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 Hunter
Valley is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious Wine
Country in Australia. Though it produces only about 3 percent of
the nation’s wine supply, this miniscule output is remarkably impressive,
consistently winning awards at Australia’s National
Wine Shows. Only 2 hours drive outside Sydney, Hunter Valley
is a popular destination for wine connoisseurs and a perfect place
to head to for a weekend retreat.
Getting to the
Hunter
To get to the Hunter, as the Aussies call it, you cross the Sydney
Harbour Bridge and follow the Pacific Highway to Wahroonga, then
take the clearly signposted right turn onto the Newcastle Expressway.
An hour along the Expressway, you take the left turning onto Route
82 and head for Cessnock, about 15 kilometres up the road (if you
reach Kurri Kurri, you’ve overshot). Once you’ve hit Cessnock, you’re
in Hunter Valley.
Hunter Valley is usually divided into two sections: Lower and
Upper Hunter Valley. Lower Hunter wineries and vineyards is
centred around the little town of Pokolbin, just a little ways northwest
of Cessnock. The area is home to about 70 wineries, ranging from
famous labels to small, ‘boutique’ winemakers, and it receives the
majority of the visitors. Upper Hunter also has a few wineries,
but since it’s a solid hour’s drive away, not everyone makes it
that far.
Hunter Valley recognized the value of tourism a long time ago, so
all the wineries welcome visitors for wine sampling and of
course cellar-door sales. Many will offer tours as well, but usually
not on weekdays, so if you’re not there on the weekend and still
want a tour, you’d best check with the local tourism office. Unless
you plan on a long stay, you’ll probably wont have time to sample
the offerings at every winery, so a bit of picking and choosing
is necessary. Once there, you can join one of the winery tours and
be assured of a comfortable but abbreviated trip around the local
establishments.
Exploring the
valley
If you’re a bit more adventurous, you can pick up a map and head
off on your own. The only trouble with the adventurous approach
is that in Australia, it’s a simple job to get lost in the country.
Having said that, wandering around dirt roads and gazing out over
the vines and scrub-covered hills isn’t such a bad way to spend
the time. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a wild kangaroo or
two. As long as you can see vines, you needn’t worry as you won’t
be too far from people.
For such a small area (according to Australian standards), Hunter
Valley boasts an impressive variety of wine offerings. Some of the
vineyards belong to big name companies such as Lindemans, McWilliams,
Rothbury, Hardy's, Wyndham Estate and McGuigan. Others
establishments, like Tyrells and Draytons, are very
old and fiercely independent family businesses which have been there
for several generations. More than a few of these smaller wineries
have strong reputations even in competition with the ‘big boys’.
 With
all these choices available, it’s a struggle trying to decide which
winery to go to, so a good idea would be to ask for recommendations
from the tourist office, or from some knowledgeable Aussie friends.
A more entertaining way would be to ask the cellar staff. Often,
the suggestions these ‘insiders’ give are helpful and insightful
— just be prepared to get an earful if one winery happens to be
feuding with another!
As for the wines themselves,
there is a wide range of wines available, with something to suit
every palate. The signature grape of the Hunter is Shiraz,
which in France is known as the Syrah. this hearty red wine has
a subtle taste, more earthy than the wines produced from that grape
in other parts of the continent, and less tannic than the Cabernet
with which it is often blended. Another popular wine is Semillon
(which when pronounced with a thick Aussie accent, rhymes with Babylon),
with its almost honeyed quality and deep golden colour. As is more
usual in Australia, the Semillon is blended with Chardonnay, rather
than Sauvignon Blanc, as is the practice elsewhere.
Upper Hunter and Other
Things To Do
There’s plenty of offerings in Lower Hunter, but if you’re itchy
for more exploring, then the Upper Hunter offers some nice surprises
amongst its handful of wineries. Take the New England Highway to
get there — most will tell you that the ‘back way’ to the Upper
Hunter is more scenic, but for those with a foggy sense of direction,
it might result in more than a few wrong turnings. You can always
take the scenic route on the way back.
Upper Hunter has another attraction — a widespread reputation for
excellent horse breeding. The area is a major thoroughbred
breeding centre, and in between the slopes of vines are some of
the prettiest mares and stallions you’ll ever see. The Upper Valley
town of Scone has a race course which hosts numerous races, and
also offers comfortable accommodations for those who’d rather not
drive back after all the wine sampling and race cheering.
Of course, there are other things to
do besides wine tasting. There’s sandy beaches to explore at
nearby Nelson Bay, or the Brokenback Range to climb. Surrounding
the Hunter are extensive National Park, perfect for hiking, horseback
riding and cycling tours. Hot-air ballooning and helicopter flights
are popular, and a great way to see the Hunter. There are facilities
for swimming, golf, tennis and almost every other recreational activity.
There are numerous charming, historic towns and villages to explore.
Specialty cheese makers, breweries and a (highly respected) olive
oil industry all add spice to the local fruits, vegetables, meats,
seafood and game on offer in the excellent restaurants. There are
pubs, museums, art galleries, and an abundance of festivals of all
kinds to keep you busy. If a day trip isn’t long enough, there is
a host of accommodation options around the Hunter, from guesthouses,
to private cabins and luxury hotels.
Book Hunter
Valley Hotels here
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