THE GRAPEVINE BLOG

​Love wine-tasting but get the guilts when you leave your pampered pooch at home? Join the club. Luckily there are plenty of dog-friendly wineries where my spoilt staffy Rosie has been given a warm welcome while I swirl and sip to my heart's content. So, which cellar doors are paw-fect for a dog-friendly Hunter Valley wine tour? I thought I'd ask R...

​It was bottoms-up for the Hunter Valley's Semillon this year after beating Shiraz on a total medal count to be the most successful variety exhibited at last week's CCL Label Hunter Valley Wine Show held at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort.Over the three days of judging, the 19-strong panel judged 722 wines, with 50 gold, 75 silver, 225 bronze and 21 trop...

​If warming reds, fortified wines, toasted marshmallows and log fires is your idea of the perfect winter's day, you're in luck. Here's a list of cosy cellar doors where fine wines, flames and friends go hand in hand. Pictured: Oakvale Wines.Blueberry Hill Vineyard​Blueberry Hill keeps their firepit cranking from 4.30-6pm on Friday and Saturday...

​It's the dead of winter and that usually conjures up dreams of a luscious, lip-smacking tipple beside an open fire – right? And a warming glass of fortified wine is just what the doctor ordered to chase away those shivery chills.So, what's a fortified wine? They're wines that have had some distilled grape spirit (like brandy) added to them, increa...

​ From Lovedale to Singleton, the Hunter Valley is packed with coffee spots where you can get your java fix. Here are five local favourites. FAWK FOODS KITCHEN & BAKERYThe sun-kissed deck at this cafe/bakery is a terrific place for that first cup of coffee in the morning to get you functioning. Their barista brew of choice is Sprocket Roasters ...

​When did you last make love in the afternoon… in front of a cosy fire? C'mon be honest, we've all done it or dreamt of doing it.When it's bitingly cold outdoors, nothing beats huddling indoors beside a flickering log fire nursing a good red wine. These places to stay take it to the next level with fireplaces in rooms, so you can unbutton in the wa...

​Everyone loves a weekend getaway but there's something a little naughty about sneaking away midweek. While everybody else is slogging away at work you're having a fabulous break… and posting about it on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or What's App. During Hunter Valley Wine & Food Festival there are loads of daily events, so why wait until the w...

Set your sights on visiting some wineries but a bit unsure whether the kids will be welcome? You'll be happy to know that here in the Hunter wine-tasting can be fun, even when you've got the entire fam bam with you. Here's a round-up of cellar doors with games and activities to keep the little ones occupied while you sample some super-tasty wines. ...

​Looking for the perfect mix of boutique bevvies, appetising eats and fun activities on your next road trip? Then put Lovedale on your bucket list.This laidback neighbourhood used to be a side-shoot to the Hunter heartland of Pokolbin but after the opening of the Hunter Expressway it's now the gateway to Wine Country for most visitors. The back doo...

​You've decided you want a destination wedding with world-class wines and a romantic rural setting… hello Hunter Valley!So, you're probably also looking for a one-of-a-kind wedding venue that will make your heart skip a beat. Here are a few of the newest places where couples are exchanging vows and enjoying an unforgettable wedding experience. ...