adventures, including hot-air balloon rides, antiquing or taking a helicopter ride.

Area Favourites

Harvesting grapes is good for Australia’s economy and has been good since the 1820s. At that time, the first vines were planted in the grape-friendly soil.

The Semillon wine is considered to be an iconic wine for this part of the country, as are such wines as Chardonnay, Shiraz, Sauvignon, Cabernet and Verdelho. One of the oldest vineyards is the historical Audrey Wilkinson winery, which was established in 1866. The vineyard is home to a museum, which displays old winemaking equipment.

The term ‘cellar door’ is a specialised term among vintners in the area and is synonymous with a tasting room, winery shop, cave or simply cellar. If you want to make the most of a wine-tasting excursion, you will want to find a cheap accommodation in Hunter Valley, like a cabin or cottage. That way, you will have a base to return to while you are enjoying the area’s wines and vineyards on holiday.

At many of the cellar doors, you can enjoy a broad sampling of wines or join a wine-tasting master’s class, which also includes savouring rare vintages. You only need to show up at some cellars in the region, but you need to make an advanced booking at other wineries.

Visit Several Wineries When on Holiday

During your wine-tasting holiday, you can dine in one of a variety of fine-dining restaurants too. These wine-friendly venues are located in such historical towns as Wollombi, Pokolbin, Lovedale, Broke and Maitland. Specialised tours also allow guests to visit several wineries each day, some of which include the latest trending winemakers.

During the year, the Hunter Valley hosts a diverse offering of wine and food events in its area wineries. The locations have served as a venue for jazz, blues and opera performances by some big names in entertainment. One of the favourite area events is the Lovedale Long Lunch, which is a progressive-style lunch that includes stops at several of the area’s restaurants and wineries.

Visitors also like to attend the Festival of Flowers in September, or follow the art trail created at the Sculpture in the Vineyards in November. The Hunter Valley region is about a two-hour drive north of Sydney.