There can be few more pleasurable experiences in life than visiting the cellar door of a winery and trying out lots of labels you have never previously had before.
One of the best places in Australia to do this is the Hunter Valley, which has been a hotbed for wine production since the mid-1860s when the first vines were planted.
Today there are several excellent and well-established estates you can head to too.
So whether it’s a Shiraz, Chardonnay, Semillon, Verdelho or rosé you are keen to try, here are 12 of the best wineries in the Hunter Valley to visit.
Briar Ridge
If you like the sound of a critically acclaimed Hunter Valley boutique winery then you’ll be well advised to check out Briar Ridge.
Celebrated for its Semillon and Shiraz, this quality winemaker also produces an excellent range of fruity Verdelho and crispy Pinot Gris. This means it provides an impressive variety for oenophiles to try.
As they have been making wine for over 50 years these guys are the real deal.
Being based in the spectacular Mountain View area, the views of the surrounding Hunter Valley from their premises are well worth checking out too.
Address: 2325/593 Mount View Road, Mount View NSW 2325
Phone:+61 2 4990 3670
Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
Oakvale Wines
Dating all the way back to 1893, Oakvale Wines has a proud heritage as one of the Hunter Valley’s oldest wineries.
So if you decide to pay a visit there, you can do so safely in the knowledge that they must be doing something right.
Boasting a huge catalogue of wine labels that have been made with the finest selection of fruit they can source, they cater to all palates and preferences.
All their wines are sold at their cellar door only, so it is worth heading down there for a tipple. It will cost you $5 per person to indulge in a tasting, but this fee does in part go to a very good cause – to fund their collaboration with Meals on Wheels.
Address: 1596 Broke Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Phone: +61 2 4998 7088
Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
Brokenwood Wines
Over in Pokolbin, Brokenwood Wines has earned itself a reputation for being one of Australia’s benchmark vineyards.
Established in 1970, it is renowned for Graveyard, its signature, single-vineyard Shiraz. Which has been recognised in Langston’s Classification of Premium Australian Wine.
It is also known for its ILR Reserve Semillon, which is aged in a bottle for a period of five years until it is eventually brought out.
Those who become members get to ‘tour and taste’ the facility, which gives them the opportunity to see the winemaking process firsthand. While visitors can also enjoy a meal at its onsite Wood Restaurant and Cru Bar + Pantry.
Address: 401-427 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Phone: +61 2 4998 7559
Opening Hours: 9.30 am – 5 pm
Bimbadgen Winery
The indigenous term for ‘place of good view’ the Bimbadgen Winery is aptly named.
Set on a lofty hill that conveys sensational views of the Barrington Ranges, as well as its vineyards, this fantastic winery has been producing quality labels since 1968.
Known for its iconic bell tower, as well as its terrific range of Chardonnay, Semillon and Shiraz, its impressive cellar down is open 7 days a week from 10 am to 5 pm.
On top of the wine, there is also an award-winning restaurant venue here too, as well as a cafe, contemporary tasting rooms, an outdoor amphitheatre and even accommodation all in the same location too.
Address: 790 McDonalds Road, Polkobin NSW 2320
Phone: +61 2 4998 4600
Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
De Iuliis
If you are in search of some quality wines that do not have a high price tag then it is worth heading on over to De Iuliis.
Another boutique winery in Pokolbin, this venue flies in the face of tradition and aims to push the boundaries of technique creativity to produce some very innovative labels.
Made with top-quality grapes from their own vineyard their small batch, signature rosé, Semillon and Shiraz have a high-brow taste and a sense of time and place.
Address: 1616 Broke Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Phone: +61 2 4993 8000
Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
Tyrrell’s Vineyard
Arguably the most famous of all Hunter Valley Wineries, Tyrrell’s Vineyard has been producing outstanding wines from its Pokolbin location for almost 165 years.
Having won countless awards, both in Australia and overseas, they were most famously named the ‘winery of the year’ by James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion in 2010.
More than just a place that crafts some fantastic labels, Tyrell’s is a living piece of Australia’s history.
The cellar door is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, which is as good a place to start an exploration of their winemaking operation.
Address: 1838 Broke Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Phone: 1800 045 501
Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm
Audrey Wilkinson Winery
Like Tyrell’s, Audrey Wilkinson Winery is an iconic and famous Hunter Valley winery that has stood the test of time.
Launched in 1866, the 270-acre vineyard is named after one of Australia’s pioneering winemakers. Rated a 5-star winery by James Halliday, and included in Gourmet Traveller’s list of the ‘Top 10 wineries to visit in Australia’, the winery has an outstanding pedigree.
It sits on the crest of a hill that offers gorgeous panoramic views of the Brokenback ranges and possesses a cellar door, that offers a superb wine tasting experience. Showcasing a range of outstanding labels including Muscat, Shiraz, Cabernet, Tempranillo, Merlot, Verdelho, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Chardonnay and Semillon.
As well to the cellar door, the winery also has an excellent museum, within the original winery, that exhibits an interesting collection of authentic and original vats, as well as other wine and barrel-making equipment.
Address: 750 De Beyers Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Phone: +61 2 4998 1866
Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
Harkham Wines
If you like your wines 100% natural then you would be well advised to visit Harkham Wines.
A small, family run and owned winery that prides itself on managing vineyards that are sustainably farmed, these guys handpick their fruit to ensure they provide the highest quality.
For some of their wines, they are even made with no flavour adjustments, chemical additions, fining or filtration, which results in a completely clean and natural finished product.
Notably, their cellar door is unlike any other in the Hunter Valley. It’s run by Richie Harkham, who is the owner and head winemaker, who will talk you through and allow you to taste his excellent selection of wines. As well as custom-made chocolate liqueur and Meade, which is produced with gold flakes that are 24-carat.
Address: 266 De Beyers Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Phone: +61 2 4998 7648
Opening Hours: Fri 12 pm – 5 pm, Sat – Sun 10 am – 5 pm
Tempus Two Wines
For over 25 years, Tempus Two Wines has been one of the most unique producers of wine in the Hunter Valley.
Describing themselves as having a ‘maverick’ spirit, they make elegant and bold wines that do not follow tradition but go beyond it.
Refreshingly, they are not shackled to a particular region and both source and sell globally, which enables them to make wines for anyone to enjoy, that have style and substance.
As well as a wide selection of tasting experiences at their cellar door, they also offer a gin tasting experience too.
Address: Broke Road & McDonalds Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Phone: +61 2 4993 3999
Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
Pepper Tree Wines
Pepper Tree Wines is another family-owned estate.
Established in 1991, it is set among the spectacular gardens of the Pepper Tree Winery which offers fantastic 360-degree views of the surrounding area.
As they accommodate vineyards that are nestled among four of the best appellation regions in the country (Hunter, Orange, Coonawarra and Wrattonbully), they reap the benefits of specific microclimates and a diverse range of soil types.
This enables them to produce a fantastic range of Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. All of which you can try in their cellar door, which regularly hosts tasting events for up to 50 guests.
Address: 86 Halls Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Phone: +61 2 4909 7100
Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm
Gartelmann Wines
Located in Lovedale, Gartelmann Wines is a boutique wine producer that is owned and run by Matt Dillow.
Founded in 1996, they specialise in award-winning, hand-crafted wines, producing labels that have been curated by highly skilled and experienced winemakers that use grapes from several leading growers. This includes those based in the Lower and Upper Hunter, Mudgee, Rylstone and Orange.
Their wine selection includes Semillon, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Merlot, Verdelho and Cabernet which are renowned for their quality and taste.
After you have visited their cellar door, be sure to check out their delightful breakfast and lunch food offerings at The Deck Café, which is just across from it.
Address: 701 Lovedale Road, Lovedale NSW 2321
Phone: +61 2 4930 7113
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 9 am – 5 pm, Sat – Sun 10 am – 5 pm
Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard
If you like organic wines then a visit to the Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard in Broke should be right up your street.
As its name implies, this winery crafts premium wines that are certified organic from their holistic, biodynamic and sustainable vineyard property.
Enjoying a beautiful location among stunning French-influenced Provencal gardens that feature urns and fountains, as well as the Brokenback Range and Wollombi Brook as a gorgeous backdrop, the venue’s cellar door is very impressive.
It showcases an outstanding range of labels including Verdelho, Sparkling Blanc de Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz, which you are sure to enjoy tasting.
Address: 712 Wollombi Road, Broke NSW 2330
Phone: +61 2 6579 1322
Opening Hours: Fri – Sat 10 am – 5 pm