Wine Country Sign Hunter Valley

Best Wineries in the Hunter Valley & Tours 2024

Are you planning a trip to the Hunter Valley, NSW’s premier wine region? You are in for a treat! Not only is the region known for its wines it is also famous for its gastronomic delights and incredible scenery.

Every time I visit the Hunter Valley I always find something new and exciting to do.

I have lost count of the number of times I have travelled to the Hunter Valley. When I was younger and working at Sydney Airport I used to run helicopter tours for lunch followed by wine tastings. As you can imagine they were very popular with such a short travel time and no issues with drink driving regulations.

Kangaroos love vineyards in the Hunter Valley
Kangaroo family amongst the vines

My article covers:

Hunter Valley Wine Tours

Hop on Hop off Bus Hunter Valley iHop

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With over 150 cellar doors in the Hunter Valley, you are definitely spoilt for choice on wine tastings.

Do you have a favourite wine? The Hunter Valley is known for its Semillon, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Verdelho.

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McGuigans Cellar Door
McGuigans Cellar Door

McGuigans produce some excellent non-alcoholic wines, a favourite of mine is their Zero Alcoholic Sparkling. They are also producing gin and vodka, liquor creams, espresso and cosmo’s. I always visit McGuigans for their Rose.

Tempus Two has some great wines and now gins as well – Prosecco Gin, 100% Shiraz Gin and Wild Botanicals Australian Native Gin.

If you love Shiraz, in my opinion, you can’t beat Pig’s Peake.

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Let’s check out the best wineries in the Hunter Valley and their tours

Best Wineries in the Hunter Valley and Tours

Audrey Wilkinson

Picnic Amongst The Vines

Visit the onsite museum at Audrey Wilkinson before attending a masterclass and premium wine tasting.

Collect your individual picnic hampers and choose your wine to accompany your picnic in the vineyard.

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Wine and Wildlife Tour – Audrey Wilkinson

Two exciting adventures in one. A 60-minute premium wine tasting paired with local cheeses at Audrey Wilkinson at 750 De Beyers Road Pokolbin.

The 2nd exciting adventure is tickets to the Hunter Valley Wildlife Park at Lomas Lane Nulkaba. You can enjoy visiting on the same day as your premium wine tasting or keep them for the next day. The Hunter Valley Wildlife Park has koalas, kangaroos, lions, giraffes, meerkats, lemurs and more.

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Fortified and Fromage Tour

One of Audrey Wilkinson’s unique tours where the tasting takes place in their heritage-listed museum. Enjoy tasting premium wines as well as 3 fortified wines direct from the barrel where they are aged all matched with cheeses. As a bonus you are able to take a bottle of fortified wine home with you (one bottle between two).

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HUnter Valley vineyards
Hunter Valley vineyards

Tyrells Winery

The first vines of Semillon and shiraz were planted back in the mid-19th century. Some of the vineyards are now over 100 years old and the Tyrell’s family now spans 5 generations. Tyrells have won over 330 trophies and 5500 medals for their outstanding wines. A visit to Tyrell’s Winery is a ‘must-do’ for everyone who visits the Hunter Valley.

Address: 1838 Broke Road Pokolbin

From Sydney Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tour – 10 hours

This tour includes

  • guided wine tasting
  • cafe lunch with hot and cold options and a glass of wine
  • A visit to an artisan cheese outlet

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Award Winning Full Day Wine & Food Experience

This tour is 7 hours in duration and includes:

  • visits to boutique wineries cellar doors
  • food pairing to match wines tasted
  • learn how wine is made
  • tastings at a local distillery
  • lunch with a glass of wine
  • artisan cheese and chocolate tastings
  • free transfers within 12 km of Pokolbin
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How To Get Around The Hunter Valley

If you don’t want to drive or get a taxi a great solution is the iHop Hop on Hop Off Bus. With limited Uber drivers and taxis that are busy, this is the best way to get around the Hunter Valley. iHop has cool boxes available on board to store your wine and purchases!

You can view the timetable here.

iHop Hop on Hop Off Bus

Tempus Two Cellar Door
Tempus Two Cellar Door

iHop Bus visiting Tempus Two and McGuigan Wines

Tempus Two and McGuigan Wines are within walking distance of each other. Tempus Two is located at the Roche Estate where there are restaurants, a cheese shop and cellar doors.

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Tempus Two Wine Tasting

Enjoy one of our favourite wineries located in the Roche Estate. Tempus Two has a range of wines as well as gins for tasting and purchase.

You can find out more about visiting Tempus Two here

McGuigan Wine Cheese and Chocolate Tasting

This was a hit. All three of my favourites in one tasting. The cheese was from the Hunter Valley Cheese Shop beside McGuigans and the Chocolate is from Cuvee chocolates.

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How about a Group Tasting at McGuigans with family or friends:

For one hour in your own private area enjoy a selection of sparkling, white and red wines from their premium cellar door exclusive collection.

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Hunter Through The Ages with McGuigan Wines

They open their reserved Show Stock just for you. 

Experience multiple vintages of our award-winning Bin 9000 Semillon and Personal Reserve Shiraz as well as other premium cellar door wines. Relax in our newly renovated member’s room with a tasty cheese plate from our friends at the Hunter Valley Cheese Factory. 

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McGuigan’s Personal Reserve Package

Taken from their tour description:

Includes a guided tour of our working winery, exclusive private premium wine tasting and a bottle of our award-winning Personal Reserve range.

* Enjoy a fun and informative tour of our working winery and barreling room

* Relax in our private member’s lounge and let your personally dedicated  wine expert help you explore the exceptional wines that have made us one of the most awarded wineries in the World 

*Take home a bottle of our Personal Reserve Shiraz, Cabernet, Chardonnay or Dessert Wine – (valued up to $100).

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Latest News from McGuigan – McGuigans Gold Label

  • Merlot – a medium bodied well-balanced wine with hints of spice, cedar and berries
  • Red – Hints of vanilla, spice and fruit
  • Shiraz – pepper, spice, blueberries, strawberries, cherry and cedar

We were fortunate to enjoy a bottle of each of the new Gold Label and it was hard for us to choose a favourite.

We congratulate McGuigan’s for celebrating a major milestone win – over 500 gold medals. We recommend that you try the Gold Label trio for yourselves.

iHop 4 Boarding at Pokolbin

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iHop Boarding at Tamburlaine Organic Wines

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iHop Boarding at Ben Ean Estate

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Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed our article on the best Hunter Valley wineries. We will be returning to experience more Hunter Valley Wine Tours and will add them to this article. There are so many wineries in the Hunter Valley do you have a favourite?

More wine regions in Australia to enjoy:

Wondering where to stay in the Hunter Valley? Read our review of the Chateau Elan at the Vintage Hunter Valley

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Best Barossa Valley Wine Accommodation

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Review of staying in Borrodell Winery Orange

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