THE GRAPEVINE BLOG

Sixteen Hunter Valley producers were celebrated with trophies at the 2026 PKF Hunter Valley Wine Show celebration luncheon at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort. 

Innovation in the Hunter Valley has long been defined by its ability to balance tradition with progressive thinking. Latitude 32 Wines newly launched Wonnarua Range, is a deeply considered collaboration between contemporary winemaking and the world’s oldest continuous culture.

The 2026 Hunter Valley Vintage opened at Mount Pleasant, where 80 local wine industry members joined Wonnarua Elder, Warren Taggart for a Smoking Ceremony - deeply rooted in 60,000 years of indigenous culture. As the first wine region in Australia to adopt the practice, sacred ancient symbols were used to bless the vintage with smouldering eucalyptus leaves for spiritual cleansing, energy and prosperity.

This blog was created in collaboration with Take Me Home Posters, a proud Hunter Valley business and supporter of the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association. Take Me Home Travel Posters supported the association by providing two artworks for the 2025/2026 Guide covers.

On paper, this might be the worst possible time to launch a new wine brand. Economic pressures, shifting drinking habits and a wine glut all should ring alarm bells. Yet at the inaugural “Valley Rising” festival, thirteen emerging Hunter Valley producers gathered to show that invention, belief and ambition are alive and well in Australia’s most historic wine region.

Sommeliers from leading Sydney restaurants and hospitality groups descended on the Hunter Valley for a hands-on, immersive two-day “Backstage” vintage experience. Kicking off with a masterclass hosted by industry legends Andrew Thomas, Andrew Spinaze and Iain Riggs, flagship Semillon vineyards including Thomas Braemore Vineyard, Mount Pleasant Lovedale Vineyard, Tyrrell's Vat 1 Vineyard, Brokenwood ILR Vineyard and Audrey Wilkinson Ridge Vineyard were showcased. The pure, fresh vibrancy of the 2025 wines were contrasted with a retrospective look at the golden 2006 vintage. “These wines are classics for the ages that will still be revered in 10–20 years,” said Thomas.