Best Wineries Hunter Valley

Wine Tasting Tours

Bookings are highly advisable for wine tasting. Whilst some cellar doors welcome walk-ins, its best to book ahead to avoid disappointment – particularly on weekends, public holidays and during school holiday periods. Most wineries charge a fee to sample wines, with prices varying depending on the range of wines offered for tasting and the individual cellar door. Most cellar doors will ship a box of wine home for you, or join their wine club and get great discounts on their wine, shipped to your door. To get the most of your tasting experience, take a Hunter Valley wine tour and let us show you the best wineries in the Hunter Valley where you can savour cellar door only wines – wine tasting fees are included. Let us take the stress out of your next day in the Hunter Valley vineyards. Get a group of friends together for an awesome day in Wine Country and we’ll show you some of the best cellar doors, distilleries, breweries, cheese factories and chocolate factories in the Hunter Valley. Book now and make memories to last a lifetime – you’ll be sure to call us again!

Make sure you allocate an hour to indulge in an organised Hunter Valley wine tasting, where you can also choose to pair your wine selection with a chesse platter or charcuterie board for an indulgent experience. Relax, unwind, indulge and enjoy the finer things in life. Go on – you deserve it!

Wandin Estate

Situated on a tranquil 100 acre picturesque estate in Lovedale, Wandin Estate is one of the Hunter Valley’s most renowned vineyards. As the first vineyard property off the Hunter Expressway, this unique venue offers villa style accommodation, pool, a superb restaurant, function venue and cellar door. Wine and dine amongst the vines in a lush natural environment. Experience the scenery, the ambiance and of course, the wine. The sprawling Wandin Estate is perfect for a weekend stay, mid-week getaway or relaxed wedding and function. 

Don’t want to do a full wine tasting? Why not relax on the balcony and enjoy a glass of Wandin Estate wine with a charcuterie board or cheese platter, taking in the natural, picturesque views that reach out beyond the vineyard, capturing the beauty of the Brokenback Range and surrounding area. The estate is also home to Wandin Kitchen, offering a bespoke seasonal breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. Overlooking beautiful Lovedale Estate, this superb dining experience is a personal favourite.

Wandin Estate is children and dog friendly, so bring the family and enjoy the Hunter Valley at a relaxed pace. Oh, and keep a lookout for the resident kangaroos.

What we love about Wandin Estate

The lunch tasting plate with wine pairing is to die for: We liked Pumpkin paired with Wandin Estate 2019 Chardonnay, Crispy Skin Pork Belly paired with Wandin Estate 2019 Rosé, Pecan Smoked Chicken paired with Wandin Estate 2017 Reserve Chardonnay and House-made Gnocchi paired with Wandin Estate 2019 Rosé. The raised balcony is the perfect place to enjoy a meal and the Hunter Valley view in an elegant country setting.

Wandin Estate Wines we like 

2019 Hunter Valley/Orange Semillion Sauvignon Blanc
2019 Hunter Valley Chardonay
2019 Hunter Valley Shiraz

Contact Wandin Estate

Address: 12 Wilderness Road, Lovedale, NSW 2320
Cellar Door Hours: 10am to 5pm, 7 days – Twilight tastings by special arrangement
Dining Hours: Breakfast: Friday – Sunday, Lunch: Thursday – Sunday, Dinner: Friday – Saturday
Accommodation: Seven self-contained villas accommodating up to 42 guests
Function Centre: Catering for weddings and functions for up to aprox. 150 people layout dependant
Web: wandin.com.au

Stomp! Wines

Stomp! Wine was founded in 2004 by husband and wife team Meredith and Michael McManus. Originally based in the Broke wine region, Stomp! relocated their cellar door to their current home in Lovedale in 2018. Multi awarded winemaker Michael is highly respected in the Hunter, however on most occasions it’s Meredith that will host you in the cellar door and at their annual events, sharing her love of Hunter Valley wines and stories of their journey as winemakers in the Valley. Stomp! Wines specialises in crafting local signature varieties – Semillon, Chardonnay, Verdelho and Shiraz. They also offer a range of alternate and innovative wines including Fiano, Sparkling Verdelho and Sparkling Chambourcin. Stomp! also offer vegan friendly wines.

Get your hands (and feet) dirty and be a wine maker for a day at their annual Stomp! wine maker experience, or try their Pottery in the Vines. Stomp! Wines are children and dog friendly, so bring the family and enjoy the Hunter Valley in a relaxed and tranquil setting. Spend some time here with Merideth and this vineyard may just become one of your favourites too!

What we love about Stomp! Wines

A great little hidden gem, the Stomp! cellar door offers some unique and amazing wines and is a regular stop for us whenever we’re in the area on a day off. The friendly and knowledgeable staff always greet you with a smile and make you feel like you’re catching up with friends. The large grassed area by the dam is a great place to relax with a glass of your favourite vintage. Enjoy the sunshine, the shade of the trees or the warmth of the fire pit depending on the season. Kimba the Border Collie X Cattle Dog is an integral part of the cellar door team. As president of the welcome committee, she’s chief meeter and greeter and will happily play fetch with you for as long as you’re prepared to throw her beloved ball!

Stomp! Wines we like 

2021 Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc
2022 Limited Release Fiano
2022 Sparkling Verdelho
2019 Sparkling Chambourcin

Contact Stomp! Wines

Address: 504 Wilderness Road, Lovedale, NSW 2320
Cellar Door Hours: 10am to 5pm, Thursday – Monday
Web: stompwines.com.au

Vamp by Lisa McGuigan

Vamp is the creation of Lisa McGuigan, a fourth generation wine maker from a family that needs no introduction when it comes to Australian wine making. Vamp is a unique offering, true to Lisa’s rebellious spirit, encapsulating both great winemaking and a stylish approach to design. All Lisa’s wines are made or finished off at a shared winery in the Hunter Valley. Centrally located on Broke Road, Pokolbin, which Lisa calls the Rodeo Drive of the Hunter, Vamp is a must stop location on any visit to Hunter Valley Wine Country. The design, the passion and the incredible wine lure you to a cellar door like no other.

What we love about Vamp Wines

From the giant dragon sculpture as you arrive, to the medieval armour and the quirky decor, there is more to Vamp by Lisa McGuigan than just great wine, it’s one of the most unique cellar door experiences to be had. We have found Lisa very hands-on, greeting and mingling with guests during tasting sessions. With small intimate seating areas behind the chainmail curtains to the welcoming courtyard, there are a variety of seating options. Not only will you immerse yourself in a unique ambiance, you will also enjoy some amazing wines. The Spartacus Shiraz is a personal favourite with many of our guests enjoying the NV Prosecco and the Athena Rose. Don’t forget to say hello to the cellar door mascot, Lisa’s Border Collie Maggie.

Vamp Wines we like 

2020 Athena Rose
2022 Vermintino
2021 Spartacus Shiraz

Contact Vamp by Lisa McGuigan

Address: 2198 Broke Rd, Pokolbin, NSW 2320
Cellar Door Hours: 11am to 5pm, Thursday – Monday
Web: lisamcguiganwines.com

First Creek Wines

First Creek Wines is a family-owned and operated winery led by Greg Silkman, based in the Hunter Valley. This team of passionate winemakers aspire to transform the best fruit characteristics into premium varietal wine styles. With over 1000 acres of vines spread across three vinyards in Orange, Hilltops and the Hunter Valley, First Creek Wines produce a selection of award-winning wines from the Hunter Valley and carefully selected vineyards across New South Wales. Since may 2015, Greg, Liz and Shaun Silkman have amassed 22 Trophies and 31 Golds across major Australian wine shows for the First Creek label. The Silkman family also own and operate First Creek Winemaking Services – the largest contract winemaking and bottling production company in the Hunter region.

Visit First Creek Wines for a relaxed and informative tasting where you can view a working winery from their cellar door viewing window, or sit out on the verandah and watch the kangaroos.

What we love about First Creek Wines

At First Creek you’ll experience some of the most knowledgeable staff with a passion for the Hunter Valley, its heritage and its wine! Sit and enjoy your tasting in small intimate arrangements overlooking the barrel room, or for those slightly larger groups around the large central table. If you like the fresh air, the wide verandah is the perfect place to sit a while. Reece and Mike always make our guests feel welcome, just one of the reasons, (apart from some great wines!) that we continue to go back to First Creek Wines.

First Creek Wines we like 

2020 Classic Hunter Valley Chardonay
2022 Limited Release Malbec
2020 Winemaker’s Reserve Shiraz

Contact First Creek Wines

Address: 600 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin, NSW 2320
Cellar Door Hours: 10am to 5pm, 7 days
Web: firstcreekwines.com.au

Pepper Tree Wines

Established in 1991, Pepper Tree is a family-owned wine estate in the Hunter Valley region. Vigneron and Owner, John Davis initially focused on Hunter Valley grapes, however continued to find other sites to compliment his initial holdings. Pepper Tree now boasts vineyard sites in four premium wine growing regions across Australia, focusing on the cultivation of three main grape varieties – Shiraz, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The rustic Pepper Tree Cellar Door provides a classic country experience, where guests can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and take in the stunning views of the vineyard while trying some of the best wines in the Hunter Valley. Pepper Tree Estate is children and dog friendly. Bring the entire family along to your next cellar door tasting experience, with a dedicated kids zone outside and a cosy place for your pets inside the cellar door.

What we love about Pepper Tree Wines

From the beautifully manicured gardens, to the rustic ambiance of the cellar door with its stone pavers and exposed timber, there is something special in the air at Pepper Tree. Taking the time for a stroll around the grounds, we find just visiting is relaxing and a great way to experience the Hunter Valley.

Pepper Tree Wines we like 

2021 ‘Alluvius’ Single Vineyard Semillon
2022 ‘B17’ Limited Release Pinot Gris
2011 ‘Tallawanta’ Museum Release Shiraz
2020 ‘Black Label’ Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon

Contact Pepper Tree Wines

Address: 86 Halls Road, Pokolbin, NSW 2320
Cellar Door Hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday – Friday | 9.30am to 5pm, Monday – Friday
Web: peppertreewines.com.au

Audrey Wilkinson Wines

Nestled in the foothills of the Brokenback Mountain Range on a 100 acre picturesque estate in Pokolbin, Audrey Wilkinson Estate is a must-see location of the Hunter Valley with stunning 360 degree views of the valley below. With extensive views from every angle and a spacious colonial style cellar door, Audrey Wilkinson are one of the most visited cellar doors in the region

Visitors to their cellar door can wander freely through the winemaking museum, housed in the original winery and showcasing the Wilkinson Family history and heritage awarded original open cement vats. Also on display are various barrel and wine making tools and equipment also exhibited with an audio visual presentation. Entry to the museum is free, and is open at the same times as the cellar door.

Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard is home to three guest cottages – Mulberry Cottage, The Dairy and Oakdale Cottage. All cottages boast unsurpassed 360 degree panoramic views of the Hunter Valley and the spectacular beauty of the magnificent Brokenback Mountains. Surrounded by vines and within close walking distance from the Audrey Wilkinson cellar door, the cottages are a great place to stay, relax and enjoy the privacy and spectacular beauty of the vineyard.

What we love about Audrey Wilkinson Wines

The views, the views and the views (and of course, their amazing wines!). The friendly staff will lead you through some amazing wines whilst you contemplate the stunning vista of the valley below and the distant mountains. If you are considering a picnic this is the place to do it with extensive grassy areas to choose from, all with those amazing views! And to walk off your meal why not wander through the wine making museum. There is a lot on offer when visiting Audrey Wilkinson Wines.

Audrey Wilkinson Wines we like

2021 Audrey Wilkinson The Ridge Semillon
2022 Audrey Wilkinson Verdelho
2021 Audrey Wilkinson Marsh Vineyard Chardonnay
2021 Audrey Wilkinson Winemakers Selection Moscato

Contact Audrey Wilkinson Wines

Address: 750 De Beyers Road, Pokolbin, NSW 2320
Cellar Door Hours: 10am to 5pm, 7 days
Museum Hours: 10am to 5pm, 7 days
Accommodation: Three self-contained cottages accommodating up to 18 guests
Web: audreywilkinson.com.au

Wine Tasting Hunter Valley

Feeling inspired to visit some Hunter Valley wineries? Why not try some (or all) of our personal favourites or choose your own cellar door visits. With more than 150 cellar doors in the Hunter Valley to choose from, the ultimate wine tasting experience is only a phone call away. Classic Tours can show you this creative food and wine region in intimate private group tours. Watch wine production in working wineries, learn the process of wine making and even get your hands dirty making wine. Enjoy handmade artisan wines from some of Australia’s most awarded and internationally recognised wine makers and experience wines only available at cellar doors. Wine experts are always on hand to introduce guests to the many varieties on offer, provide tasting advice and answer any questions you may have.

On our small group wine tasting tours, Classic Tours guests can enjoy visiting vineyards, breweries, distilleries, cheese factories and boutique produce stores in air conditioned comfort. With standard and custom itineraries available, your private Hunter Valley wine tours experience with Classic Tours is just a phone call away. Book your tour now and see why our guests keep saying ‘best wine tour ever!’

Looking for a bespoke experience? Why not hire our convertible Mustang and see the vineyards like you’ve never seen them before.