Where to drink, eat and stay in the Hunter Valley

Everyone who visits the Hunter Valley should enjoy a full day of wine tasting. The Hunter’s big four are their: semillon (which is crisp and citrusy in its youth and honeys with age); a peachy chardonnay; lively verdelho; and a medium-bodied, savoury shiraz.

And while it’s true you could spend weeks adventuring around the hills knocking on cellar doors, we know not everyone’s got time for that. So, we’ve pulled together some of our favourite spots to check out. Come thirsty, book a group tour (we went with Grape to Glass wine tours and they were ace) and get ready to drink some seriously good vino. 

Margan Wines and Restaurant in Broke is a must-visit, with owners Andrew and Lisa Margan committed to sustainable winemaking processes. Kick things off with a tasting, stroll around the working kitchen garden, and then sit down to an incredible, fresh and bright veg-forward meal.

Housed in the original Pokolbin Church that was built in 1905, Usher Tinkler Wines is a picture-perfect place to stop for a tasting. We love the glass back wall, which allows sunshine to pour through while showing off the lush countryside in all its glory. Tinkler’s wines are funky, interesting and blur the lines between traditional and contemporary winemaking, like the 2022 Death By Semillon drop. The team also does a banging salumi and cheese platter, too.

Stop by Mount Pleasant to sip award-winning shiraz by highly regarded winemaker Adrian Sparks overlooking lavender and vines. The historic winery has recently undergone a luxe refurbishment, and now boasts eclectic art and colourful furnishings.

There are a lot of excellent wineries and cellar doors in the Hunter Valley; it is wine country, after all. But if you’re keen to take your wine knowledge to the next level and have a good time while you’re at it, Thomas Wines is our pick. Award-winning winemaker Andrew Thomas specialises in the Hunter’s signature varieties, semillon and shiraz, and he’s one of the best there is. During your experience, you’ll learn more about the soil, the environment, and what makes the Hunter so special for growing grapes. And, you’ll get to taste the top drops from Thomas Wines, of course.

Perched high on a hill in Pokolbin, Bimbadgen Winery boasts stunning vistas and exceptional wine. There’s a cellar door if you feel like doing a tasting, and if you’re hungry, the on-site restaurant offers a seasonal four-course menu that celebrates the best of the land and sea.

First Creek Wines bottles 80 per cent of the Hunter’s vinos, but that doesn’t mean this big operation has lost its charm and soul, with their winemaker Liz Silkman as good as it gets. Our go-to: First Creek’s bright and delicious chardonnay. Their cellar door is open seven days a week. 

And while Brokenwood Wines may not have as much character as some of the wineries we’ve checked out, their drops go down a treat.

Your next port of call is Pepper Tree Wines. This cellar door is positioned on a lush estate, which has spectacular accommodation within spitting distance and some superb food on offer at the nearby Circa 1876. If you have a particularly keen interest in wine science, or want to test the tasting skills you’ve learnt so far, book in for the winery’s Vault Experience. The extremely knowledgeable yet laid-back staff will take you on a private tasting journey of the boutique winery’s premium labels, while providing some history about their three decades in the business and the master vigneron behind it all, John Davis.

Cleanse your palate with a craft beer at IronBark Hill Brewing Co. They make at least 12 beers and ciders – plus seasonal brews – including our favourite, the fruity and thirst-quenching Wheatermelon. Plus, there's an on-site restaurant serving delicious pizzas and they can host weddings, too.