Hunter Valley is one of the most renowned regions in Australia for its plentiful vineyards and wineries. Going on a Hunter Valley wine tour is one of the most popular things to do for any tourists and locals visiting the Sydney area. It also happens to be Australia's oldest wine region.
The reason for this is not only because of the rich heritage of Hunter Valley and all of its beautiful sights, but also thanks to the well over 100 wineries in the area. In fact, based on our last count, there are over 150 wineries in Hunter Valley. Today, we want to take you on a guide on all of the most popular wineries in Hunter Valley.
Of course, we can’t cover all 150 wineries in Hunter Valley, but we can talk about some of the most popular. That’s why today, we’ll take an in-depth look at five of the best Hunter Valley wineries.
Table of Contents
- How Many Wineries Are in Hunter Valley?
- The Five Best Wineries in Hunter Valley
- What Types of Wine Are Found in Hunter Valley?
- How to Get to Hunter Valley Wineries
- What’s the Best Time of Year to Go On Wine Tours?
- Broke Fordwich vs. Pokolbin Wineries
How Many Wineries Are in Hunter Valley Wine Country?
Thanks to a rich winemaking history of over 200 years, there are many wineries and vineyards located in the Hunter Valley Wine Region, well over 150. Hunter Valley is the closest wine making region to Sydney, making it an attractive option for locals and tourists alike who want to take a day trip out into the beautiful countryside and taste a glass or two of delectable wine.
Hunter Valley features a combination of an ideal climate and fertile soil, allowing for producers to grow some of the juiciest and tastiest grapes in the whole world. This has led the Hunter Valley region to develop a reputation as an outstanding destination for wine enthusiasts from around the world. Let’s move on and find out what some of the most popular wineries in Hunter Valley.
The Five Best Wineries in Hunter Valley
Right now, we want to take a look at some of the most popular Hunter Valley wineries and the exceptional wines they produce, starting with a fan-favourite, Leogate Estate.
Leogate Estate Winery
Address: 1693 Broke Road, Pokolbin, NSW 2320, Australia
Website: Leogate Estate Winery
Contact Details:
- Phone: +61 2 4998 7499
- Email: sales@leogate.com.au
For further inquiries, you can also visit their Contact Us page on their website.
Leogate Estate was first started in the 1960s, and then revamped in 2008 by Bill and Vicky Widin, who created a lovely winery, cellar door, function center, and restaurant, along with 20 luxury villas.
Thanks to its amazing wine and food selection, it has won a number of awards over the years, including an award for “the best restaurant in a winery” in the NSW and ACT Restaurant and Catering Association’s Hostplus Awards for Excellence 2020 and a red five-star winery rating for the ninth consecutive year by James Halliday’s 2020 Australian Wine Companion.
Leogate Estate features a wonderful cellar door where you can enjoy the Brokenback Tasting Experience, where you get to taste the Estate’s premium Brokenback wines for as little as $10 per person. Besides regular wine tastings, you can also do an Antipasto tasting plate with seven different wines perfectly paired with seven dishes.
Leogate Estate even features a wine club for members who want to get discounts on Leogate Wines.
Dining at Leogate estate is an experience as well, as The Gates restaurant is renowned for preparing some of the most sophisticated meals in the country, with some of the best dry aged steak in Hunter Valley. There are both two and three course meals available, as well as an outdoor courtyard menu with many different mouthwatering canapés. There’s even a five-course degustation menu that can be paired with a range of Brokenback.
For those looking for accommodation, staying a few nights at Leogate Estate is possible as well, as there are 20 villas, both one bedroom and two-bedroom options, along with various amenities. One of the best ways to experience this particular winery is to take a private helicopter tour to Leogate Estate in Hunter Valley.
Peterson House
Address: 2457 Broke Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Website: Peterson House
Contact Details:
- Phone: +61 2 4998 7881
- Email: bubbles@petersonhouse.com.au
For further inquiries, you can also visit their Contact Us page on their website.
Known as the “House of Sparkling”, Peterson House is a world-renowned boutique winery located right in the middle of the Hunter Valley, and as the name implies, it specialises in many different sparkling wines, with traditional brutes and sparkling rose being two of the most popular options. Peterson House Also features a variety of specialty sparkling wines that are unique to the region. These are some of the best wines that Hunter Valley produces, something that professional wine tasters everywhere will tell you!
Peterson House Got its beginnings in 1995 by Ian Peterson, a wine enthusiast who wanted to make the best sparkling wine house in the area. To keep up with the growing demand, the winemaking facilities of Peterson House were recently modernised.
Not only is this Hunter Valley winery a fantastic location to taste some of the best sparkling wines in the area, but there’s also an on-site restaurant that features a variety of locally sourced and seasonal ingredients that perfectly complement your wine selection. There are plenty of ala carte and three course meal options available designed to pair with the best of sparkling wines.
Visitors can experience a personalised wine tasting at the boutique and intimate cellar door, guided by friendly and knowledgeable staff. There are also various tours of the winemaking facilities and the vineyards available.
Peterson House is also equipped for a variety of events, from private celebrations and corporate functions to large weddings. The beautiful setting makes for a picture-perfect location no matter the event. To experience this winery in all of its glory, arriving in style via a private helicopter flight to Peterson House in Hunter Valley is undoubtedly the way to go!
Hunter Valley Wine Tours are also available to Peterson House, offering a convenient and enjoyable way to visit multiple wineries without the hassle of driving.
Audrey Wilkinson Boutique Winery
Address: De Beyers Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Website: Audrey Wilkinson
Contact Details:
- Phone: +61 2 4998 1866
For further inquiries, you can also visit their Contact Us page on their website.
Audrey Wilkinson is by far one of Hunter Valley's oldest wineries, and it's known for crafting wines rich in flavour and high in quality. It was started in 1866 by the Wilkinson family, and since then has won numerous accolades and awards, including numerous awards for its amazing Shiraz and Semillon wines.
This is a small boutique winery, and although it doesn’t produce all that much wine per year, what it does produce is well regarded as some of the best in the area.
Audrey Wilkinson in the Hunter region is known for producing a variety of high-quality wines, including the iconic Hunter Valley Semillon, as well as a number of experimental and unique small batch wines. These small batch wines are designed to reflect the diversity and beauty of Hunter Valley.
What many visitors love about the Audrey Wilkinson Winery is that it’s located on top of a huge hill that offers an amazing 360° view of the surrounding vineyards and landscape. Here, guests can enjoy a variety of cellar door tastings guided by knowledgeable staff, in-depth winemaking tours including tours of the winemaking facilities, as well as picnics right out on the vineyards.
All wine tastings are complemented by a well thought out selection of locally sourced cheese and produce, which are all designed to pair perfectly with the flavour of the wines served at Audrey Wilkinson. For the vineyard picnics, there are also gourmet picnic hampers available full of artisanal wines and foods.
For those looking to take their relationships one step further and pop that fateful question alongside some delicious wines, there are special helicopter proposal packages available, where you and that special somebody fly to Audrey Wilkinson on a private helicopter from Sydney, and are then escorted to a special secret location that is set up for you to pop that question. Complete with a gourmet proposal setup and so much more, it’s the perfect way to propose.
Bimbadgen Winery
Address: 790 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Website: Bimbadgen Winery
Contact Details:
- Phone: +61 2 4998 4600
- Email: office@bimbadgen.com.au
For further inquiries, you can also visit their Contact Us page on their website.
Bimbadgen Winery was established in 1968, with its name meaning “Place of Good View”, and although it may not be the oldest winery in the region, it quickly grew in size and reputation, and became one of the biggest players in the Australian wine industry, thanks to the passionate winemakers that run the show.
This winery is well known for its Mediterranean inspired architecture and atmosphere. Bimbadgen produces many different types of wine, including Semillon, Shiraz, and Hunter Valley Chardonnay, among other varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Verdelho.
For those who want to experience Bimbadgen to its fullest, going on a cellar door experience is recommended, as it’s very intimate and cosy, and also offers an informative experience guided by knowledgeable staff. If you and your loved ones wish for an even more intimate experience, there are private wine tastings available.
To pair with the fantastic wines available here, visit Esca Bimbadgen, a fine dining restaurant with its delicate meals designed to pair perfectly with the winery’s finest wines. All of the ingredients are locally sourced and seasonal. For those who want to enjoy a more relaxed dining experience, there are picnic campers available that can be taken anywhere on the beautiful ground, as well as cheese platters. it also happens to be a great place to learn about winemaking techniques.
Bimbadgen also features several event spaces that can be used for private celebrations, corporate events, and weddings. There are even luxury villas and cottages perfect for those who want more than just a single day at this beautiful location. Of course, one of the best ways to experience this location is by going on a private helicopter tour to Bimbadgen Winery in Hunter Valley.
Brokenwood Wines
Address: 401-427 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Website: Brokenwood Wines
Contact Details:
- Phone: +61 2 4998 7559
- Email: sales@brokenwood.com.au
For further inquiries, you can also visit their Contact Us page on their website.
Brokenwood Wines is one of the most popular wineries in the hunter valley region, founded in 1970. Thanks to its rich history and diverse varietals of wine, it has become one of the most esteemed wine producers in the area.
Thanks to the rich and fertile soil of the area, Brokenwood specializes in offering many varieties of Chardonnay, Semillon, and Shiraz.
There are many different wine-tasting experiences to be had at this the Brokenwood Winery, all at the state-of-the-art cellar door, along with informative guides and a very intimate setting. Manageable staff are also well versed in the winemaking process, which you'll learn all about.
Nestled right at the Brokenback Ranges, this winery offers a great view of the surrounding area, particularly the rolling vineyards.
The winery itself features a very modern aesthetic appeal that blends well with the natural surroundings. Brokenwood also features The Wood Restaurant, an award-winning fine dining establishment that features a curated menu designed to pair perfectly with their wines.
For those more interested in wine than food, the Terrace Wine Bar is open for business as well! Between the cellar door, the outdoor terrace, private dining rooms, the main restaurant, as well as another bar, there is plenty of opportunity to host private events at the Brokenwood Winery.
First Creek Wines
Address: 600 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Website: First Creek Wines
Contact Details:
- Phone: +61 2 4998 7293
- Email: cellar_door@firstcreekwines.com.au
For further inquiries, you can also visit their Contact Us page on their website.
First Creek Wines is a family-owned winery found right in the middle of hunter valley. It was founded in 1996 and since then has created a strong reputation for producing wines that reflect the region itself.
One of the defining features of this winery is its meticulous attention to detail in winemaking, which results in it producing some of the most esteemed wines in the hunter valley region, including varietal such as Chardonnay, Semillon, Shiraz, and Verdelho
First Creek offers various wine tasting experiences, with the cellar door being one of the most popular. At the cellar door, visitors can experience the Single Vineyard and Limited Release wines of First Creek, along with knowledgeable guides that will provide you with interesting tidbits of information while you taste some of the most flavorful bouquets in the area.
First Creek Is also a popular destination thanks to its behind-the-scenes tours that provide you with an in-depth look into the winemaking facilities. With the broken back ranges in the background, it makes for a great venue for a variety of events, especially thanks to the outdoor seating area. Although there is not an on-site restaurant, there are often local chefs present who catered gourmet experiences for special events.
Scarborough Wine Co.
Address: 179 Gillards Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
Website: Scarborough
Contact Details:
- Phone: +61 2 4998 7563
- Email: cellar@scarboroughwine.com.au
For further inquiries, you can also visit their Contact Us page on their website.
Scarborough Wine Co. It's another highly popular family-owned winery found in the hunter valley region. The Scarborough family itself established it in 1987, and since then, it has become regarded for its top-quality Chardonnay, as well as other varietals of wine, including Shiraz, Pinot Noir, and Semillon.
This family follows very traditional wine making techniques, resulting in some of the tastiest bouquets in the hunter valley region. What makes the Scarborough Wine Co such an attractive option is that it offers a very personalized and intimate experience, complete with two different cellar doors.
There is the Hermitage Road Cellar Door, complete with a contemporary setting and a modern environment, as well as the Gillards Road Cellar Door, which is a bit smaller, cozier, and more classic. It's where you'll go for a laid-back wine tasting experience. Although there are not any on-site restaurants or accommodation, there are plenty nearby or visitors to experience.
What Types of Wine Are Found in Hunter Valley?
Hunter Valley vineyards are best known for their Shiraz and Semillon wines, as the terrain seems to be suited towards growing grape varieties used for making these wines. However, the region is also known for producing other great wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Verdelho. A private helicopter winery tour to Hunter Valley is the perfect way to experience all of these wines!
How to Get to Hunter Valley Wineries
Hunter Valley Wine Region, depending on the exact location, is located roughly two hours north of Sydney along the M1. It’s therefore a decent location to visit by car or tour bus.
With that being said, if you have to drive two hours back and forth, that’s half of your day gone, and that’s half a day that you don’t get to enjoy at one of these esteemed wineries. Therefore, the better option for you might be a quick and easy helicopter flight courtesy of Rotor One.
Our private helicopter tours to wineries in Hunter Valley come complete with breathtaking views of the ground below, wine tastings, meals, and so much more. It’s the perfect way to spend a day while travelling in style.
What’s the Best Time of Year to Go On Wine Tours?
The great part about Hunter Valley Wine Tours is that they can be done at any time of the year. If you enjoy the warmer weather and exploring vineyards, then going during the spring or summer time is best.
However, if you like those fall colours and all of those picturesque leaves coming down from the trees, then autumn is probably best for you. That said, for people who prefer colder weather and sitting beside a fireplace, Hunter Valley is enjoyable during the winter as well.
Broke Fordwich vs. Pokolbin Wineries
Something that many wonder is what the difference between Pobolbin and the Broke Fordwich wine region is, both of which are located in the Hunter Valley wine region.
The difference is that the former offers many different large and small wineries, complete with tasting rooms, fine dining restaurants, and accommodations for events, whereas, the latter offers a more personalised, smaller, and cosier experience, with guests often being able to meet the actual wine makers.
Whatever the case, no matter if we're talking about the upper Hunter Valley or lower Hunter Valley, there's a Hunter Valley cellar door waiting for you!
