Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon: Twas an evening to remember: Welcome to the Hunter Valley

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Twas an evening to remember: Welcome to the Hunter Valley

When we first visited Australia's Hunter Valley it was part of our east coast wine regions explorations. Our east coast wine adventures were primarily in New South Wales (NSW), home to 14 wine regions. NSW wine growing regions vary from warm to coastal, and cool alpine regions. The Hunter Valley in particular, is known for its distinct Semillon and Shiraz. Before beginning our Hunter Valley wine adventures we got an introduction at the opening of the Wine Media Conference 2019 (#wmc19). We were welcomed by Hunter Valley Wine Tourism Association at Brokenwood Wines. That evening while we sipped Hunter Valley premium wines and enjoyed fine food, we met some Living Legends of the Hunter Valley’s Wine Industry. Guess what, we also met some of the future wine legends as well. For sure it was an evening to remember!

Welcome to Hunter Valley © Spaswinefood

What an opportunity it was to meet both the local producers, and those men and women who were inducted into the Living Legends ‘hall of fame’. All inductees have served the Hunter Valley wine region with distinction, and significantly contributed to its evolution. During the evening there was an opportunity to meet them, and hear their wine stories about the Hunter Valley, both its struggles and triumphs. There is so much to discover in the Hunter Valley, which is now home to over 150 cellar doors and around 80 wineries.

It was a Hunter Valley Gastronomic Affair

We arrived at Brokenwood, the 2019 Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year, just before dusk on that springtime evening. This ultra-modern cellar door (winery) is an amazing place to host a welcome event.

Arriving at Brokenwood © Spaswinefood

Cellar Doors & Sponsors of Welcome Event at Brokenwood © Spaswinefood

Let me share a few vignettes from that evening in 2019.

Hunter Valley Wines
New South Wales is home to 14 wine regions, vary from warm to coastal, and cool alpine regions. The Hunter Valley in particular, is known for its distinct Semillon and Shiraz. During our time in the Hunter Valley we would develop an in-depth appreciation for Semillon. One of the first Hunter Valley Semillons that we first introduced to at #wbc18, was in fact a 2015 Brokenwood Semillon. Now here we were at their cellar door.

Brokenwood, Semillon Hunter Valley 2015 © Spaswinefood

Fifteen local producers poured their premium wines, with Hunter Valley’s world acclaimed Semillon wines taking centre stage. Amongst the wine critics recognizing this is Jancis Robinson:

Hunter Valley Semillon is one of Australia’s great gifts to the world of wine. Jancis Robinson, Wine Writer.

Besides exploring more of those awesome Brokenwood Wines, other wines that we tasted included:

1. Degen Wines

Degen Wines © Spaswinefood

Tasting Degen Wines © Spaswinefood

Hunter Valley's women winemakers were out in full force that evening. McLeish Estate, another female led family winery was also there.

2. McLeish Estate

McLeish Estate Wines © Spaswinefood

When we returned March 2024 I got to visit McLeish Estate.

McLeish Estate, Hunter Valley © Spaswinefood

After pulling into the parking lot at McLeish Estate off we went to taste their wines.

Welcome to McLeish Estate © Spaswinefood

Our host introduced us to an overview of their wines.

Welcome McLeish Estate © Spaswinefood

Amongst their wines that I tasted were a Semillon, and a Shiraz.

McLeish Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Hunter Valley 2023

McLeish Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Hunter Valley 2023 © Spaswinefood

McLeish Estate Shiraz, Hunter Valley 2022

McLeish Estate Shiraz, Hunter Valley 2022 © Spaswinefood

I so enjoyed a relaxing wine tasting at McLeish Estate.

Before leaving I managed to take a peek of their post-harvest vineyards.

Vineyard, McLeish Estate © Spaswinefood

It sure was exciting to visit a winery after I was first introduced to their wines one springtime evening in 2019.

3. Two Rivers

Two Rivers wines were another special find.

Tasting Two Rivers Wines © Spaswinefood

Two Rivers, Stone's Throw Semillon 2014 © Spaswinefood

4. Tulloch Wines

That evening was our first introduction to Tulloch Wines.

Tulloch Wines © Spaswinefood

We would later taste more Tulloch wines at two of Live Wine Social events.

Obviously, it impossible to show all the wines that were available for tasting. Here are a few more:

5. Tinklers

Tinklers, Small Block Semillon 2019 © Spaswinefood

6. Pepper Tree Wines

Pepper Tree Wines © Spaswinefood

It was the perfect introduction to Hunter Valley wines. The Hunter Valley has also experienced a resurgence in chardonnays as a much more approachable, fruit driven variety, and their Shiraz will surprise many with its medium bodied, savory characteristics. Indeed, beyond Semillon, Shiraz and Chardonnay the Hunter Valley is beginning to develop a reputation for those wines ending with the letter O. One example is Tempranillo.

7. Audrey Wilkinson Winemaker's Selection Tempranillo 2018

Audrey Wilkinson, Winemaker's Selection Tempranillo 2018 © Spaswinefood

Tasting Audrey Wilkinson Wines © Spaswinefood

Now let us take a peek at the foodie side of our evening.

The Foodie Side of The Event

While we sipped Hunter Valley's premium wines, we grazed on fine food. The menu was prepared by Hunter Valley's Culinary stalwart Andy Wright, The Wood Restaurant. Of course you probably know that oysters pairs well with Semillon. Indeed those freshly shucked oysters and Hunter Valley Semillon highlights the marriage of food and wine.

For Oyster Lovers © Spaswinefood

There were plenty of oysters for those oyster lovers. There was also suckling pig.

Suckling pig © Spaswinefood

Suckling pig ‘pork sliders’ were a big hit too.

Freshly Made Pork Sliders © Spaswinefood

Pork Sliders © Spaswinefood

In addition to pig ‘pork sliders’ there was paella. The paella was prepared at the cellar door for all to see. I was told that it was prepared in Andy’s signature giant paella pan.

Paella, Giant Paella Pan © Spaswinefood

There were other foodie delights throughout the evening.

Heirloom Tomatoes © Spaswinefood

Small Bites © Spaswinefood

The local cheeses were a big hit.

Hunter Valley Cheeses © Spaswinefood

One awesome person went the extra kilometer to make sure that vegetarians and other food preferences folks were accommodated.

Without a doubt Brokenwood Wines, not only was the perfect setting for hosting this event, but also they lived up to their motto Make Great Wine and Have Fun.

Brokenwood's Motto @ Spaswinefood

It will be hard to forget our special memories of Hunter Valley.

What an awesome location for this welcoming event. Before leaving we just had to explore a little.

Later at the Live Wine Event Spaswinefood shared this Social Media Post on Brokenwood wines:

@brokenwoodwines winemaker sharing their flagship wine / 2013 Semillon in #spaswinefood glass @zephyr_wine #WMC19 perfection 🥂🇦🇺#Oz19 💕💗🇦🇺 great vintage - just get it 💕💗

Hats off to the Hunter Valley Wine Tourism Association, and Brokenwood Wines for this outstanding event. This experience, not only further enhanced our understanding of Hunter Valley wines, by discovering more to its wines, but also was a great introduction to the faces behind the wines. We left that evening with some new insights into the Hunter Valley’s history and its wines. For sure, I was excited to return to the Hunter Valley last March, 2024 (see article). I look forward to Spaswinefood adventures down under, with future returns to Australia. I invite you to join me in my travels in Australia and elsewhere at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon, and at Spaswinefood on Bluesky and Facebook.

CHEERS!

Sharon
Remembering Hunter Valley, Australia

March 2024: As we left Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club, I took in the views of nearby Brokenwood, where we first introduced to Hunter Valley wines in 2019.