Celebrate Semillon this Summer

Semillon is the drink of the Summer. Here is what you can pair it with this season.

What food pairs well with young Semillon?

When Semillon is young, it’s all citrus, crisp texture and refreshing energy. It’s the kind of wine you pour when the sun’s out, the table’s full, and the afternoon feels like it could last forever.

• BBQ prawns with a squeeze of lemon — simple, classic, and spot on.
• Fresh oysters that echo the wine’s clean, mineral feel.
• Sushi and sashimi, especially kingfish and delicate white fish.
• Vietnamese-style salads layered with herbs, lime and a hint of chilli.
• Goat cheese that brings just enough creaminess to round out the bright acidity.

What food pairs well with aged Semillon?

Give Semillon a few years and it shifts gears.  These more generous dishes pair beautifully with the complexity that aged Hunter Semillon is known for.

• Roast chicken with herbs or crispy-skinned fish — both perfect partners for the wine’s mellow, savoury notes.
• Mushroom risotto where earthy flavours meet the wine’s silky texture.
• Pork belly with its rich crackling and balanced sweetness.
• Soft cheeses like brie and camembert that melt into the wine’s warm, toasty character.

Whether you're new to the varietal or already a devoted fan, Semillon is a true Hunter Valley signature—something you simply have to try in the place it's grown.

A Little Bit of Broke

A Roaming Wine & Food celebration in the Hunter Valley

Saturday 14th March 10am - 5pm, Broke Fordwich Hunter Valley

Pre-sale tickets $35pp

Ticket includes a souvenir wine glass plus 4 x 60ml tasting vouchers (to use at venues of your choice throughout the day) and event program. 

One fabulous day roaming, relaxing and immersing in small batch wines, farm gate produce and experiences, and live music whilst taking in the stunning views of Broke Fordwich, located only 20 minutes from the heart of the Hunter Valley. Gather your crew for a day in the vineyards, and wander between 15 cellar doors, restaurants and farms.

You don't need to book individual venues, simply purchase your ticket, pick up your glass from the Event Hub (located at the Bush Fire Station, Corner Milbrodale Rd & Wollombi St, Broke) on the day of the event and enjoy the freedom of choosing to roam between 15 of the best venues in Broke Fordwich, redeeming your vouchers for wine tastings and enjoying food, live music and more. 

A Little Bit of Broke is proud to partner with and support Crowdcatcher, a ticketing platform from the Hunter region.

Hunter Valley Semillon

Often described as the “greatest gift to the world of wine” or “the world’s most uniquely regional wine styles” even “Australia’s unsung hero”. The impact of great Hunter Valley Semillon on the reputation of Australian wine is unquestionable. Not only is it unique and the ultimate in regional expression, it’s the site-specific characteristics that Hunter Valley Semillon reflects that have inspired so many. Consistently producing wines of the highest quality, quintessentially Australian, and so so celebrated.

Semillon is one of the most distinctive white wine styles and the Hunter Valley has long been recognised for crafting standout Semillon — wines that begin their life bright, citrusy and full of energy, and evolve over time into something deeper, richer and beautifully layered. Few varieties offer such an incredible journey in the glass, and the Hunter’s expression is considered among the very best.

Welcome to the Broke Fordwich Wine Region

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.