Hunter Valley weekend: wineries, markets and where to stay

Hunter Valley weekend trips work best when you plan the driving before you plan the tasting. The valley is about 160 km north of Sydney, and the best way to enjoy it is to base yourself in one spot, let someone else drive on the day, and visit a few cellar doors instead of a dozen.

Below you will find the route in, tips for tasting wine without drink driving, a simple two day plan, and where to stay. It is general travel information, so check opening times and prices with each business.

Sources for this section: Visit NSW, Hunter destination page; Wikipedia, Hunter Valley.

Getting there and getting around

Visit NSW covers the Hunter region, including the towns, vineyards and national parks of the valley. Most of the wine country sits around Cessnock, which Wikipedia calls the gateway city to the vineyards, about 154 km north of Sydney. Pokolbin, about 12 km west north west of Cessnock, is the heart of the Lower Hunter wine area and about 163 km from Sydney by road, along the Pacific Motorway.

A car is the easiest way to arrive, but you do not need it once you are there. Many visitors leave it parked at their lodging and use a tour, a hire driver or a taxi for the tasting day. Book that transport before you travel, because weekend demand is high.

Sources for this section: Visit NSW, Hunter destination page; Wikipedia, Cessnock, New South Wales; Wikipedia, Pokolbin, New South Wales.

Why the Hunter is worth a weekend

Wikipedia calls the Hunter Valley wine area near Cessnock Australia's oldest wine region, and its history is real and visible. Wikipedia credits Thomas Winder with the first grapes in the region after he arrived in 1820. James Busby made the first major planting in 1825 at Kirkton. Semillon was first planted around 1830 and is widely seen as the valley's iconic wine, while Shiraz is also widely grown.

Some names go back a long way. Wikipedia lists Drayton, Lindeman, McWilliams Mount Pleasant, Tulloch, Lake's Folly and Tyrrell among the long established wineries around Pokolbin. A cellar door visit at one of them can come with a few good stories from the staff.

The valley is also a place of many scales. Wikipedia describes wineries that range from large multinational firms to small family run operations, so you can pick a big, busy tasting room or a quiet one with one person pouring.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Hunter Valley wine region; Wikipedia, Pokolbin, New South Wales.

How to taste wine without drink driving

In Australia the legal limit for most drivers is 0.05 grams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, which Wikipedia describes in its page on random breath testing. Police can ask a driver to take a breath test, and a driver over the limit faces a second test and a charge. Plan as if the test could happen on any road in the valley.

Tastings add up fast, even when each pour is small. These habits keep the day safe:

• Name a driver before you leave, and keep that person off the wine for the whole day.
• Or hand the driving over. Book a tour, a hire car with a driver, or a taxi for the pick up and drop off.
• Use the spittoon. Cellar door staff expect it, and it lets you taste more wines.
• Eat a proper lunch and drink water between stops.
• Stay close to dinner. Choose a restaurant you can walk to from your bed.

General information only, not medical advice. Questions about how alcohol suits your own health are best taken to your doctor.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Random breath testing.

A simple two day plan

June is mid winter in Australia, so days are short and mornings are cool. Start early and plan indoor stops for the afternoon.

1. Saturday morning: Arrive in Cessnock or Pokolbin, check in or drop your bags, and walk to a late breakfast.
2. Saturday midday: Visit two or three cellar doors in one area, such as Pokolbin, so the transport stays short. Try a Semillon and a Shiraz at each, since those are the Hunter's best known wines.
3. Saturday evening: Eat at a restaurant near your lodging. Many winery restaurants take bookings, so call ahead.
4. Sunday morning: Take a slow walk or a drive through the vineyards, and look for local produce or a village market if one is running. Opening days change, so check before you go.
5. Sunday afternoon: One last cellar door, then head back to Sydney while it is still light.

Sources for this section: Visit NSW, Hunter destination page; Wikipedia, Hunter Valley wine region.

Where to stay

Wikipedia notes that tourist accommodation around Pokolbin is plentiful, partly because of the wine industry and the closeness to Sydney. Options include country resorts, golf resorts, motels, guest houses and hostels. Visit NSW also lists self contained houses, hotels and motels, bed and breakfasts, farm stays and backpacker hostels across the Hunter.

Here is how to choose:

• For a couple on a short break: a guest house or a bed and breakfast in Pokolbin keeps the tasting rooms close.
• For a group of friends: a self contained house or cottage splits the cost and gives you a place to cook.
• For a tight budget: a motel or hostel in Cessnock is a good base, with a short ride to the vineyards.

Book early for weekends, and ask whether there is a minimum stay of two nights.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Pokolbin, New South Wales; Visit NSW, Hunter destination page.

Before you go

Pack warm layers for the morning and a rain jacket. Bring cash and cards for small cellar doors, and a cooler bag if you plan to buy wine to take home. Check each winery's hours before you set out, because opening times vary. Tell your lodging when you will arrive so someone can meet you with the key.

Remember that the best Hunter Valley weekend is a slow one. Two cellar doors with time to talk beat six rushed ones.

Sources

1. Visit NSW, Hunter: visitnsw.com
2. Wikipedia, Hunter Valley: en.wikipedia.org
3. Wikipedia, Hunter Valley wine region: en.wikipedia.org
4. Wikipedia, Cessnock, New South Wales: en.wikipedia.org
5. Wikipedia, Pokolbin, New South Wales: en.wikipedia.org
6. Wikipedia, Random breath testing: en.wikipedia.org