hunter valley wine & tourism association

HUNTER VALLEY WINE & TOURISM ASSOCIATION

Welcome to the corporate website for the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association (HVWTA) . We are a not-for-profit organisation working in partnership to recognise, celebrate and grow the contribution of the wine and tourism industry.

OUR PARTNERS | OUR PRIORITIES

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For further information, please get in contact via our Contact Us Form & choose the 'Partnership' option.

Growing the visitor economy worth over $502 million
Representing your business at local, state and national levels of government
We work in partnership with Destination NSW, Tourism Australia, NSW Wine Industry Association and Wine Australia
Welcoming 1.4 million overnight, domestic & international visitors annually
Collaborative region with 200+ local businesses on board
1 50,000 regional guides distributed to local businesses, Sydney (60% total print run), Newcastle, Central Coast and Visitor Information Centres
50,000 regional maps distributed to local businesses (in addition to regional guide)
#1 regional wine tourism website in Australia
winecountry.com.au attracts over 1.3 million page views per annum
47,000+ connected social followers with a combined annual reach 7.2+ million
32,000+ email subscribers
Attend exclusive partner workshops. Tailored to the wine and tourism sector and facilitated by industry leaders

All partnership opportunities are communicated within our prospectus.

To update your online listing or submit consumer or community events on winecountry.com.au please login here.

Upcoming Events

Hospitality get together - glandore estate.

More Information >

Hospitality Get Together - Gartelmann Cellar Door

Hunter valley wine show judging.

19th - 21st

HVWS Show Workers Dinner

Hvws exhibitors wine tasting, connect with us....

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Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association

The Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association (HVWTA) is a not-for-profit membership based incorporated body, responsible for destination and wine marketing, advocacy as well as technical and business support for all facets of the Hunter Valley wine and tourism industries from viticulture through to winemaking and tourism/wine promotion.

Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre, 455 Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin 2325 View Map

Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre

455 Wine Country Drive , Pokolbin 2325

Employment and Business
09:00 AM–05:00 PM

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https://www.facebook.com.au/HunterValleyWineCountry

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A local’s guide to the Hunter Valley: ‘It’s easy to get caught in the tourist traps’

From independent wineries to the locals’ favourite pub, the Hunter’s lower-key venues can make for a great weekend, away from wedding throngs

W ith more than 8 million visitors each year (in normal times) and just 90 minutes from the outskirts of Sydney, it’s easy to visit the Hunter Valley and get caught in the tourist traps. You name it, the Hunter has it – from a huge array of festivals and concerts to alpaca walking through the vineyards – it seems if there’s a tourism idea, someone has already thought of it. Like most busy tourist destinations, there are run-of-the-mill hotspots but if you look a little deeper there are some unique and remarkable experiences to be had.

The Hunter Valley is vast (covering 29,000 sq km) and includes Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, parts of the Barrington Tops and as far west as Muswellbrook, though for the majority of visitors a trip will include the wine regions of Pokolbin and Broke. With extensive mining and development, it’s a far cry from the untouched land of the Wonnarua people who inhabited the Upper Hunter for more than 30,000 years. Once the first grapevines were planted in the early 1800s, the region became synonymous with the vineyards planted in the shadow of the Broken Back Range.

A car drives down a dirt backroad in the Hunter Valley

I’ve been a local for nine years and as a former tour operator have sampled much of what’s on offer. As the Hunter has morphed into a weddings-based destination (with its accompanying bucks and hens parties) you may wish to avoid the heaving distilleries, sparkling wine, beer and cider venues full of partying millennials. Another must-avoid is Monday traffic on a long weekend – expect long delays on the M1 for your return to Sydney.

The best time to visit is spring. Not only have the winter-dormant vineyards sprung to green life, but the weather is also milder. Though a visit in winter may not be as pretty, a glass of local shiraz in front of an open fire is hard to beat. Not every venue is open mid-week so including a Saturday as part of your itinerary will give you the widest choice. Most cellar doors now charge a wine-tasting fee (from $5 to $25-plus per person) and due to Covid-restrictions it’s essential to book every component of your stay well in advance. Long gone are the days of driving the Hunter’s lovely country roads and pulling into wherever takes your fancy (though you might find more flexibility with this mid-week).

While you’re definitely spoilt for choice, you can’t visit the Hunter without sampling some of its local wines. Spending time with the winemakers themselves creates the most memorable experiences. Visit young gun Dan Binet at his Lovedale cellar door, Domaine de Binet . A tasting with Dan is fun and informative in an al fresco setting. You can also request a behind-the-scenes tour of the winery to gain some real insight into Binet’s process. A little further away from the main drag is Pierre’s Wines , Branxton. Peter Went is the owner/winemaker and his wines are some of the best in Australia – he provides a fascinating and very relaxed tasting.

Peter Went pours a sample of champagne from a vat at Pierre’s Wines

A trip to Broke is well worth the extra 30-minute drive from Pokolbin for a must-have tasting with the engaging Dave Fromberg at Running Horse Wines . The cellar door is stunning yet unpretentious while his aged wines showcase the best characteristics of local grapes without costing a fortune.

Where to eat

As you would hope from a food bowl region, there’s plenty to eat, including fine diners – one of the best is the world-class Muse Restaurant, Pokolbin. Chef Troy Rhoades-Brown combines incredibly inventive flavours and uses many home-grown ingredients; the service is impeccable and the wine list extensive. Ask about their vegan degustation, too. To eat with the locals, visit the Royal Federal Hotel , Branxton. Good pub food with lots of Hunter wines, it’s busiest on a Sunday night.

For a relaxed breakfast or lunch, ask for a seat on the veranda at Kawul, Pokolbin . Using punchy, predominantly native ingredients, it’s easy to switch off from the hustle and bustle while overlooking the vineyard and dam.

Where to sleep

For boutique self-contained accommodation set on 100 stunning acres, stay with Lucy and Jason at Block Eight Estate , Belford (from $350 per night). They have five beautifully appointed villas and prices includes a breakfast hamper and bottle of the estate’s wine.

One of the beautifully furnished private villas at Block Eight Estate

For a hotel experience, stay at Spicers Guesthouse , Pokolbin (from $220 p/n). The rooms are tastefully decorated and the onsite restaurant, eRemo , serves excellent high-end Italian. Enjoy a drink in the bar watching kangaroos frolic on the lawn or sit around the lovely outdoor fire in winter. Larger groups have hundreds of holiday homes to choose from such as Kelman Cottage, Lower Belford (sleeps up to 10 from $510 p/n). If you’re looking for budget (BYO tent) bush accommodation not far from the vineyards that coincides with live music and a festival feel, check out upcoming dates for Dashville (two nights including music from $65).

View from the top

A vineyard in the Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia

To get a commanding view of the Valley, visit the sculpture gardens and walk up Len Evans Memorial Lookout at Constable Estate or for those less afraid of dizzying heights, get up early for a dawn balloon ride with Balloon Aloft .

Todd Alexander is the author of the best-selling memoirs, Thirty Thousand Bottles of Wine and a Pig Called Helga and You’ve Got to Be Kidding: A Shedload of Wine and a Farm Full of Goats. Both comedies detail his tree-change to the Hunter Valley.

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Hunter Valley Wine Tours

Sip, dine and explore the country’s finest vineyards and lush greeneries.

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Experience a wine tour like no other

A wine tour like no other.

Hunter Valley is gifted with the most fertile soils that produce some of the world’s best wines. Imagine yourself having a taste of wine varieties straight from the most extensive wine cellars. Only a couple of hours away from Sydney, the oldest wine region in Australia is known for its several family-owned wine distilleries.

We offer customisable group packages and tour bundles so you and your guests can have the freedom to get lost amongst the vines at the heart of this must-see destination. Indulge in a serene, private getaway consisting of winery tours, festivals, and fresh produce from the deli and market. And if you are a beer lover, be prepared as this destination is also home to many craft breweries and distilleries.

Our Tours and Packages

Get you and your guests ready for a full day tour at Hunter Valley.

Surprise the love of your life and take a private tour to discover Hunter Valley’s finest wineries and vineyards.

Share the fun and unforgettable memories with new friends at Hunter Valley.

Celebrate love under the clear skies and breathtaking views of Hunter Valley.

Get in Touch

Let’s start planning your memorable Hunter Valley getaway. Send us an enquiry, and we will get back to you with a quote or to discuss an itinerary for your event.

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