Scarborough Wine, Hunter ValleyCredit: Chris Elfes Images
Scarborough Wine, Gillards Road.
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These boutique Hunter Valley wineries in and around the town of Pokolbin, a two-hour drive north of Sydney, prove the power of thinking small. Some of them boast spectacular settings, while others offer blending classes or opportunities to meet the makers. What they have in common is a dedication to creating memorable wines.
Meet the family at Scarborough Wine Co.
Run by two generations of the Scarborough family, this rustic Pokolbin winery is known for its rich and structured chardonnay and award-winning hospitality. The Scarborough Wine Co. cellar door is located right next to the family home on the original Gillards Road vineyard (chosen specifically by founder Ian Scarborough for its free draining red clay over limestone soil – imparting the bold characters of their chardy), and offers 360-degree views of the surrounding Hunter countryside. Tastings come with a cheese platter and showcase contemporary varieties and styles of the region.
Get experimental at Gundog Estate
Gundog Estate, housed in an old schoolhouse in Pokolbin, specialises in Hunter Valley classics semillon and shiraz, the grape varieties that thrive in this warm climate. That doesn’t mean the wines are predictable, however. Winemaker Matt Burton enjoys finding new ways to treat these old favourites. His range of semillons includes not just the classic, bone dry, citric semillon, for example, but also ‘wild’ semillon - a portion of which is fermented on skins, like a red wine, to give it extra body and texture. Keen to try some more adventurous drops? Gundog’s Indomitus label features more experimental, minimal-intervention wines.
Briar Ridge, Hunter Valley Credit: Elfes Images
Soak up some beautiful Hunter Valley scenery at Briar Ridge in Pokolbin.
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Briar Ridge, Hunter Valley Credit: Elfes Images
Soak up some beautiful Hunter Valley scenery at Briar Ridge in Pokolbin.
Gundog Estate, Hunter Valley Credit: Gundog Estate
Discover great wines in good company at Gundog Estate in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
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Gundog Estate, Hunter Valley Credit: Gundog Estate
Discover great wines in good company at Gundog Estate in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
Relax in the garden at Briar Ridge
Briar Ridge, a 10-minute drive south of Pokolbin at Mount View, has expansive grounds with plenty of scenic spots — including a deck, terrace and courtyard — where you can enjoy a glass of wine, perhaps accompanied by a cheese or antipasto platter (there is even a pooch platter of doggie snacks for visitors who have brought their four-legged friend along). Don’t just play it safe with the semillon and shiraz — the crisp, summery, Spanish-style albarino and fiano wines are also well worth trying.
Learn to blend at Gartelmann Wines
There is more to do at the Gartelmann Wines cellar door in Lovedale, a 15-minute drive northeast of Pokolbin, then just taste wines. Enjoy a bite at the Deck Café or sign up for one of the classes; in the Blending Masterclass, you’ll not only learn about how blends work, but also create your own blend of Bordeaux-inspired red. Sourcing grapes not just from the Hunter Valley but also the NSW winegrowing areas of Mudgee, Rylstone and Orange, Gartelmann Wines offers everything from sparkling wines and pinot gris to merlot, and even a bright muscat with toffee and honey flavours.
Comyns & Co Cellar Door, Hunter Valley Credit: Mjk Creative
Sample wines by family-run Comyns & Co at its cellar door in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
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Comyns & Co Cellar Door, Hunter Valley Credit: Mjk Creative
Sample wines by family-run Comyns & Co at its cellar door in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
Admire the art at Comyns & Co
Drop in to the stylish Comyns & Co cellar door on Broke Road, Pokolbin, and chances are you will find either winemaker Scott Comyns or his wife Missy at the counter. This is very much a family affair: Scott’s brother Angus designed the distinctive artwork that features on the walls and the wine labels, including the portrait of a Ford Escort on the front of the tempranillo bottle. Even the name of Comyns & Co’s sparkling wine, Popsy — made with grüner veltliner grapes instead of chardonnay or pinot noir — is a mash-up of the names of Scott and Missy’s daughters, Polly and Topsy. Scott uses only Hunter Valley grapes in his wines, which include not just semillon and shiraz, but also riesling and tempranillo.
Mix classic and contemporary at Meerea Park Wines
You can’t miss the Meerea Park Wines cellar door in Pokolbin — it’s housed in one of the most striking buildings in the Hunter Valley, the architect-designed Roche Estate. The contemporary design provides a contrast to Meerea’s rich heritage, with winemaker Rhys Eather’s family having farmed in the Hunter Valley since 1826. Meerea Park Wines is best known for its award-winning semillon and shiraz, but it’s also getting good results with unusual varietals such as roussane and marsanne. With two acclaimed restaurants on the estate, it’s smart to time your visit for lunch.
Meerea Park Wines, Hunter Valley Credit: Simon Hughes
Sample unusual varietals at the Meerea Park Wines cellar door in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
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Meerea Park Wines, Hunter Valley Credit: Simon Hughes
Sample unusual varietals at the Meerea Park Wines cellar door in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, CorowaCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa.
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Feast on the riches of one of Australia’s most important food bowls on a road trip through the Murray, named after the mighty river that flows through this southwest area of New South Wales. Float down the river on a historic paddlesteamer wine cruise, stop by farm gates to sample incredible fresh produce, and dine at chic restaurants and bars in this unique culinary playground.
Take the back roads for gourmet treats
Head off the beaten path along The Backroads Trail, a 250km driving route that passes through the small pastoral towns of Barham, Moama, Mathoura and Deniliquin on the upper reaches of the Murray River. Sink your teeth into fresh olives, avocados, free-range pork, honey and citrus fruit from farm gates along its loops and trails, and taste the region’s wines at vineyards such as Restdown Wines. While you’re at this winery, venture out along the Restdown Wetland Walk to encounter Aboriginal cooking hearths and an old sheep camp.
Cruise along to The Old School Winery & Meadery in Womboota to pick up wine, pottery and honey mead. Or seek out Ivy Joyce in Barham to indulge in a warm space, offering local produce from farms for a truly paddock to plate experience in the heart of Murray River country. For more snacks and meaty fare such as British-style pork pies and sausages, head to Pacdon Park’s factory shop in Moama.
You can work up an appetite as you build your own itinerary on the theme of food, paddocks and produce, and find suggested routes and maps to Murray River farm gates, at the Echuca Moama Visitor Centre.
Wine and dine along the river
Embark on a wine tour by water in Moama, where the first steamboats made their way up the Murray in 1853. Take a Murray River Paddlesteamers Wharf to Winery Cruise from the town to Morrisons Riverview Winery for a leisurely lunch. Or drive along the river, stopping in at Three Black Sheep for risotto and woodfired pizzas, and tasting crisp dry whites and full-flavoured reds at St Anne’s Vineyards, where you can nibble on a cheese platter overlooking a scenic lake.
Head east along the riverside roads to rest and recharge in the town of Tocumwal, known for its riverside beaches, golf courses, glider flying and iconic Big Murray Cod statue. Start the following day with a solid foundation of breakfast pizza (topped with bacon, eggs and a hash brown) at The Old Bank and indulge in a scoop of ice-cream or sorbet from Tocumwal Ice Creamery – flavours include rocky road, green apple or macadamia. If you’re in town on a Saturday, pick up honey, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, dressings and other condiments made by local producers at the Tocumwal Foreshore Markets.
Continue your odyssey along the river to Corowa, the birthplace of Australian Federation. Immerse in the town’s rich turn-of-the-20th-century colonial heritage as you make your way to the former 1920s flour mill housing Corowa Distilling Co. Here you can book a whisky tasting and behind-the-scenes tour and buy locally made chocolates and sweets from sister shop Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. Work off an indulgent afternoon with a walk along the river before settling into the stylish Circa 1936 hotel, which is housed in an Art Deco former bank on the main street of Corowa.
Celebrate regional ingredients in Albury
From Corowa, follow the Riverina Highway eastward to the city of Albury, a food, wine and culture hub. Taste how seasonality and locality are expressed at The Proprietor, a former butcher shop turned cafe offering brunch treats such as fruit toast with Beechworth honey and whipped ricotta, and banana waffles with Gundowring vanilla ice-cream. Or try the all-day breakfast offering at Mr Benedict, from cheesy bacon waffle with popcorn chicken to one of its signature eggs benedicts, including one with cider-braised ham hock.
At The River Deck restaurant, local ingredients are celebrated alongside stunning river views, and dishes may include chicken Caesar salad with Milawa eggs or beef brisket braised in coffee by Albury roaster The Brothers Cup. At tiny and elegant Bistro Selle, complement warm Gooramadda olives with a buttery Australian chardonnay and fresh market fish. Yardbird offers a bold-flavoured menu featuring dishes like scorched Albacore tuna, along with meats grilled in a Spanish woodfired oven.
In between meals, stroll along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and take in the contemporary artworks by Aboriginal artists that line the Wagirra Trail. Meander through the Murray Art Museum Albury’s contemporary photographic collection, Aboriginal art and works by renowned Australian artist Sir Russell Drysdale. Afterwards, order lunch or dinner at the museum’s excellent Canvas Eatery – try the saltbush lamb rump or one of their Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
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The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
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Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.
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Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.