Best wineries at the Hunter Valley.

As Australia’s oldest wine region, the Hunter Valley has been a gourmet food and wine destination for centuries. With exceptional grapes, boutique breweries, chic cellar doors, bountiful vineyards, and gastronomic restaurants on offer, a day tour of the Hunter Valley is a pleasure-seeking experience, to say the least. To make the most of your weekend, we have curated a list of our favourite Hunter Valley wineries to visit. You’re welcome!

Pepper Tree Wines

Situated right in the heart of Pokolbin, the cellar door of Pepper Tree Wines named, The Vault, is designed to offer the quintessential Hunter Valley wine experience. Specialising in single vineyard wines, you can enjoy up to six wines of your choosing, paired with cheese and olives, all while enjoying the cellar’s leafy surrounds.

86 Halls Road, Pokolbin

Margan Wines & Restaurant

Is it a food and wine experience you’re looking for? You’d be hard-pressed to go past Margan, who are offering a range of limited release wines from 100 hectares of sustainably farmed Margan vineyards. They boast a range of casual grazing options, paired with wine flights, seven days a week. Or you can dine in their acclaimed one hat restaurant, Friday through to Sunday. 

1238 Milbrodale Road, Broke

Brokenwood Wines

At Brokenwood Wines the options are just as fancy as their new cellar door. With tastings ranging from $25 to $110, depending on where your budget and palate is at, there are plenty of different experiences to choose from. Their pod seating is as COVID safe as you can get and allows your group relative privacy. 

401-427 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin

Tyrrell’s Wines

Steeped in history, Tyrrell’s provides a beautiful winery experience. Well worth the visit, this oasis-like setting offers a cellar door, relaxed winery tours, barrel tastings, and masterclasses. Be sure to check out the winemaker’s wall for a veritable who’s who of Aussie viticulture, and to ensure you taste the best of the best, opt for a glass or two of their chardonnay. 

1838 Broke Road, Pokolbin

Mount Pleasant Wines

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the rolling vineyards and the Brokenback Range, Mount Pleasant Wines needs to be added to the top of your winery hitlist. You can book in for one of their four wine tasting experiences at the cellar door, where you’ll sip your way through a wine flight made up of their signature drops. After sampling some of the region’s best wines, we can almost guarantee that you won’t leave empty-handed.

401 Marrowbone Road, Pokolbin

Krinklewood Vineyard

The Hunter Valley meets the French countryside at the whimsical boutique cellar door, Krinklewood Vineyard. Set amongst a Provencal-style garden, with oversized urns and French metal garden chairs dotted about, this ivy-covered venue serves organic wines, grown and produced in a biodynamic and sustainable way. Covering a range of wines from Semillon to Shiraz, a visit to Krinklewood promises not only a dreamy setting, but also a wine tasting experience with a holistic difference.

712 Wollombi Road, Broke 

Winmark Wines

For chardonnay served with a side of culture, make your way to Winmark Wines. The chardonnay is next-level, as is the firepit which overlooks the property’s beautifully landscaped grounds. There’s also a majestic steel sculpture perched above the vines by sculptor David Ball. Owner Karin Adcock commissioned the piece just before he won the 2017 Bondi Sculpture by the Sea.

229 Wollombi Road, Broke 

Thomas Wines

Is it an in-depth experience of the Hunter’s two signature varieties you’re after? If so, make a bee-line to Thomas Wines on Hermitage Road. You won’t find a better Semillon and shiraz-only experience that encompasses soils, vineyards and a tasting of up to 17 single vineyard varietals anywhere else.

Hermitage Road & Mistletoe Lane, Pokolbin

Usher Tinkler Wines

Set within the original Pokolbin Church, Usher Tinkler Wines’ cellar door is a welcoming space where you can match your wine or whiskey with freshly-diced cured meat. Choose from their collection of reds, whites and whiskeys, while you soak up the stunning view of the Brokenback Range from outside the venue’s soaring glass panorama window.

97 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin 

Wandin Valley Estate

Set amongst rolling vineyards and natural bushland, Wandin sets an example of a winery serving up exceptional meals, created from only the finest local produce. Offering a range of tastings, as well as two, three, and four-course lunch options, complete with wine pairings, only means one thing — a long, lazy lunch here is a must when in Lovedale.

12 Wilderness Road, Lovedale 

Scarborough Wine Co

For a cheese and wine experience that is family-friendly, you can’t go past Scarborough Wine Co on Gillards Road. With five levels of bookable tastings ranging from $30-$45, there’s something for everyone. You’ll be seated and served by your own private host while you taste through individually portioned small bottles. If you don’t have the full hour that’s recommended to enjoy these experiences, they’ve cleverly created the Sip on Inn experience which showcases six wines chosen by your host for just $20 per person.

179 Gillards Road, Pokolbin

Tamburlaine Organic Wines

Located in the heart of Pokolbin, Tamburlaine is Australia’s largest producer of organic wines, with the winery itself dating back to 1966. Today, the entrance to the cellar door sets the scene, with a whimsical arch draped with grapevines leading the way. Visit for casual tastings at the bar or book for a structured tasting session in one of their many private rooms.

358 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin

Tulloch Wines

For a family-friendly tasting experience, the 125-year-old institution Tulloch Wines has created a full spectrum of tastings from Wine & Chocolate ($30) through to their premium Aged Wine & Cheese experience ($100). In addition, there’s a special kids tasting of three soft drinks matched with three kids snacks for just $10. There’s even a Kombucha tasting for the designated driver! 

638 De Beyers Road, Pokolbin

Bimbadgen

Taste the full range of Hunter varietals at beautiful, Bimbadgen. Take in the view and sip away the afternoon with their full Signature Experience for just $15.

790 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin

For more destination guides and local travel inspiration, head to Sitchu.