A+: Lakes Folly
http://www.lakesfolly.com.au
20/1/18 Update: Phone ahead to see if cellar door is open as they don't have much stock left.
My personal favourite. This is a boutique winery and produces a rather small 4500 (approx) cases each year. They only have 2 wines, and both French style red and white are amazing. This is my Hunter valley true love winery because they only use grapes from their own block so no buying in from big producers. I like this. Their cabernets and chardonnays are amongst the best in Australia. If you want to visit here, I would suggest that you call ahead. They run out of stock fairly quickly and close the cellar door to avoid disappointment. If you do sadly miss the opportunity to taste the glorious cab, then come again another year and come at the right time of year (April).
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| Lakes Folly |
1. Meerea Park (cellar door is at the tempus two winery)
https://meereapark.com.au/
https://meereapark.com.au/
Meerea park is outstanding. It is famous for its Alexander Munro (the grandfather) and Hell Hole, and rightly so. These are brilliant long lasting wines. Not quaffing, only cellaring and for enjoying with the right people.
Definitely try their cheaper Shiraz and XYZ Shiraz if available for tasting. If you like, grab a dozen as they are great to take to bbq's, but cellar a couple for 5+yrs and I reckon they will be super tasty!
**I was lucky enough to try the 'Black'. If you are a wine snob you *must* try it, but be warned that you will want to buy a bottle and it is expensive.
2. Petersons at 552 Mount View Road
http://www.petersonswines.com.au/
Not to be confused with Petersons Champagne House! Try and get an audience with Jon the Pom. He eats breathes and sleeps these gorgeous wines and if you get to taste "The Pom" you will be trying a wine that matches his brilliance. If you like a hunter Shiraz, ask for their old block tastings. These bottles retail $50 upwards so they don't always have them available to try.
This is one of the few family run and owned vineyards in the hunter valley, so please support them buying a bottle if you do go on a tasting there.
Their wine club is great and gives you decent examples of their releases so you know what to buy.
Lastly, they occasionally have a delicious sparkling moscato. Get it if they have it.
3. Piggs Peake
http://www.piggspeake.com/
Go here for the grenache ($70). The crew are a lovely bunch, and they will take you out the back if you ask nicely. They are a small producer so please again, buy a bottle if you taste.
4. Gun dog estate
http://www.gundogestate.com.au/
This is one that I found very recently. I like their Shiraz, in that it is not the traditional peppery strong hunter version. Try here if you fancy dipping your toe into a different type of hunter wine.
Stonehurst
http://www.cedarcreekcottages.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=217555
This is THE best place to get bubbles (because they are methode champenoise), and whilst it is not in Pokolbin, it is on the way. You can find this brilliant bubbles producer on Wollombi road which is part of the scenic route drive into the hunter from Sydney. I suspect that this is one of the smallest places you will visit, so please help support them and go buy their bubbles. They are also organic.
Map for you:
<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=14EEp3N_egMkKxrolPaI9g-2FmojCVkEL" width="640" height="480"></iframe>
Definitely try their cheaper Shiraz and XYZ Shiraz if available for tasting. If you like, grab a dozen as they are great to take to bbq's, but cellar a couple for 5+yrs and I reckon they will be super tasty!
**I was lucky enough to try the 'Black'. If you are a wine snob you *must* try it, but be warned that you will want to buy a bottle and it is expensive.
2. Petersons at 552 Mount View Road
http://www.petersonswines.com.au/
 |
| So pretty up on the hill |
Not to be confused with Petersons Champagne House! Try and get an audience with Jon the Pom. He eats breathes and sleeps these gorgeous wines and if you get to taste "The Pom" you will be trying a wine that matches his brilliance. If you like a hunter Shiraz, ask for their old block tastings. These bottles retail $50 upwards so they don't always have them available to try.
This is one of the few family run and owned vineyards in the hunter valley, so please support them buying a bottle if you do go on a tasting there.
Their wine club is great and gives you decent examples of their releases so you know what to buy.
Lastly, they occasionally have a delicious sparkling moscato. Get it if they have it.
 |
| That's Jon the Pom. He rocks! |
3. Piggs Peake
http://www.piggspeake.com/
Go here for the grenache ($70). The crew are a lovely bunch, and they will take you out the back if you ask nicely. They are a small producer so please again, buy a bottle if you taste.
4. Gun dog estate
http://www.gundogestate.com.au/
This is one that I found very recently. I like their Shiraz, in that it is not the traditional peppery strong hunter version. Try here if you fancy dipping your toe into a different type of hunter wine.
And now for the bubbles!!
A+ Pierre Wines
www.pierrewines.com
20/1/18 Update: Finished off my last bottle of this celebrating 2018 NYE. The zero dosage was a hit with everyone, including the folk who "don't like champagne". It is time to pop up again, say hi to Peter and get another case.
20/1/18 Update: Finished off my last bottle of this celebrating 2018 NYE. The zero dosage was a hit with everyone, including the folk who "don't like champagne". It is time to pop up again, say hi to Peter and get another case.
Over Easter I discovered Pierre wines. This tiny producer has the best champagne style fizz in the Hunter.
Don't be put off by the 10 min drive from the hunter valley gardens at the Broke & McDonald junction to Branxton, it really isn't that far and it is so worth it.
My personal fav (unusually so as I'm a blanc de blanc girl) is the Chardonnay Pinot mix with zero dosage. It fizzes delightfully on the tongue, with suitably small bubbles and the taste development is second to none. At only $40 a bottle, get it now before he falls prey to the stupid price hikes that is becoming the norm in the Hunter.
Stonehurst
http://www.cedarcreekcottages.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=217555
This is THE best place to get bubbles (because they are methode champenoise), and whilst it is not in Pokolbin, it is on the way. You can find this brilliant bubbles producer on Wollombi road which is part of the scenic route drive into the hunter from Sydney. I suspect that this is one of the smallest places you will visit, so please help support them and go buy their bubbles. They are also organic.
Map for you:
<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=14EEp3N_egMkKxrolPaI9g-2FmojCVkEL" width="640" height="480"></iframe>
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