If you've never been to the Hunter Valley wine region, you don't know what you're missing out on. This is Australia's oldest wine region, and it's home to world class wineries galore, with Shiraz, Chardonnay, Semillon, and so much more. A great way to experience all of these locations is by going on some super popular Hunter valley wine tours, which will have you tasting some of the most flavourful and iconic wines that the area produces.
The best Hunter Valley wine tours from Sydney include:
- Bimbadgen Estate Winery Tour
- Leogate Estate Winery Tour
- Peterson House Tour of Sparkling Wines
- Brokenwood Wines in Hunter Valley
- Calais Wines in Hunter Valley
- Centennial Vineyards Winery Tour
- Bendooley Estate in the Southern Highlands
- Tower Lodge in Hunter Valley
- Hanging Tree Wines
- The Hunter Valley Pub Crawl
Best Wine Tour Day Trips
Without further ado, here are the most popular tours to renowned wineries out of Sydney, starting with Bimbadgen Estate.
1. Bimbadgen Estate Winery Tour
Address: 790 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4998 4650
Website: https://bimbadgen.com.au
If you're looking to go on an excellent winery tour, going to Bimbadgen Estate in Hunter Valley is always a great option.
This location features vineyards that are over 50 years old, and the name itself means “place of good views”, which is most certainly true, as the vineyards and rolling hills go as far as the eye can see.
Guests can sample a variety of house wines, including award winning Chardonnay, Shiraz, and Semillon, each of which get their character from the diverse soil types across the vineyards.
When you arrive at the winery, you'll be escorted to the cellar door for the signature tasting experience, where you get to engage in a wine tasting of Bimbadgen’s signature releases.
You’ll also get to taste the menu from Esca Bimbadgen, the on-site restaurant that features modern Australian cuisine, with options such as wood fired peaches drizzled with binnorie duetto and macadamia, beef tartare paired with hen’s yolk, and yellow fin tuna ceviche with fresh lime and coconut.
Consider upgrading to a helicopter tour of Bimbadgen Estate for a unique experience!
2. Leogate Estate Winery Tour
Address: 1693 Broke Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4998 7499
Website: https://leogate.com.au
If you're going to the hunter valley region, Leogate Estate Wines is the place to be, with an excellent wine and food tasting. The Brokenback Ranges serve as the background, making for an inviting and picturesque atmosphere. This location features a number of internationally awarded varietals along with a James Halliday five star winery rating.
Here, you’ll enjoy vintages including Shiraz, Chardonnay, Semillon, Verdelho, and Tempranillo, each of which you'll get to taste during the guided wine tasting at the cellar door. Once the wine tasting is done, you'll get to enjoy The Gates Restaurant, which has also been awarded a Chef Hat and awarded the Best Restaurant in a Winery in NSW.
Guests will get to enjoy a three course tasting menu, with options such as citrusy kingfish, ocean trout, dry aged beef tenderloin with a mushroom and Marsala cream sauce, along with desserts such as Malibu poached pineapple with coconut sorbet. If you're looking for great food and even better wine, this winery tour is certainly one to consider. Talk about a fantastic day!
3. Peterson House Tour of Sparkling Wines
Address: 2457 Broke Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4998 7881
Website: https://petersonhouse.com.au
If you're visiting Hunter Valley, Peterson House is one of the best places to go on a wine tour, as it's a very refined yet relaxed destination that's ideal for anybody who loves sparkling wines. Their motto “Life’s Flat without Bubbles” perfectly exemplifies their offerings, as they have over 30 sparkling varieties, including Pink Blush Rose, Pinot Noir Chardonnay Meunier, and so much more.
You'll start at the cellar door, where you'll sample 5 sparkling wines and enjoy the great views of the vines and the lake. Once the wine tasting is over, you'll head to Restaurant Cuvee, where you have a three-course lunch that is prepared by none other than head chef Chad Pridue, who focuses on local produce and seasonal ingredients.
With dishes like Port Stephens Sydney Rock Oysters, stuffed pumpkin with capsicum, and a wagyu beef lasagna, you really can’t go wrong. This location also has a variety of vegetarian dishes. If you want a relaxed wine tasting and dining experience with amazing views, and possibly even a helicopter ride there and back, then this tour is likely for you. It's one of those day trips that you don't want to miss!
4. Brokenwood Wines in Hunter Valley
Address: 401-427 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4998 7559
Website: https://brokenwood.com.au
Take a 45 minute helicopter ride from Sydney and land at Brokenwood Wines in Hunter Valley, offering an enjoyable, relaxed, and approachable wine tasting and dining experience. This is one of the most well-known wineries in the area, with a cellar door that is absolutely to die for.
At the cellar door, you'll learn about Brokenwood Wines’ signature approach to wine making. You'll also get a wine tasting that includes six different signature wines, each of which is paired with a small canape. Options such as Semillon, Shiraz, and the ever-popular Cricket Pitch Range are all on the table.
Once the wine tasting is over, you'll go to The Wood Restaurant for a delectable lunch. There’s the FEED ME menu, which comes with options such as spanner crab rolls, smoked salmon, oysters, kangaroo carpaccio, wood fire meats, and sweet desserts, among many other options.
Don't forget that there's always the option to take a helicopter tour to this destination, adding a sense of luxury and thrill to the equation - perfect for small groups.
5. Calais Wines in Hunter Valley
Address: 151 Palmers Ln, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4998 7654
Website: https://calaiswines.com.au
This particular Calais Wines tour in Hunter Valley is designed for couples who want a romantic escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life while getting to see one of the best wineries in the area.
It all starts out with a 45-minute helicopter ride from Sydney, and you'll then land at this small boutique estate with two hours of ground time, where you will get to enjoy a variety of fine wines and a gourmet picnic.
The menu highlights the local Wonnarua heritage, with cured meats, artisan cheeses, fresh produces, and various other regional foods. This is paired with sparkling wine and house made lemonade. Being able to take a picnic among the vines makes for a very romantic date.
While at the winery, you can also sample some of their signature varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Semillon, all of which are made on site with the utmost of care and passion. When it comes to romantic tours for couples, this is a great one to consider. It's a wine lover's paradise!
6. Centennial Vineyards Winery Tour
Address: 252 Centennial Rd, Bowral NSW 2575, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4861 8722
Website: https://centennial.net.au
If you find yourself in the Southern Highlands, just outside of Sydney, then going to Centennial Vineyards should definitely be on your list. There's the option of taking a 45 minute helicopter flight from Sydney, after which you'll land at this cool climate winery which is renowned for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, among others.
With several hours of ground time, you'll get to enjoy the vineyard while going on a wine tasting journey in the rustic cellar door. Knowledgeable staff will guide you through their range of award-winning cool climate wines.
Then, the tour continues with a meal prepared by head chef Robin Murray, with an a la carte lunch that is sure to make your mouth water.
Local produce and seasonal ingredients are at the forefront, with slow cooked lamb and fresh seafood stew being on the menu, all of which you'll get to enjoy in a room with massive windows that overlook the vineyard. For those who prefer sitting outdoors, outdoor seating is an option as well. It's one of these wine tours that will have you tasting some of the best wine and food in New South Wales.
7. Bendooley Estate in the Southern Highlands
Address: 3020 Old Hume Highway Bendooley, Berrima NSW 2577, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4877 2235
Website: https://bendooleyestate.com.au
If taking private tours is your thing, and you’d love to experience Australia’s oldest wine region, a visit to Bendooley Estate is called for. As far as wine tours are concerned, this is by far one of the very best.
First, there's always an option to take a 45-minute helicopter flight from Sydney, where you'll get to fly over a variety of terrains and get a bird's eye view of the ground below.
Once you land, you'll be taken to Bendooley Estate’s cellar door, where you'll get to taste Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Rieslings, all of which are made in house.
All the while, knowledgeable staff will guide you through each and every single tasting, providing you with information about exactly how the cool climate affects the taste of each wine.
Once the tasting is over, you'll head to the Book Barn Restaurant, a rustic and charming indoor area with endless shelves of books, like a combination of dining room and library. You'll get local and fresh ingredients including pasture raised meats, artisanal cheeses, and seasonal vegetables, all of which are paired with wines from their own vineyard.
8. Tower Lodge in Hunter Valley
Address: 6 Halls Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4998 7022
Website: https://towerlodge.com.au
Although technically not a winery per se, the Tower Lodge in Hunter Valley offers various wine tasting experiences.
For instance, there is one excellent wine tasting option, where you can try up to seven different vintages from various local producers, even some of the other ones we've mentioned on the list today. There's also a whisky tasting option, where whisky lovers can enjoy four separate house made single-malt whiskies.
Either way, once you arrive at the Tower Lodge, you'll get to enjoy a three-course lunch at the in-house restaurant, headed by chef Anthony Fullerton. He uses only the freshest with local ingredients to highlight the region’s flavours.
Just some of the options you'll get to taste include crab and prawn arancini, heirloom tomatoes with mozzarella, black Angus beef, lamb shoulder, chocolate hearts, creme brulee, and more.
9. Hanging Tree Wines
Address: 294 O’Connors Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4998 6608
Website: https://hangingtreewines.com.au
If you’re in the mood for some Hunter Valley Wine, and you want to visit one of the most popular Hunter Valley wineries out there, taking a trip to Hanging Tree Wines is recommended. As far as going on a Hunter Valley day trip is concerned, if you like boutique wineries, this is it.
The property is set on 40 acres of rolling hills, with views of the broken back mountain ranges. The cellar door is inside of an old cow shed, very rustic in nature. Here, guests will get to sample a variety of fortified wines, as well as sweet, red, white, and sparkling wines. They're all made from hand-picked grapes that are grown in the volcanic soil and red clay of the area.
Also interesting to note is that this location is pet friendly, and also includes heritage buildings, a Rose Garden, and koi fish pond. There are standard wine tastings with up to 8 wines, as well as a vintage wine tasting experience that comes with a local cheese plate. Every Sunday afternoon, there's also some live jazz for entertainment.
10. The Hunter Valley Pub Crawl
Although also not a winery tour, as a bonus, you can always go on a Hunter Valley pub crawl via helicopter. First, you'll leave Sydney airport on a 45 minute helicopter flight that takes you over the city skyline and the Central Coast, along with great Birds Eye views of beaches, cliffs, and national parks.
This tour takes you to three breweries, including IronBark Hill Brewery, 4 Pines Brewing Co., and Hope Estate. First, the IronBark Hill Brewery allows you to taste four craft beers ranging from pale ales to stouts and more, along with some lively music.
The next stop is the 4 Pines Brewing Co., where you'll get to have a pub-style lunch with options such as Wagyu burgers and wood fire pizzas, along with stouts, lagers, and pale ales. The last stop is Hope Estate, which is both a distillery and a brewery, and here you can try spirit tasting paddles or beer paddles, with a variety of beers, vodkas, gins, and even moonshine.
