A taste of Italy in the Hunter Valley

Rubbing my cheek into the cushy pillow, it occurs to me that I can’t remember my bed being this comfortable. I resist the urge to fall back into a deep sleep and snap open my eyes. They peek out from the gap in the curtains…

Where am I?

There’s a balcony with a large corner spa bath. I can see rows of vines, thick with green leaves and bunches of black grapes. It takes a few blinks, but last night’s food coma finally wears off and I realise I’m still in the Hunter Valley, lying on a huge king bed in our suite at the Hermitage Lodge.

It’s Sunday morning, check out day, *groan*, where’s the weekend gone?

It’s only been a few days since we first checked in but I feel right at home in one of Hermitage Lodge’s 20 luxurious suites and studios. We’re right in the middle of the Hunter Valley’s wine region in Pokolbin where you don’t need to wander far for a drop of good wine. A leisurely stroll across McDonalds road is First Creek Wines, just one of 15 vineyards in a two kilometre radius of the lodge… all the more reason to take a spare suitcase and stay an extra day!

Did I mention there are three balconies between our main suite and studio across the hallway? The lodge’s owners have really captured what guests love – a view that leaves you staring. Another plus is there’s no room envy, all the suites have a deck overlooking the secluded vineyard and bushland.  Perfect for capturing that I’m-frolicking-in-a-vineyard snap.

 

Flash back to that time I skipped through the Hunter Valley #liveeverylastminute

A video posted by nadinejosephine (@nadinejosephine) on Mar 11, 2015 at 3:35am PDT

 

My room upstairs is huge, with red, earthy colours brightening up the white decor. The walk-in wardrobe leads to a spacious bathroom with his and her basins and that’s just my bathroom! Downstairs, opposite the suite is a separate studio room with a TV, arm chairs and an ensuite.

I grab the hotel bathrobe and drape it over my pyjamas, making my way towards the staircase. From here I can see the kitchen, dining area and lounge room below. There’s a six seat dining room table and two comfy red couches next to a fireplace (it’s too warm to have a fire, but I make a mental note to come back in winter). Lastminute Lovely Mitzi is already in the kitchen pulling out our continental breakfast of berry and passionfruit yoghurt, English muffins, orange juice and muesli from the fridge. I’m not usually a muesli eater, but this brekkie treat made onsite is divine! Puffed corn, dried cranberries, almonds, pistachios with dollops of berry yoghurt goes down a treat!

Next up!  A gnocchi making class at the lodge’s Northern Italian inspired restaurant, Il Cacciatore. We wander through the grounds, past suites with grapevine trimmed entrances and white flower beds until we get to the front door. Here’s where I should tell you about my Italian food crush. My mouth starts to water just thinking about the cheesy, tomato flavours mixed with spices and herbs and don’t get me started on my pasta cravings! Mark and Noreen, owners of the Hermitage Lodge greet us warmly and take us to tables set up with aprons and cooking utensils. We walk past a wall of dishes displaying awards and head into a long dining area opening onto a deck.  We’re handed glasses of sparkling wine and I know right away we’re going to get along well. Lastminute Lovely Mitzi and I cheers to making scrumptious Italian food.

The next hour is spent mashing potatoes, kneading flour and rolling out the dough in between banter about Mark and Noreen’s travels. They make us feel right at home and I feel like we’re old friends making lunch together.

Once the gnocchi is cut up and scored with a grooved gnocchi paddle, we boil them and wait till they rise in the bubbling water.

The gnocchi batches are divided into different pans for frying, with herbs and veggies from the lodge’s garden added to the mix. The delicious smell of chorizo fills the air. I’m too keen to try these dishes.

 

Yum! A snippet from the gnocchi making class at the @hermitagelodge in the @huntervalleywc. I wish you could smell the deliciousness… #HunterValley #NewSouthWales #liveeverylastminute

 

A video posted by @whosmitzi on Mar 16, 2015 at 3:21pm PDT

I watch the garlic, prawns and asparagus added to one pan, while the chorizo, onion, tomato and pine nut gnocchi dish sizzles away. On another plate, Noreen prepares spinach and ricotta gnocchi, topped with tomato, pine nuts and purple rosemary flowers – it looks too good!

We sit down to a feast out on the deck. The flavours of the juicy tomato, buttery gnocchi and parmesan cheese takes me back to last year’s holiday bike riding in Tuscany and trekking up the Dolomites.

   

If the gnocchi dishes aren’t already impressive enough, a chocolate hazelnut crème brulee is placed in front of me. I can’t talk for the next 10 minutes as I crack the top and nom mouthfuls of chocolate with vanilla bean ice cream and raspberries.

If you’re thinking about a weekend away with your besties or organising a hen’s night, the Hermitage Lodge does group cooking classes and the best part is, once you’ve wiped away the crumbs, you only have to go a few metres to pass out in one of the suites. The lodge is an easy hour’s drive from Newcastle, or just over two hours’ drive from Sydney so it can be done in a weekend but you’ll be wishing you stayed longer. 😉

Just when I think our foodie adventure has come to an end, we’re given gnocchi to take home, thoughtfully stored in an esky for our flight home. I feel like we’re leaving old friends and I get a little nostalgic as we drive away from the rows of vineyards I woke up to this morning. Thanks for taking me back to Italy Hermitage Lodge!

Pssst: Got any Hunter Valley photos to share? Get social and hashtag #NewSouthWales and #liveeverylastminute and we’ll share our faves 🙂

Have you ever done a cooking class while travelling? Tell us about it in the comments.

• Stay at the Hermitage Lodge
• Fly to Newcastle
• Find Hunter Valley wineries and restaurants at VisitNSW.com

Nadine and Mitzi stayed as guests of the Hermitage Lodge and DNSW.