Hunter Valley Wine Region
Read tips for visiting the Hunter Valley Wine region from Vinodiversity readers
This
is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions. Some writers, including James Halliday, divide it into
two regions, the Upper Hunter around Jerry's Plains and the Lower Hunter around
Cessnock.
History of the Hunter Valley Wine Region
In the years immediately after European Settlement, the rich agricultural land
along the Hunter Valley was quickly developed to supply the nearby settlement
of Sydney. In the early days of Colonial New South Wales considerable effort
was made to find a commercial crop to move the colony from being entirely dependent
on its status as an offshore prison. Viticulture was an obvious choice as the
product was easily exported to the mother country. Under the influence of James
Busby the Hunter Region became the focus of the emerging wine industry after
the 1820s.
The
climate in the Hunter Wine Region is warm and humid from a viticultural view,
but generations of growers and winemakers have developed some distinctive wine
styles. Gladstones
believes that the region is able to produce table wines of
higher quality than the heat summation data suggest because the temperatures
during the last month of ripening are lower than those experienced in regions
with similar heat summation.
The outstanding
white wine of the region is Semillon, which was formerly known as Hunter Riesling.
It was even marketed in a Riesling bottle. Hunter Semillon is a refreshing but
unexceptional wine when young but develops into a complex and beautiful wine
with age.
The Shiraz of this region is also known for its aging ability. The list of alternative
varieties grown in the region is dominated by
Chambourcin and
Verdelho, both
of which thrive in warmer climates, but there is quite some diversity available
for those who are looking for something different.
Hunter Wine Tours
The
Hunter Valley is easily reached on day trips from Sydney, or there is a well developed
tourism industry in the region. You can enjoy budget style accommmodation from budget camping
right through to top quality resorts and restaurants. The area really deserves an extended stay.
Rather than listing the myriad of accommodation and touring
options I have included a search box below...If you planning on touring and tasting
Hunter Valley wines just type in the type of accomodation or services you are looking for
and "hunter valley", eg
hunter valley resortor hunter valley restaurants
If you are visiting from overseas or interstate you can plan your own package tour to include a
combination of flight/accommodation/car hire with Expedia.com
Some
alternative varieties that you may find in the Hunter Valley and the wineries
using them
- Adina Vineyard Pinot gris
- Allandale Chambourcin, Verdelho
- Allyn River Wines Chambourcin
- Apthorpe Estate Chambourcin
- Arrowfield Petit verdot, Verdelho
- Audrey Wilkinson Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Verdelho, Zinfandel
- Ballabourneen Wines Verdelho
- Belgenny Vineyard Verdelho
- Bell's Lane Wines Verdelho
- Benwarin Wines Chambourcin, Sangiovese, Verdelho
- Beyond Broke Vineyard Verdelho
- Bimbadeen Estate Verdelho
- Bimbadgen Estate Pinot gris, Sangiovese, Verdelho, Viognier
- Bishop Grove Wines Verdelho
- Boatshed Vineyard Chambourcin, Verdelho
- Briar Ridge Vineyard Gewurztraminer, Verdelho
- Broke's Promise Barbera
- Broke Estate Barbera, Tempranillo
- Brokenwood Wines Pinot gris, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Viognier
- Brown's Farm Winery Pinot gris
- Brush Box Vineyard Verdelho
- Calais Estate Chambourcin, Durif, Marsanne, Verdelho, Viognier, Zinfandel
- Camyr Allyn Wines Verdelho
- Capercaillie Chambourcin, Gewurztraminer, Petit verdot
- Catherine Vale Vineyard Barbera, Dolcetto, Verdelho
- Colvin Wines Sangiovese
- Cooper Wines Chambourcin, Verdelho
- David Hook Wines Barbera, Pinot gris, Verdelho, Viognier
- De Iulius Verdelho
- Dimbulla Tempranillo
- Draytons Verdelho
- Drews Creek Wines Sangiovese
- Elsmore's Caprera Grove Verdelho
- Elysium Vineyard Verdelho
- Emmas Cottage Vineyard Verdelho
- Ernest Hill Wines Gewurztraminer, Verdelho
- Evans Family Wines Gamay, Viognier
- Fairview Wines Barbera, Chambourcin, Verdelho
- Farrells Limestone Creek Verdelho
- First Creek Verdelho, Viognier
- Foate's Ridge Verdelho
- Fordwich Estate Verdelho
- Gabriel’s Paddocks Vineyard Chenin blanc
- Gartelmann Hunter Verdelho
- Ghost Riders Vineyard Viognier
- Glendonbrook Verdelho
- Glenguin Pinot gris, Sangiovese, Tannat
- Golden Grape Estate Gewurztraminer
- Heartland Vineyard Barbera, Verdelho, Viognier
- Hillside Estate Gewurztraminer, Verdelho
- Hollyclare Aleatico
- Honeytree Estate Clairette
- Hope Estate Verdelho
- House of Certain Views Barbera, Viognier
- Hudson's Peake Wines Verdelho
- Hungerford Hill Pinot gris
- Idle Hands Wines Verdelho
- Idlewild Barbera
- Iron Gate Estate Verdelho
- Ironbark Hill Estate Verdelho
- Ivanhoe Wines Chambourcin, Gewurztraminer, Verdelho
- James Estate Sylvaner, Verdelho
- Keith Tulloch Wine Petit verdot, Verdelho, Viognier
- Kevin Sobels Wines Gewurztraminer, Petit verdot, Sangiovese, Verdelho
- Krinklewood Tempranillo, Verdelho
- Kulkunbulla Petit verdot, Tempranillo, Verdelho
- Little's Winery Marsanne, Verdelho, Viognier
- Little Wine Company Gewurztraminer, Petit verdot, Pinot gris, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Viognier
- Lucy's Run Verdelho
- Mabrook Estate Verdelho
- Madigan Vineyard Verdelho
- Margan Family Barbera, Verdelho, Viognier
- McLeish Estate Verdelho
- Meera Park Verdelho, Viognier
- Molly Morgan Vineyard Verdelho
- Moorebank Vineyard Gewurztraminer
- Mount Broke Wines Barbera, Verdelho
- Mount Eyre Vineyards Chambourcin
- Mount View Estate Verdelho
- Mount Vincent Estate Sangiovese, Verdelho
- Nightingale Wines Chambourcin, Verdelho
- Oakvale Chambourcin, Sangiovese, Verdelho
- Outram Estate Verdelho
- Palmers Wines Verdelho
- Pendarves Estate Chambourcin, Verdelho
- Penmara Petit verdot, Sangiovese, Verdelho
- Pepper Tree Wines Gewurztraminer, Tannat, Verduzzo, Viognier, Zinfandel
- Piggs Peake Winery Barbera, Marsanne, Sangiovese, Verdelho, Zinfandel
- Pokolbin Estate Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Verdelho
- Polin and Polin Verdelho
- Pothana Pinot gris, Verdelho, Viognier
- Pyramid Hill Wines Verdelho
- Racecourse Lane Wines Sangiovese, Verdelho
- Reg Drayton Verdelho
- Ridgeview Wines Chambourcin, Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, Viognier
- Rosebrook Estate Verdelho
- Rothbury Ridge Chambourcin, Durif, Verdelho
- Saddlers Creek Wines Verdelho
- Sandalyn Wilderness Estate Verdelho
- Serenella Estate Sangiovese, Verdelho
- Sevenoaks Wines Petit verdot, Sangiovese
- SmithLeigh Vineyard Verdelho
- Southern Grand Estate Gewurztraminer, Verdelho
- St Petrox Chambourcin, Durif, Mondeuse
- Stirling Wines Verdelho
- Stonehurst Cedar Creek Chambourcin
- Taliondal Gewurztraminer
- Tallavera Grove Winery Verdelho
- Tamburlaine Chambourcin, Malbec, Marsanne, Petit verdot, Verdelho
- Tempus Two Pinot gris, Sangiovese, Verdelho
- Tinonnee Vineyard Chambourcin, Durif, Verdelho
- Tintilla Wines Sangiovese
- Tower Estate Barbera, Sangiovese, Verdelho
- Tulloch Marsanne, Petit verdot, Verdelho
- Two Rivers Verdelho
- Undercliff Chambourcin
- Vercoes Vineyard Verdelho
- Verona Vineyard Verdelho
- Vinden Estate Alicante Bouchet
- Wandin Valley Estate Verdelho
- Warraroong Estate Chenin blanc, Malbec, Verdelho
- Wattlebrook Vineyard Verdelho
- Wild Broke Wines Barbera
- Winbourne Wines Verdelho
- Windsors Edge Tempranillo, Tinto Cao, Touriga, Verdelho
- Wright Family Wines Chambourcin
- Yarraman Estate Chambourcin, Gewurztraminer
A map of the Hunter Valley Wine Region
What can you tell us about the Hunter Valley?
Do you have a great story about the Hunter Valley? Some great wines, maybe an extra friendly cellar door or even a fabulous restaurant.
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What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see Hunter Valley tips from other visitors to this page...
Veal Olives recipe to accompany Hunter Barbera
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Catherine Vale in the Hunter Valley uses the Italian red wine variety Barbera to make a lovely red wine. Wendy Parsons from the winery suggests pairing ...
