THE GRAPEVINE BLOG

​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. ...

​We all want to drink great wine – right? And let's face it, there's plenty of it in the Hunter Valley. But did you know we have half a dozen cult wines that will make your wine snob mates go bananas?Yep, we're talking the crème de la crème of wines that wine collectors worldwide lust over.So how do we know they're the most coveted, collectable win...

​Want to improve your cooking skills or maybe you're looking for a gift for a foodie friend? A cooking class in the Hunter Valley is just the thing for anyone who wants to learn a few tricks of the trade and eat some top-notch tucker in the process.There's an array of fun and interactive classes where you can get some hands-on experience while loca...

​ If you're looking for exquisite views, kick-ass wines and a bucolic bistro that enchants all who enter, head to this hidden haven in the mountains. ​When you think of the fairy kingdom what comes to mind? A breathtakingly beautiful realm with lush green hills and majestic mountains with intoxicating beverages and out-of-this-world food? Welcome ...

​A sunny day, a gorgeous setting – it's the perfect excuse to pack up some tasty snacks and roll out a rug. Who doesn't love a picnic?Whether it's a spur-of-the-moment makeshift picnic or an alfresco date you've been planning for weeks, Wine Country ticks all the open-air dining boxes.Amazing views – tick. Pristine picnic sites – tick. Local food a...

​1. It's vintage time! Yep, it's the most exciting time to visit the Hunter Valley as winery crews start harvesting grapes for the 2019 vintage. They start picking grapes for white wines first – several have already harvested Verdelho – before moving onto the red varieties. For behind-the-scenes footage of all the vintage action follow #v19 or...

It's been dubbed the "best-kept secret in the Hunter Valley" but the secret is well and truly out – Broke is stunning, secluded and produces an exceptional glass of wine.​With impressive views just about everywhere you go, Broke is the quintessential rural retreat.It's a peaceful pocket of the Valley that's slightly off the beaten track (about 15km...

Glasses have been raised, wines have been tasted, results have been tallied and celebrations have begun at this year's CCL Clear Image Hunter Valley Wine Show Celebrations Luncheon at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort.Over the three days of judging leading up to today, the judging panel tasted over 700 wines, with 49 gold, 77 silver, 210 bronze and 20 trop...

​​Nothing says winter more than a glass of red wine in front of a roaring fire. It's the perfect time to try a Shiraz with a twist.Shiraz is the kingpin red in the Hunter Valley, with some of the oldest vines in the country, but today's winemakers are taking Shiraz to an edgy new place, blending it with some different varieties.Of course, you'll ha...