The Auswine Forum

Hi guys, I'm pretty new to this forum, so Im sure this has been done to death, but I am taking my staff to the hunter for their Xmas trip this year.
I'm from SA and know the barossa back to front, but being new to Sydney, I have never been up there, and probably lack a bit of knowledge on the best the hunter has to offer.
We are going late Nov, and I was planning on staying at the Crowne Plaza with a friendly golf game on the sat morning and then visit some wineries for lunch and the arvo and then also sun.
My question is, what are some wineries you would recommend, and good places to eat. Lunch and dinners.
I like to plan ahead and am trying to lock things in now if possible.
There will be about 10 of us and as I'm paying the bills, I figured I may as well be selfish and plan it the way I want it.
Does anyone recommend a company that can pick us up and drive us around for the day?
Any help is appreciated and happy drinking.

Coh

Hi Coh,

Welcome!

There are some commercial places you almost have to go to, like Mount Pleasant and Tyrrell's, though unless you make it known to staff that you know what you are talking about, they won't progress you past the mass-produced cheap stuff. Both very friendly and accommodating once you engage the pourers.Depending on the level of interest etc people have in wine, the following places are also worth considering:

Ernest Hill - Very friendly, family affair. Wines are good, and they have a diverse and unique range of dessert wines.
Leogate Estate - Fairly new cellar door, and have a great rep for shiraz, sem and chard recently.
Audrey Wilkinson - Fairly well known, but quality is consistent year in year out
Gundog - Good QPR
Tulloch - Classic Hunter vineyard currently going through a bit of a resurgence
Hermitage Road Cellars (Hunter Valley Cellar Door) - While it is pay to taste, it comes off the bill at the end. The main reason for going here is to try Thomas Wines, Polin & Polin and Margan without going out to Broke.
Brokenwood - Incredible range

Some you may hear of that in my opinion are a bit over-hyped: Tempus Two, Mistletoe, Lindeman's (although again, putting more effort into the Hunter, so wines are getting better), David Hook, Pokolbin Estate, Tamburlaine. ALl pretty good, but nothing beyond a nice cellar door with average quality wines.

Meerea Park has a good range of stuff. They charge $5 now but will refund with purchase.
Piggs Peake is a good crowd pleaser although most of their stuff isn't from the Hunter. Not the style I like but whenever I bring visitors to the Hunter, this is THE most popular place.
McLeish might be interesting, Scarborough...
I actually think Mistletoe has well above average wines..but their pricing in the last few years is out of wack...
Tyrrells is good but for a big group, I'd say don't bother...they do have a tour each day which is probably worth going to though...

Polymer wrote:Meerea Park has a good range of stuff. They charge $5 now but will refund with purchase.
Piggs Peake is a good crowd pleaser although most of their stuff isn't from the Hunter. Not the style I like but whenever I bring visitors to the Hunter, this is THE most popular place.
McLeish might be interesting, Scarborough...
I actually think Mistletoe has well above average wines..but their pricing in the last few years is out of wack...
Tyrrells is good but for a big group, I'd say don't bother...they do have a tour each day which is probably worth going to though...

I have always found Mistletoe to be a bit broad, too much RS in the sems without being truly off-dry (even the reserve has an off-putting sweetness), and the Shirazs are too fruit-driven for mine, no classic Hunter earth. I know I lot of people who know a lot more about wine than me who love them though!

Tyrrell's may be worth booking a tour, you will definitely get to taste the decent wines then (definitely the most consistent top tier of wines in the Hunter with Vat 8, 9, 4 Acres, Johnno's Sh, Vat 1, 47, 63, HVD, Belford, Stevens Sem, Johnnos sem etc).

McLeish and Scarborough are always consistent, an definitely worth trying.

Shame Meerea Park moved to Frass Canyon (Tempus Two complex). Can't go there, just.... can't!

dan_smee wrote:Shame Meerea Park moved to Frass Canyon (Tempus Two complex). Can't go there, just.... can't!

It's just fine! Fairly quiet room actually given the chaos elsewhere in the complex, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed a chat with Garth. Good wines.

Other places I always try are McWilliams and De Iuliis.

Yeah...It does feel a bit out of place but it was fine....and the Smelly Cheese store is there now too...

Are the staff wine lovers?

That would make a big difference to the recommendations in my opinion. If not, then wineries with nice Cellar Doors might get preference (Audrey Wilkinson, McWilliams, David Hook etc)

Lindemans has very good (paid) tasting options, well worth the price. Includes various TWE wines.

dave vino wrote:Are the staff wine lovers?

That would make a big difference to the recommendations in my opinion. If not, then wineries with nice Cellar Doors might get preference (Audrey Wilkinson, McWilliams, David Hook etc)

Yeah - in my experience they do. The girl at Meerea Park we've been to twice has been fantastic

dan_smee wrote:

dave vino wrote:Are the staff wine lovers?

That would make a big difference to the recommendations in my opinion. If not, then wineries with nice Cellar Doors might get preference (Audrey Wilkinson, McWilliams, David Hook etc)

Yeah - in my experience they do. The girl at Meerea Park we've been to twice has been fantastic

He's talking about the staff that are going on the trip.

camw wrote:

dan_smee wrote:

dave vino wrote:Are the staff wine lovers?

That would make a big difference to the recommendations in my opinion. If not, then wineries with nice Cellar Doors might get preference (Audrey Wilkinson, McWilliams, David Hook etc)

Yeah - in my experience they do. The girl at Meerea Park we've been to twice has been fantastic

He's talking about the staff that are going on the trip.

Ha! Yeah that'd make more sense - though I've been to plenty of cellar doors where the staff don't give a sh!t.

Hi guys, thanks to everyone for some great tips and advice.
I'd say half the staff enjoy their wines and the other half are a bit younger and probably would enjoy a trip to the blue tongue brewery instead (not that there is anything wrong with that).

Is there a preferred company to drive us around or are they all much the same? I do find in the barossa, some are a wealth of good knowledge and humour, whilst others just drive you around. We are looking for some good fun, especially as by the end of the day we will all be a but tipsy.

Thanks again...

Coh

To add to those mentioned from my preference:

Gundog Estate
Meerea Park but also bemoan the move to the Tempus Two complex. As mentioned, however, their cellar door, being at the far end of the complex, was quite quiet.
Keith Tulloch - they have the Muse kitchen on site (haven't tried it) and a great cellar door
Lakes Folly, but may be out of wine by then
Ernest Hill do have a good range
Margan have some nice wines and good cellar door, but it is more of a trek out of Pokolbin

Can't help with a coach service.

Also, you probably know this already but with large groups you'll want to make appointments.....

reschsmooth wrote:To add to those mentioned from my preference:

Lakes Folly, but may be out of wine by then

Lakes Folly seems to be staying open longer (making more wine? Selling less?) or at least they did last year but I really wouldn't go there with a big group unless you were die hard wine fans... the place is tiny and they only make 2 wines so your bound to disappoint any "sometimes" wine drinkers (e.g. "Ill just try whatever is sweetest", umm that would be the dry Chardonnay).

sjw_11 wrote:

reschsmooth wrote:To add to those mentioned from my preference:

Lakes Folly, but may be out of wine by then

Lakes Folly seems to be staying open longer (making more wine? Selling less?) or at least they did last year but I really wouldn't go there with a big group unless you were die hard wine fans... the place is tiny and they only make 2 wines so your bound to disappoint any "sometimes" wine drinkers (e.g. "Ill just try whatever is sweetest", umm that would be the dry Chardonnay).

Agree with that. I have noticed they have added their Hill Block Chardonnay and 3 Estates Red to their online ordering as well.

Yeah...last I was there they had their four different wines available..but still, I agree with Sam, probably not the best for non wine geeks...I've tried taking people there twice and both it was just a meh experience for them...

Piggs Peake though...I've taken about four groups there and they love it....*shrug*...