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Wines of the World: Hunter Valley, Australia

After an unforgettable journey through Thailand, my mom, sister, and I touched down in Australia for the last leg of our birthday adventure, starting with the Hunter Valley (a less than 2hr drive north of Sydney, and Australia's oldest wine country dating back to the 1820s), renowned for its Semillon and Shiraz.


Collage showing Hunter Valley, NSW. Includes a vineyard, outdoor dining, Winmark Cellar, a wooden sculpture, and road signs. Text: The Hunter Valley.

Our base (and home for the next couple nights) was the Hermitage Lodge, a charming haven in Pokolbin with an on-site vineyard and surrounding bushland, situated perfectly in the heart of Hunter Valley Wine Country.


Art of a flower, a wine bottle with glass overlooking vineyards, and a cozy bedroom with lamps and patterned pillows. Text: Hermitage Lodge.

Tamburlaine Organic Wines

Our first stop: Tamburlaine was established in 1966 in the heart of wine country and has, over time, become one of Australia’s largest producers of organic wines.


Three images show a woman in a sunny garden setting. She stands under archways and next to barrels. Lush greenery surrounds her.

Tastings are very reasonable, at $10pp for the Cellar Door Tasting & $15pp for a Reserve Tasting. Feeling peckish? Try their guided tasting with cheese ($25pp with an additional cost of $5 to include their Reserve Wines in the tasting) hosted by one of the Tamburlaine team. For a more expansive experience, try their Winery Tour ($40pp) - a guided tour through their vineyards & winery followed by a structured wine tasting & cheese platter.


Hand holding a wine glass inside a winery. Wine list and bottle on the wooden counter. "Tamburlaine Organic Wines" text in the background.

We started off our delightful tasting with their No Added Sulphur Blanc de Blanc bubbles (mild, soft texture and flavour - 3* rating) & Wine Lovers Scarlett Bubbles (an incredibly soft Pink Moscato with a light strawberry bouquet – 3.5*), followed by their 2024 Gewürztraminer (delightfully acidic and refreshing with floral & citrus aromas – 4*), 2023 Chardonnay (complex palate of grapefruit & nectarine), 2023 GSM (Grenache, Shiraz, and Malbec – rich, complex palate of dark red fruits – 3.5*), 2023 Super T (a well-rounded Italian-inspired Cabernet/Sangiovese blend with silky tannins, also a best seller – 4*) and, finally, their 2023 Full House Bordeaux blend (Cab Sauv/Petit Verdot/Cab Franc/Merlot blend with a complex fruit-forward palate of berries and a soft rich tannin – 4*).

 

Woman rings bell at "Tamburlaine" sign, playground under trees, wooden barrel. Text: "Fun Times @Tamburlaine". Bright, outdoor setting.
Having some fun playing at Tamburlaine!

Brokenwood Wines

Brokenwood Wines, one of Australia's benchmark wineries, has a welcoming atmosphere despite its sleek, modern architecture, both inside and out.


Reception area with "Brokenwood" sign and flowers; outside view of the Brokenwood winery entrance with trees, signs, and a cloudy sky.

Tastings are hosted around their tasting pods – contemporary circular black high-top counters with gorgeous wooden panelling. Experience a selection of 7 of their premium Brokenwood Varietal and Single Vineyard wines for only $25pp, or enjoy a wine & food pairing for $75pp (6 wines matched with bite-sized canapés).


Wall with Hunter Valley art, a woman hugging a tall statue, and wooden building labeled Brokenwood, set against a bright sky.

You can also savour their wines by the glass (or bottle) at the Terrace Wine Bar, or order from a selection of small plate dishes at the Wood Restaurant, their onsite restaurant boasting a modern Australian menu with European influence.

 

Winmark Wines


Wine bottles on a table, a bee ornament by a glass, and two women beside a "Slow Down" sign in a vineyard setting with trees.

Set against the backdrop of the Brokenback Range, this estate is dedicated entirely to Chardonnay! A first for me! We strolled through their sculpture garden and art gallery before relishing in their elegant Chardonnays.


Modern winery with a black building, wine barrels, patio, and a sign reading "Cellar Door Rockview" in a grassy area under a blue sky.

The Cellar Door (opened in June 2020) is the perfect setting to sample their superb Chardonnays – an authentic scene, with tastings being held in a recently converted wine storage shed overlooking the working vineyard.


Winmark Cellar Door exterior with seating, sculptures, and art gallery signage. Lush greenery and trees surround the modern building.

Our tasting included the 2021 Winmark Expressions V (a wonderfully aged full-bodied vintage – 4* rating), 2022 Single Vineyard Reserve V (a savoury brioche-forward vintage with superb ageing potential – 4.5*), and the 2022 Icon 7 2 V (balanced acidity with complex fruity scents and a smooth finish… absolutely amazing! – 4.5/4.75*).


Wine tasting setup with a glass of white wine, a Winmark wine bottle, and tasting notes on a counter. Wine shelves are in the background.

Margan Wines

Based in Broke Fordwich, their wines are all estate-grown, estate-made & sustainably farmed since the winery’s establishment in 1996.


Woman in a green dress sits at a table with wine glasses and bottles. The setting is a cozy wine bar with warm lighting. Labels read "Margan."

Try a selection of their single vineyard wines in their warm, welcoming tasting room or their stunning open-air courtyard - choose from seasonal favourites, reserve releases & museum vintage selections.


Three images show Margan Wines entrance sign, a hand selecting cheese from a platter, and a welcome sign at a restaurant entrance.

What a wonderful tasting! We had the pleasure of sampling their 2023 Fordwich Hill Semillon (a rounded palate with a wonderful balance between fruit and acidity), the 2024 Ceres Hill Albariño (pioneered in 2014 and one of the first of its kind in Australia! Lovely fruity notes of citrus and pear with a mineral finish), 2023 Fordwich Hill Chardonnay (old vine Chardonnay with a medium-bodied, textured palate of citrus and stone fruit), 2022 Ceres Hill Barbera (this small-batch Italian varietal, planted back in 1998, has a savoury palate of red fruits and spice complemented with soft tannins), and 2022 Saxonvale Shiraz Mourvedre (85% Shiraz, 15% Mourvèdre blend first released in 2005, is now a consistent favourite amongst guests. Notes of liquorice, black fruits and spice with bold tannins that lead to a long, lingering finish).


Wine tasting setup with a Margan Chardonnay bottle, glasses, and tasting mat on a wooden table. Text reads "Wine Tasting @Margan."

Elevate your tasting experience with a range of artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, house-baked bread & fresh garden produce available at their Cellar Door or visit the Margan Restaurant and relish in their signature Farm to Table menu showcasing their own farm-grown produce harvested weekly.

 

First Creek

This family-owned winery based in Australia’s oldest wine producing region opened its doors in 2001 and has since become one of Australia’s most acclaimed wine brands.


Woman in blue dress holding wine glass in cellar, observing barrels. Background shows stacks of wooden barrels. Text: "First Creek."

Observe the daily activities of their working winery from the viewing window or soak up the sun on their veranda while watching the kangaroos graze – the perfect accompaniment to a wonderful wine tasting.


Wine tasting set-up with glasses, First Creek wine bottles, and a magazine in a winery setting with barrels in the background.

We sipped our way through their 2023 Winemaker's Reserve Chardonnay (classic Chardonnay characteristics of intense fruit flavours & mineral acidity as a result of careful fruit selection – my favourite wine of theirs!) & the 2022 Wills Hill Single Vineyard Chardonnay (powerful yet balanced with concentrated flavours of stone fruit).

 

Charteris

This family-owned wine estate offers small batch wines that capture the uniqueness of the Hunter Valley and Central Otago in the comfort of their stylish newly opened Wine Room.


Stone building with "Charteris Wines" sign, people walking, lush garden, direction sign with multiple winery names, cloudy sky.

We had the delight of sampling their 2023 Charteris Shiraz (an expressive medium-bodied Burgundy style Shiraz with a palate of dark red fruits and Christmas cake spice rounded by gentle acidity and silky tannins) & 2022 Charteris Le Fauve Rouge (a Tempranillo/Shiraz/Pinot Noir blend with aromatics of rose petals with dark red berries and a pinch of herbs).


Three images of wine bottles and glasses with "CHARTERIS" labels. Background includes shelves and marketing flyers. Elegant setting.

 

Tyrrell's Wines

Our final stop was the historic Tyrrell's Wines situated at the foothills of the Brokenback Range, the longest owned 5-generation family vineyard in Australia founded in 1858 by some of the first farmers in the area (also Australia’s #1 winery as per Halliday 2024 - equivalent to our Platter’s guide)!


Three-panel image: Left, a sign in front of vineyards with mountains. Center, a woman enters a tasting room. Right, rustic buildings and lush garden.

What a treat to try some of their fine wine from such old vines... with Tyrrell owning 8 of the 11 oldest vineyards in NSW, all over 100 years old. We started with their 2 Semillon (2018 Stevens Semillon & 2024 Hunter Valley Semillon), famous in the Hunter Valley (their top tier VAT range being their most awarded wine!), followed by a comparison of their Chardonnays (including their delicious wooded 2023 Estate Chardonnay, produced from a Chardonnay block dating back to 1908! And well-priced at $40 - 4.7*).


Wine tasting at Tyrrell's: bottles on wooden table, wine glasses, and a winery worker near a large barrel in a rustic setting. Text: "Wine Time @ Tyrrell's."

Last, but not least, we were treated to a comparison of their three 2022 Shiraz vintages starting with the 2022 Estate Grown (cultivated from a mixture of hundred-year vines & more recent vines leading to a well-balanced, medium-bodied vintage), followed by Mother’s Shiraz and ending in their Old Hillside Shiraz.


Two women enjoying wine at a tasting bar; others in the background. Industrial interior with bottles, stools, and warm lighting. Relaxed mood.

After our vineyard adventures was a soothing visit to the pristine Emerald Beach where our birthday celebrations continued… Stay tuned for part 2 where we explore the dense forests and pristine beaches of NSW, Australia!


Please note: all information is correct at the date of publication, September 2025. See websites below for up-to-date info!


Tyrrell's Cellar with large barrels, a vintage press, and info sign. Rustic setting with corrugated walls, historical photos, and earthy tones.

Contact Me – Hilary - at hello@winetots.com for more details on your favourite spots to visit & to book a personalised tour of your own – behind the scenic routes of the Plett & Cape Winelands & beyond!


Please register on www.winetots.com to stay up to date with new discoveries and ideas for Wineland & Eco Adventures!


Wine glass on a post in a vineyard, person relaxing on a lounge chair under an umbrella, sunset view with wine glass, text: Oz Sundowners @Hermitage Lodge.

Click here to check out our previous blog “Our Family Getaway to Mount Sheba”!



Important info:



Opening Hours: 9am-5pm Daily (Closed Christmas Day)


Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 11am-5pm; Sat & Sun 10am-5pm


Opening Hours: Mon - Thurs 10am-4pm; Fri & Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 10am-4pm


Margan: https://www.margan.com.au/ ; 02 65791372

Opening Hours: 10am-5pm Daily


Opening Hours: 10am-5pm Daily


Opening Hours: Sun – Fri 10am-4pm; Sat 10am-5pm


Tyrrell’s: https://tyrrells.com.au/ ; tyrrells@tyrrells.com.au ; 02 4993 7028

Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 10am-5pm; Sun (& public holidays) 10am-4pm (Bookings Essential)


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