10 Best Hunter Valley Wineries to Visit This Year

Just a couple of hours north-west of Sydney will place you in Australia’s oldest wine region, first planted in the 1820s and now home to more than 150 cellar doors – an incredible concentration of award-winning wineries for a place this compact.

The Hunter Valley’s trademark is semillon, but the region also turns out medium-bodied shiraz, chardonnay, verdelho and a growing roster of alternative varietals.

Add scenic back-roads, balloon-peppered dawn skies, and kangaroos scratching in the vines at dusk, and you’ve got every excuse to plan a long weekender (or shameless mid-weeker).

To keep the overwhelm at bay, here’s some of the Hunter Valley's best wineries to visit on your visit to the region.

The vast, glass-walled cellar door crowned Best in NSW at the 2025 Halliday People’s Choice Awards is equal parts tasting room and wine-obsessive library. Sip a flight at the circular tasting pods or upgrade to the Graveyard Experience for a pour of the flagship Graveyard Vineyard shiraz – the only Hunter red to score Langton’s top-tier 1st Classified status.

Locals love: The ILR Reserve semillon (all lime zest now, beeswax in a decade) and a cheeky lobster roll from the Wood Restaurant if the carbs call.

Address: Brokenwood Wines, 401–427 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW

Part Provence, part Hunter: peacocks roam the lawns, lavender borders the vines, and everything is Australian Certified Organic & Biodynamic. Tastings spotlight minimal-intervention semillon, wild-ferment chardonnay, and a dry, salmon-pink rosé that could convert a red-wine tragic. Open Friday to Sunday only and often closed for private functions, so always check the website before you go.

Locals love: The 'Guided Pour' experience lets you work through five wines while staff unpack the lunar-cycle viticulture that underpins them.

Address: Krinklewood Biodynamic, 712 Wollombi Rd, Broke NSW

Planted in 1866 and perched on a ridgeline overlooking the Brokenback Range, Audrey Wilkinson delivers 360-degree panoramas with your pour. Museum-style displays outline the family story, but the real history lesson is in the glass: semillon and shiraz from vines older than most grand­parents. Book a picnic hamper, hike into the vineyard, and make everyone on social media wild with envy.

Locals love: Bookings are essential on weekends; be warned, the cellar door hits capacity fast.

Address: Audrey Wilkinson, 750 De Beyers Rd, Pokolbin NSW

One of Australia’s largest certified-organic producers, Tamburlaine has spent three decades proving green doesn’t mean greenhorn. The airy cellar door on McDonalds Road pours low-sulphur whites, preservative-free reds and the cult On the Grapevine pet-nat. Staff cheerfully translate the science of biodynamics, so you can drop 'contemporary organics' into conversation and sound like a pro.

Locals love: Non-drinkers aren’t left out – there’s a zero-alcohol sparkling rosé that actually tastes like wine.

Address: Tamburlaine, 358 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW

Tucked away on Broke Road, Glandore Estate is a boutique winery that punches well above its weight. Known for its bold, small-batch wines and a cellar door experience that's as warm as it is refined, this spot is a must-visit for those seeking something a bit different.

What sets Glandore apart is their innovative wine and chocolate pairing experience. Imagine six handcrafted wines, each matched with a unique chocolate. And if you're lucky, you might be greeted by their friendly Kelpies, Maggie and Sunny.
 

The estate itself is stunning, offering picturesque views and a relaxed atmosphere. Whether you're a seasoned oenophile or just starting your wine journey, Glandore's passionate staff will guide you through their diverse range, ensuring an unforgettable experience.

Locals Love: The chocolate pairing experience and the welcoming vibe that makes you feel right at home.

Address: Glandore Estate Wines, 1595 Broke Rd, Pokolbin NSW

For old-school Hunter hospitality, point the GPS at Mount View Road. Petersons’ hill-top cellar door has uninterrupted views of Mount Sugarloaf and the Watagans and has been family HQ for 45 years. The line-up runs from sparkling shiraz to late-harvest semillon, and tastings are still hosted at barrel-head tables for maximum charm.

Locals Love: Buy a bottle of the Back Vintage shiraz, wander outside and soak up the views.

Address: Petersons Wine, 552 Mount View Rd, Mount View NSW

Celebrating its centenary in 2021, Mount Pleasant still turns heads with semillon from the Lovedale vineyard – a wine that routinely nabs trophies decades after release. Recent refurbishments mean you can pair those museum whites with share plates on the terrace while eyeballing the vines that grew them.

Locals Love: Lovedale semillon (any vintage you can afford) and Maurice O’Shea shiraz if you fancy seeing what 99 Halliday points look like in liquid form.

Address: Mount Pleasant, 401 Marrowbone Rd, Pokolbin NSW

Leave the Pokolbin crowds behind and go for Broke. Margan is sustainable to its core: estate-grown, carbon-negative in the making, tree-planting on the side and pairs its wines with a hatted restaurant that raids the kitchen garden daily. Book a “soil-to-cellar” tour to taste off-grid albariño or field-blend whites beside 100-year-old vines.

Locals love: Monthly cooking schools sell out quickly; add yourself to the wait-list if you’re serious about saucepans.

Address: Margan Wines, 1238 Milbrodale Rd, Broke NSW

Boutique scale, big ambition. Founded in 1997, this Hamptons-style estate focuses on hand-picked semillon and elegant shiraz. Grab a tasting bench in the upstairs lounge, then detour to Cocoa Nib, the on-site chocolate shop, for a guided wine-and-choc pairing that rewires your pleasure synapses.

Locals love: Picking an indulgent favourite at Cocoa Nib to take away for more wine and chocolate pairing later.

Address: Keith Tulloch Wine, 989 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin NSW

Family-run and fiercely Hunter, Scarborough waves the flag for chardonnay – look for the Yellow Label if buttered toast and citrus make your heart sing. Tastings come with individual cheese plates and the kind of plain-spoken chat that makes wine feel downright friendly.

Locals love: Book the 30-minute Wine Lovers flight; six generous pours.

Address: Scarborough Wine Co., 179 Gillards Rd, Pokolbin NSW

A: Hire a pro. Local specialists like Amazing Hunter Valley run both shared and private wine tours with experienced drivers, door-to-door pick-ups, air-conditioned vehicles and fully customisable itineraries. Everyone gets to taste, nobody collects demerit points, and the guide’s running commentary doubles as free wine trivia and road trip entertainment.

A: Three, maybe four in a day is best. After that, everything tastes like “wine”.

A: On a quiet Tuesday, perhaps. On weekends, forget it. Many cellar doors run ticketed sessions, and walk-ins can feel like queueing for Pitt Street Mall on Boxing Day. Booking ahead is always a good idea - especially for the more popular Hunter Valley wineries.

A: Barrel rooms sit at fridge temperatures year-round, so sleeveless summer gear can leave you shivering through a tasting. Comfortable, closed-toe shoes will be your best friend when walking through vineyards.

An ideal place to stay in the Hunter Valley is Mercure Hunter Valley Gardens,  located in the heart of Pokolbin and within easy reach of many of the region's best wineries.