Hunter Valley Wine from
Alternative Grape Varieties

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 Musselbrook, Aberdeen, Scone

The Lower Hunter around Singleton, Cessnock and Maitland.

These are not official regions, official it is the Hunter Valley Zone which includes the Hunter Region. Broke Fordwich is a registered subregion.

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

Visting the Hunter?

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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.

This area really deserves an extended stay. There are plenty of attractions and activites in the region, gourmet cafes and restaurants, you can travel around via bus, limo, balloon or carriage.

You can do it yourself by driving from Sydney or you can book yourself into one of the many organised tours, either as a group or in a limosine ...the choice is yours.

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.comThey have discounts if you combine two or more elements.

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, Tempranillo, 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
Camp Road Estate Shiraz Viognier, Verdelho, Viognier
Camyr Allyn Wines Verdelho
Capercaillie Chambourcin, Gewurztraminer, Petit verdot
Catherine Vale Vineyard Arneis, Barbera, Dolcetto, Verdelho
Chislehurst Estate Verdelho
Colvin Wines Sangiovese
Cooper wines Chambourcin, Verdelho
Cruickshank Callatoota Wines Cabernet franc
David Hook Wines Barbera, Pinot gris, Verdelho, Viognier
De Iulius Verdelho
Dimbulla Tempranillo
Draytons Verdelho
Drews Creek Wines Sangiovese
Echo Ridge Wines Verdelho
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
Glandore Estate Albarino, Tempranillo, Viognier
Glandore Estate Tempranillo, Verdelho
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, Cabernet franc
Iron Gate Estate Verdelho
Ironbark Hill Estate Verdelho
Ivanhoe Wines Chambourcin, Gewurztraminer, Verdelho
James Estate Sylvaner, Verdelho
Juul Wines 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, Verdelho, Viognier
Lucy's Run Verdelho
Mabrook Estate Verdelho
Madigan Vineyard Verdelho
Margan Family Barbera, Verdelho, Viognier
McLeish Estate Verdelho
Meera Park Verdelho, Viognier
Molly's cradle Verdelho
Molly Morgan Vineyard Verdelho
Moorebank Vineyard Gewurztraminer
Mount Broke Wines Barbera, Verdelho
Mount Eyre Vineyards Cabernet franc, Chambourcin
Mount View Estate Verdelho
Mount Vincent Estate Sangiovese, Verdelho
Nightingale Wines Chambourcin, Verdelho
Oakvale Chambourcin, Sangiovese, Verdelho
Outram Estate Verdelho
Palmers Wines Verdelho
Pangallo Estate Zibbilo
Pendarves Estate Chambourcin, Verdelho
Penmara Petit verdot, Sangiovese, Verdelho
Pepper Tree Wines Cabernet franc, Gewurztraminer, Tannat, Verduzzo, Viognier, Zinfandel
Piggs Peake Winery Barbera, Marsanne, Sangiovese, Verdelho, Zinfandel
Pokolbin Estate Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Verdelho
Polin & 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
Splitrock Vineyard Estate Verdelho
St Petrox Chambourcin, Durif, Mondeuse
Stirling Wines Verdelho
Stomp Verdelho
Stonehurst Cedar Creek Chambourcin
Taliondal Gewurztraminer
Tallavera Grove Winery Verdelho
Tamburlaine Cabernet franc, Chambourcin, Malbec, Marsanne, Petit verdot, Verdelho
Tempus Two Aranel, Arneis, Marsanne, Pinot gris, Sangiovese, Verdelho, Zinfandel
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

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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
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 ...

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Like all businesses wineries need to watch thier cash flow.

Leigh thought it might be worth sharing with you his latest video from Yarraman Estate wines....

Piggs are flying - Hunter Valley Wine Not rated yet
Piggs are flying higher than ever, Piggs Peake that is. I am the sommmilier at a small restauraunt in the Port Stepehens Penisula who's style of cooking ...

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