Broke Fordwich Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley wine region has several sub-regions with Broke Fordwich being one of them. It was designated, registered and protected as a GI (Geographic Indication) region in 2003, the second in Australia to do so. Other sub-regions in the Hunter include the Upper Hunter and Pokolbin while Mount View, Lovedale, Hermitage and Belford are regarded as sub regions but have not yet been registered as a GI to date.

A GI is the Australian version of the European ‘appellation system’ which defines borders of wine regions and controls production and labelling rules. Broke was granted its own GI based on its unique geology and meso climate created by various local waterways and the sheltering hills to the west. The Broke Fordwich GI incorporates the township of Broke as well as the historic ‘parish region’ of Fordwich, west of Broke Village. The Fordwich Sill runs through this area and is a plug of red volcanic clay, the weathered product of ancient subterranean volcanic eruptions.

Broke Village was established in 1824 and was an important village on the old convict trail from Sydney passing through Wollombi. Vineyards in the area were planted soon afterwards and plantings expanded again with soldiers returning after the war. In the early 1990’s there was another significant vineyard expansion in Broke with up to 35 growers and a combined 500 hectares under vine. The main producers of the area were established at this time including Margan, Poole’s Rock and Krinklewood. Many new varieties were pioneered at this time to grow alongside the traditional Hunter varieties of Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz. Today, local progressive winemakers have expanded into new varieties for wine lovers to explore.

The village is deeply-rooted in First Nations and settler history and the ancient land has been home to the Wonnarua/Wanaruah People for millennia with surrounding rock caves which are rich in Aboriginal art.