Winemaker for a Day & Italian Cooking Experience in the Hunter Valley

We’ve previously shared our go-to wineries and cosy Hunter Valley stays here, but this time we’re diving into two extraordinary activities — perfect for return visitors or those seeking something a little different.

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Be A Wine Maker for A Day at McCaffrey’s Estate

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create your own red wine? Now you can at McCaffrey’s Estate in the Hunter Valley.

Declan and Danielle McCaffrey have created a unique experience at their winery in the Hunter Valley of NSW. An experience that is so unique that I had to return with friends to do it all over again.

On arrival at McCaffrey’s Estate at 614 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin, we excitedly headed into the cellar door room, specially set up for the winemaking class, with equipment that looks a little daunting at first.

Is 10.30 too early to start tasting and creating your own wine? No, of course not, but I would recommend having a good breakfast beforehand.

On the wall, Declan has a clear explanation of the wine-making process. We spent the first ten minutes learning the process, from grape growing to bottling.

Before us was a large sheet with numerous blank spaces and what appeared to be complex calculations. There were also three glasses marked A, B, and C, containing different varieties of red wine, and three empty glasses marked 1, 2, and 3.

We proceeded to determine the colour, sweetness, acidity, tannin, alcohol, body, aroma, flavour, and finish of each of the three wines. We sniffed, swirled, tasted and wrote down our findings for each. As Declan stated from the beginning, there is no wrong answer; everyone’s palate is different. You could hear the sigh of relief from our group.

Now came the fun part, where we experimented with the wines to create three potential blends. It felt like being back in the chemistry lab at school.

After determining our final blend, we then proceeded to bottle and label our very own red wine.

I uncorked the first bottle of red from my last visit only a few weeks ago — perfect timing for this return. Unfortunately, I did not keep the composition of that red wine, which I had thoroughly enjoyed. It would have been interesting to compare the two wines to see if they were similar or not.

Good to know: keep your final blend composition, and if you enjoyed it, you can order some more of your wine from Declan. Declan suggested writing your blend composition under the name of your wine on the wine label.

Blending our own red wine left us with a rich sense of accomplishment – complex, satisfying and worth every swirl.

FYI: The wine-making classes start at 10.30 and finish at 12.

For bookings: click here

We would recommend booking in advance.

McCaffreys also offer cellar door tastings – they are open from 10 am to 5 pm and closed on public holidays.

Want to stay in a vineyard? Why not stay at one of their two-bedroom cottages?

We can highly recommend this unique wine experience in NSW.

Hands-On in the Hunter: Our Italian Table Pasta-Making Experience

Nestled at 138 Mistletoe Lane, Pokolbin, Our Italian Table is a charming cooking venue set against the backdrop of breathtaking vineyard views.

Jen Nicita, owner of Our Italian Table, has created a unique Italian cooking class program where you learn the art of pasta making and then enjoy your creation around the long table under the pergola. There are four different experiences that you can book – find out more here.

If you would like to enjoy your lunch with a wine or two Our Italian Table is a byo venue.

Jen brought the art of pasta making to life with her fun and engaging style, making it an enjoyable experience for everyone in our group. Some showed their skill at using the pasta rolling machine whilst the rest of us learnt how to roll cavatelli pasta.

After an insightful morning, we made our way to the outdoor pergola and enjoyed a delicious three-cheese ravioli with burnt butter and sage paired perfectly with a crisp Hunter Valley rosé.

Jen had made a delicious batch of biscotti which we enjoyed with coffee before heading off to visit a winery or two.

It felt like we had been whisked away to the heart of Tuscany.

Our Italian Table experience is perfect for foodies, couples or small groups looking to slow down and connect. There is a kids cooking experience where they join with their parents cooking up a storm.

Pro tip: You do need to book well in advance as classes fill up fast especially on the weekends.

If you’re staying the night — and trust us, you’ll want to — check out our top Hunter Valley accommodation picks here:

Chateau Elan

Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort

Degen Estate

The Convent

From rolling up your sleeves in an Italian kitchen to crafting your own wine blend, the Hunter Valley still finds ways to surprise — even for those who’ve been before.

If you have any questions or would like some advice, we would love to hear from you.

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