With over 150 wineries in the Hunter Valley, where do you start?  My advice, start with the boutique wineries in The Hunter Valley.  The Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region and one of the most famous.  The extension of the freeway created a property and tourism boom in the 1990s leading to the commercialisation of the area.

The Hunter Valley displays pretty wineries, beautiful lakes, gum forests, and rolling hills. The vineyards of Cessnock, Pokolbin, Mount View, and Allendale are some of my favourite in Australia.  Rather than the commercialised spots, I prefer to seek out less visited options and the boutique wineries of The Hunter Valley.  

It can be hard to steer clear of the crowds when visiting The Hunter Valley.  Below is a suggested itinerary for a weekend visiting family-owned smaller options that will keep your $ within the community.  These boutique wineries of The Hunter Valley will be sure to hit the spot.  The hospitality, welcome, and experiences differ hugely from winery to winery.  Put it this way – some were born to host and others not so much.

The Hunter Valley is full of small secret boutique wineries and we are always up for visiting new ones.  If you have a favourite – please share with us at Community Backpocket.

Friday afternoon:

1 pm:- Kitchner Poppet Head Reserve

This was our first step on the route to the vineyards of The Hunter Valley.  We wanted a quiet picnic place with a small stroll to walk off our cheese and this place was perfect. 5km south of Cessnock this is the site of the Aberdare Central Colliery.

There is a picnic site next to the dam, home to black swans, and native ducks also to public toilets and BBQ facilities.  A 1.2km walk around the dam and a second 5km walk takes in more of the bush, both are well signposted. This was our first step on the route to the vineyards of The Hunter Valley.

3 pm:- Hanging Tree

This is one of our oldest favourite boutique wineries in The Hunter Valley. We first visited in 2013 when Ming (the owner’s daughter) wasn’t even allowed a professional label on her 2012 Reserve Grenache/Merlot. She had to do with Vodka’s (the dog) paw print and Ming’s Selection on a white label! On our first visit, we were lucky enough to have Ming host us, and have returned every time we are in the Hunter! Her wine is now professionally labeled with the Hanging Tree brand and sold for $65 a go! Good on you Ming!

This is one of the prettiest wineries with a rustic charm, beautiful rose lined gardens, and welcoming hospitality.

4.30pm:- Mistletoe Wines

What a great little find. We left it a little late in the day as this is not only a winery. These guys have a great art collection to view and a back garden full of interesting sculptures. You need longer here than at most wineries. This is a small family-owned business that opened in 1989. On our visit, we were lucky to meet three generations involved in running the cellar door. Jessica was our host but introduced us to Mum and Granny! Her 14-year-old sister was also out the back…… plugged into some electronic device like most 14 yr olds!!

Mistletoe Winery has an extensive tasting list with over 20 different wines including whites, reds, sparkling, dessert, and fortified. I love this wineries approach.  Passionate about sustainability, environmentally conscious, and all about family. They don’t have a wine club and explain why. Their philosophy is that you should be open to drinking lots of different wines, not only theirs! Instead, they encourage you to join their member’s mail list. You can buy wine at club prices but you’re not locked into regular purchases.

 Friday evening:

7.30pm:- Leaves & Fishes

A true local and family option this is one of our favourite places to eat out in The Hunter Valley. Owners Sharon & Damian have lived in the Hunter all their lives and opened the restaurant in 2004. Focusing on seafood with an Asian influence Damian actually rears his own Silver Perch in the lake on the grounds. Their goal is to offer good, fresh food in a friendly atmosphere, which they have got bang on. Be sure to book, it gets busy!

Saturday morning:

10.30 am:- Wynwood

Although recently under new management and thus only 4 wines to taste they were delicious. The guys serving us were knowledgeable and great craic. Set on over one hundred acres the restaurant ‘Twine” offers panoramic views of the surrounding vine-clad hills of The Hunter Valley. We were so tempted to cancel our lunch booking and come back here for the Aussie BBQ – it sounded fabulous! The added bonus here is the wine-museum with a full history of the winery and winemaking in general. The vineyard has classic Hunter Valley varietals including Shiraz, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Muscat, and Merlot. I bought a bottle of 2014 Reserve Shiraz which I plan to drink with my Dad on my 45th birthday!

11 am:- Drayton’s

The Drayton’s are one of The Hunter Valley’s pioneering winemaking families. This cellar door is still family-owned and operated. It has been over one hundred and fifty years since the first Drayton trod on rich Hunter Valley soil. Although I got a distinct feeling of commercialisation and large-scale when walking in, the staff are very welcoming and an absolute scream. We had a hilarious 40 minutes here and tasted a huge array of wines. I walked away with a bargain box of 12 Shiraz for $99. Now in the hands of Max Drayton and his two sons John, and Greg the story is an interesting one steeped in tragedy – read about it here.

12 pm:- Lunch!

Cafe Enzo co-owned by Melissa Blanch and Chef David Warren has recently clocked its 21st Birthday. Set in Pokolbin, the restaurant is styled like a sandstone Tuscan villa. The menu is Modern Australian with an Italian influence. You have the option of dining al fresco when the weather’s warm or gathering around the antique open fireplace on chilly nights. This is a gorgeous recommendation for lunch or dinner. I had the ‘Enzo’ Ceasar Salad that didn’t disappoint!  I would recommend booking – click here for the contact number.

Saturday afternoon:

2 pm:- Tinklers

Tinklers has been run by the same family for over 100 years and we were lucky enough to have Ian Tinkler host us. Over the years Ian, his brother, and father (both named Usher) planted over 35 hectares of vines. They follow conservation farming practices. In 2009 Ian was awarded The Hunter Valley Viticulturalist of the year. Ian’s nephew (also Usher!) is the winemaker and has achieved many accolades within the wine industry. We had a private tasting here and walked away with some gorgeous Shiraz and Verdelho.

3 pm:- McLeish

In 1995, ten years after establishing the McLeish Estate, Bob McLeish and his wife Maryanne opened a cellar door. With an obvious Scottish influence, the tasting room is full of tartan and old sports memorabilia. In 2016 McLeish Wines won World’s Best Semillon at the London International Wine Challenge and Australia’s White Wine of the Year in 2014.

4 pm:- Blueberry Hill

Nowhere better for sunset in The Hunter Valley. A little piece of advice – make sure you’re not pickled so that you actually enjoy it! If you love Pinot Noir then this place is a must. They encourage you to sip then eat a dark chocolate blueberry and sip again – it’s heaven! This stunning little find is as the name eludes to, perched on the top of a small hill overlooking the valley with views out to the Brokenback Range.

We thoroughly enjoyed a tasting here whilst sat under the shade of a large gum tree. Served by the owner, he was great at persuading us to try wines we wouldn’t have normally tasted. I even quite liked the Chardonnay.  A perfect place to end the day. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, Blueberry Hill is also a B&B with 2 guest rooms, tennis courts, and a swimming pool. I’ll definitely be back to stay!

Sunday morning:

10.30 am:- Lucy’s Run

Yes, in The Hunter Valley it’s perfectly acceptable to be drinking before 12 pm! I have to say this would be up there with Domaine de Binet in my picks of the weekend. This is the epitome of a true boutique. This basic shed run by Heather & Brad has got it sussed! If you are looking for a genuine local experience with passionate and engaging hosts then this one is not to be missed. Heather & Brad escaped Sydney 3 years ago and have thrown themselves into the Hunter community. I’ll leave them to tell you their story as I wouldn’t do it justice!

11.30 am:- Domaine de Binet

Leaving the best till last! Daniel is the most wonderful host. We were lucky enough to rock up when it was quiet and got an off the cuff tour of the whole estate. He showed us where and how the wine is made and stored. I’ve never seen so many barrels of wine in one place! Daniel is exceedingly knowledgeable and passionate beyond words. It’s no wonder he is fast becoming the most recognised young winemakers in The Hunter Valley. Read about his and Natalie’s story here or better even – go visit! The wines pretty good too – well with names such as Le Grand Coq and Crazy Coq what would you expect!

Sunday afternoon:

1pm:- Lunch

If you are lucky enough to have the time I would suggest exiting the wine country via Tourist Drive 33. This is a spectacular scenic drive through the Lower Hunter Valley. Following the historic convict trail and The Great North Road, this route stretches from Branxton to the Peats Ridge exit on the Pacific Motorway. Mount Broke Wines’ cellar door is located a short 20-minute drive from Pokolbin along Tourist Drive 33. The cellar door is set inside the remnants of an old dairy. This place offers breathtaking views from all aspects. Hand manicured vines stretch across the landscape before meeting the Brokenback Mountain Ranges. The restaurant is the perfect stop for lunch and the rib of beef is my recommendation.  Call and book ahead as this place gets packed.