I am taking some friends upto the Hunter Valley thsi weekend before they go back to Blighty. I have been there several times so have a good feel for which wineries to take them to.
However I don't really know of any good cafe/cheaper restaurants to take them to ... any ideas????
Not looking for fine dinning just a nice place, good view, good reasonable food.
Cheers
A good cafe in the Hunter Valley??? Help needed
A good cafe in the Hunter Valley??? Help needed
"Seek to understand, before being understood" Stephen Covey
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Hunter Man
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:14 pm
A cheap eat in the hunter is a tough ask.
You might try Harrogan's Pub, no great views but a good atmosphere.
The Mill is nice and has a good view, mains around $30-35.
Alternatively, pack a picnic, grab a bottle of wine and find a tree on a hill, it's a good way to watch the Hunter go by.
Cheers
HM
You might try Harrogan's Pub, no great views but a good atmosphere.
The Mill is nice and has a good view, mains around $30-35.
Alternatively, pack a picnic, grab a bottle of wine and find a tree on a hill, it's a good way to watch the Hunter go by.
Cheers
HM
Thanks for the recommendations, I like the idea of Blaxlands, I also found on the web Firestick cafe (Poole's Rock Winery) and also Magnum Cafe (Peterson's Champagne House ... it would certainly please the ladies).
Any other thoughts on those above and any others greatly appreciated.
Sorted out dinner on the 1st night at Tatler Wine (been before and good food) and a winery tour at Tyrrells on the Saturday. Then obviously Saturday night it will be the rugby ... England vs Australia ... nice!
Cheers
Any other thoughts on those above and any others greatly appreciated.
Sorted out dinner on the 1st night at Tatler Wine (been before and good food) and a winery tour at Tyrrells on the Saturday. Then obviously Saturday night it will be the rugby ... England vs Australia ... nice!
Cheers
"Seek to understand, before being understood" Stephen Covey
Firestick Cafe at Pooles Rock is excellent. Was there the other week. Food is great (Rock Restaurant by night, SMH 2008 Chefs Hat), top notch service too.
Esca is more formal, but good food, great views.
They are my two faves at the moment.
Blaxlands is good for a steak, less sophistication. Terroir at Hungerford Hill is great for dinner.
I didnt like Petersons at all.
Esca is more formal, but good food, great views.
They are my two faves at the moment.
Blaxlands is good for a steak, less sophistication. Terroir at Hungerford Hill is great for dinner.
I didnt like Petersons at all.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
Currently in the Hunter ... the sun is shining, the birds are singing and it is a perfect day for some wine tasting .. great!
Last night dinner at Tatler Wines, really good tapas style food, and 3 bottles of the Tatler Paddock Shiraz 2004, which went down a bit too well. Quite surprised by the wine, much more round, weighty shiraz than I am used to in the Hunter, but still good.
Currently in the Hunter ... the sun is shining, the birds are singing and it is a perfect day for some wine tasting .. great!
Last night dinner at Tatler Wines, really good tapas style food, and 3 bottles of the Tatler Paddock Shiraz 2004, which went down a bit too well. Quite surprised by the wine, much more round, weighty shiraz than I am used to in the Hunter, but still good.
"Seek to understand, before being understood" Stephen Covey
What a weekend 
Two reasons, spent it in the Hunter and England forwards dominated the Aussie pack ... a few too many beers were drunk.
Back to the Hunter. We ended up having lunch at Firestick cafe @ Poole's Rock, a great choice in the end, lovely, lovely food, not pricey at all and a great modern dining area, would thoroughly recommend.
Wines tasted that were really very good.
Tintilla (What a lovely place that is, Barbara sat us down round a big table and took us through their wines, a really enjoyable experience, and a big difference after coming from Tempus Two where no time was spent with us
)
Stand Out wines were the Sangiovese 2005 (Barbara mentioned they took a trip to the King Valley to talk with the Pizzini family about Italian grape varieties, I must admit I am a fan of the Pizzini Sangiovese. The other was the Reserve Shiraz 2005. Tintilla also do some lovely Olives, which we bought plenty of, yum, yum.
Tyrrells - took the group there for the free wine tour, which was really enjoyable. Took around 1 hour and was very informative, talking about the whole wine making process. Would definitely recommend. Also the service we had for the tasting was great, again spending plenty of time with the group.
Stand Out wines were Single Vineyard St Stevens Semillion (this was my favourite Semillion of the trip, and I am not a particular liker of that grape normally) and St Stevens Shiraz (always liked this one, the earthy, white peppery taste .. lovely). Also tasted the Vat 9 and 4 Acres and thought both were good, but preferred the Vat 9 (I think that will be a blinder given another 5+ years.
Kevin Sobels. Another really enjoyable experience, the person took time with us, discussing each of the wines in turn...really good.
Stand Out wines (for the ladies) the Verdelho and the Sweet and Lovely red.
Tempus Two a very modern and trendy setup, however the customer service was poor. Not an enjoyable experience after the likes of the smaller wineries. Did quite like the Pewter Sangiovese, however at $38 and after poor service we tok our business elsewhere
Peterson's Champagne House - not a bad experience, it was v v busy, but one person spent time with us.
Stand Out Wines - the ladies loved them all ... bubbles and all that.
Unfortuntely we didn't get to Meera Park, Lake Folly which I wanted to go to .. but hey it is only 2 hours away .. so another time.
I did however manage to drink enough beer (Blue Tongue, obviously) to sink a few ships while watching the rugby and shouting at the TV ... go England!!
Two reasons, spent it in the Hunter and England forwards dominated the Aussie pack ... a few too many beers were drunk.
Back to the Hunter. We ended up having lunch at Firestick cafe @ Poole's Rock, a great choice in the end, lovely, lovely food, not pricey at all and a great modern dining area, would thoroughly recommend.
Wines tasted that were really very good.
Tintilla (What a lovely place that is, Barbara sat us down round a big table and took us through their wines, a really enjoyable experience, and a big difference after coming from Tempus Two where no time was spent with us
)
Stand Out wines were the Sangiovese 2005 (Barbara mentioned they took a trip to the King Valley to talk with the Pizzini family about Italian grape varieties, I must admit I am a fan of the Pizzini Sangiovese. The other was the Reserve Shiraz 2005. Tintilla also do some lovely Olives, which we bought plenty of, yum, yum.
Tyrrells - took the group there for the free wine tour, which was really enjoyable. Took around 1 hour and was very informative, talking about the whole wine making process. Would definitely recommend. Also the service we had for the tasting was great, again spending plenty of time with the group.
Stand Out wines were Single Vineyard St Stevens Semillion (this was my favourite Semillion of the trip, and I am not a particular liker of that grape normally) and St Stevens Shiraz (always liked this one, the earthy, white peppery taste .. lovely). Also tasted the Vat 9 and 4 Acres and thought both were good, but preferred the Vat 9 (I think that will be a blinder given another 5+ years.
Kevin Sobels. Another really enjoyable experience, the person took time with us, discussing each of the wines in turn...really good.
Stand Out wines (for the ladies) the Verdelho and the Sweet and Lovely red.
Tempus Two a very modern and trendy setup, however the customer service was poor. Not an enjoyable experience after the likes of the smaller wineries. Did quite like the Pewter Sangiovese, however at $38 and after poor service we tok our business elsewhere
Peterson's Champagne House - not a bad experience, it was v v busy, but one person spent time with us.
Stand Out Wines - the ladies loved them all ... bubbles and all that.
Unfortuntely we didn't get to Meera Park, Lake Folly which I wanted to go to .. but hey it is only 2 hours away .. so another time.
I did however manage to drink enough beer (Blue Tongue, obviously) to sink a few ships while watching the rugby and shouting at the TV ... go England!!
"Seek to understand, before being understood" Stephen Covey
Gary,
The vintages were as follows
2003 St Stevens Semillion
2004 St Stevens Shiraz
2006 VAT 9 Shiraz
2006 4 Acres Shiraz
They also had the Vat 8 Shiraz.Cab 2003
The Vat 9, 8 and 4 Acres all had the old baroque labelling which looked v good. (pricing as far as I remember was $40-$42)
The vintages were as follows
2003 St Stevens Semillion
2004 St Stevens Shiraz
2006 VAT 9 Shiraz
2006 4 Acres Shiraz
They also had the Vat 8 Shiraz.Cab 2003
The Vat 9, 8 and 4 Acres all had the old baroque labelling which looked v good. (pricing as far as I remember was $40-$42)
"Seek to understand, before being understood" Stephen Covey
Gary,
I did wonder what that comment was about i.e. "beatified" meant ... I have learnt something new
Haven't tried other Vat 9's but definitely liked the 2006
I did wonder what that comment was about i.e. "beatified" meant ... I have learnt something new
taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeatificationIn Catholicism, beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed, via Greek μακάριος, makarios) is a recognition accorded by the church of a dead person's accession to Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name (intercession of saints).
Haven't tried other Vat 9's but definitely liked the 2006
"Seek to understand, before being understood" Stephen Covey