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The best Hunter Valley wineries and cellar doors

ALEX MITCHESON heads to Australia’s oldest wine-growing region to uncover the best of Hunter Valley.
Mount Pleasant is one of the best wineries in the Hunter Valley.
Mount Pleasant in the Hunter Valley.

The Hunter Valley has no shortage of visitor attractions, from stately stopovers to paddock-to-plate eateries and a vibrant year-round events calendar. Leaving is the hardest part of any trip here — especially when you’ve had a couple of days at the top Hunter Valley wineries.

Two hours can get you from Sydney’s CBD to Australia’s oldest wine-growing region, where a host of talented winemakers use the warm and humid conditions to their full advantage. This subtropical climate benefits from the Pacific Ocean and flanking gradients part of the Great Dividing Range, creating a wind funnel effect pulling cooler sea air and cloud cover inland. Without this, vineyard management would be challenging.

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If semillon is king here, then chardonnay is queen. The former holds iconic status, yielding enigmatic, internationally revered wines. Verdelho shows well in the prevailing heat, as does shiraz, sometimes contributing to a unique blend with pinot noir, first incepted in the mid-1900s.

Expect warm welcomes, excellent dining options, and contemporary tasting experiences: the original gourmet getaway.

The best Hunter Valley wineries to visit in 2025


Gundog Estate

101 mcdonald’s road, pokolbin

Gundog Estate's tasting room at one of the best Hunter Valley wineries
Gundog Estate’s tasting room in the Hunter Valley.

Small, intimate, and with personable service at its core, everyone is made to feel welcome – including man’s best friend. Housed in the original Pokolbin Schoolhouse, Gundog’s signature semillon and shiraz are explored daily in premium glassware alongside knowledgeable, passionate staff. You can continue the experience at home by grabbing small goods such as chutney and jam from their Gourmet Pantry.

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Tyrrell’s

1838 broke road, pokolbin

The vines at Tyrell's vineyard in the Hunter Valley NSW.
The vines at Tyrrell’s vineyard in the Hunter Valley.

From the moment you see Edward Tyrrell’s original 1858 ironbark hut, you know you’re somewhere extraordinary. Stand-up and private tastings showcase generations of familiarity with shiraz, chardonnay, and pinot noir. But it’s the Vat 1 Semillon – Australia’s most-awarded white wine – that steals the show. Tasting it in these surroundings is truly special.


Mount Pleasant

401 marrowbone road, pokolbin

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Mount Pleasant cellar door in the Hunter Valley.
Mount Pleasant cellar door in the Hunter Valley.

A striking blackbutt and zinc countertop takes centrestage, bringing this historic, recently renovated winery’s 140-year ancestry to life in every drop. Beyond affable and whip-smart tasting staff, there are elegant, art-filled spaces that offer serenity and propose contemplation. Or, for the curious-minded, take part in elaborate tastings of iconic single vineyards and back vintages.


Winmark Wines

229 wollombi road, broke

View of the vineyards at Winmark Wines in Broke NSW.
View of the vineyards at Winmark Wines in the Hunter Valley.
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When old winery buildings transform into graceful cellar doors, there’s a visceral feeling of antiquity you cannot deny. And this former Pooles Rock storage shed is a prime example. Chardonnay is taken to pearly heights, and Winmark Wines’ mindset is, luckily, to never keep secrets. The Art Gallery and Sculpture Park are other impressive reasons to visit.


Pepper Tree Wines

86 halls road, pokolbin

One of the best Hunter Valley wineries, Pepper Tree
The vineyard at Pepper Tree Wines in the Hunter Valley.

Pepper Tree elevates the intention of single-vineyard and specific-vintage tastings. The Best of Four Worlds is a one-off guided look at the finest wines they create across four different regions in the removed and exclusive setting of The Vault. Otherwise, local cheese plates, a crackling fire, and pet-friendly gardens offer plenty of other draws.

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Where is Hunter Valley?

The Hunter Valley is located in New South Wales, roughly a two-hour drive north of Sydney. Its relative proximity to Sydney and Newcastle (a one-hour drive) makes the Hunter Valley a very popular wine region. The Hunter Valley region can be split into southern and northern sections, with the southern areas of Pokolbin and Broke better known for its wineries, cellar doors, restaurants and hotels, while the more northern areas around Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone are predominantly agricultural and mining areas and therefore tend to be less visited by tourists.

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