What to do in the Hunter Valley if you’re not a vino fan
The Hunter Valley sits up there as one of my favourite NSW wine regions, alongside Aussie wine royalty Orange, the Yarra Valley and the Barossa.
But what if you’re not a big fan of wine? Well I’m here to tell you that you can still appreciate a wine region without drinking a sip of the delicious grape nectar (but you’re totally missing out!)
Read on for my tips for the not-so-thirsty visitor:
Pasta-making at Sandalyn Wilderness Estate
Run from the cellar of Sandalyn Wilderness Estate, the class will take around four hours (including the time it takes you to devour your handmade pasta) and you’ll leave a pasta pro!
Having not made pasta before I pay close attention to our teacher, Caiman, who shows us the basics of how to produce beautiful lasagna sheets, fettuccini and agnolotti. Now I understand the appeal of making your own pasta – you can really taste the difference!
The finished product
Book your own pasta-making class here.
Spirit-tasting at Hunter Distillery
Don’t drink wine? Try some vodka. Or gin, schnapps or liqueurs (but seriously, you’re missing out 😉 )
The Hunter Distillery is only 3.5 years old, but in that short time they’ve certainly made a name for themselves as a producer of top notch spirits.
After a tour of the distillery and a lesson in how to make vodka (no potatoes are harmed in the making of this vodka!), we opt for a tasting. I have to admit that I’m hesitant to drink straight spirits, but my worries are soon put to rest.
Where the magic is made
The high quality of the spirits makes them very smooth, and with flavours like honey, chilli and ginger, and chocolate, you could easily forget you’re sipping vodka out of a test tube. My favourites are the coffee vodka and the Arak, which uses aniseed extract and tastes just like Ouzo or Raki. This takes me straight back to the balmy streets of Istanbul!
Beer-sampling at Hunter Beer Co.
As early-risers we have some time to kill before our first activity of the day, so we go for a drive around town. Where else do you visit at 10am but a brewery, right?
Hunter Beer Co is located at Potters Hotel, Brewery, Resort in Nulkaba, and is one of the smallest breweries in the country, but their huge range of beers which focus on different colours, aromas and flavours make it worth a drop in.
We try a tasting paddle, which costs $12 and includes four beers of our choice and some nuts to nibble between sips. We choose the Hunter Kolsch, Hunter Lager, Hunter Bock and Slaked Magpie; my fave is the Bock which is easy-drinking like a lager, but full of flavour.
Chocolate-nibbling at Cocoa Nib
A recent addition to the Keith Tulloch Wine estate, Cocoa Nib is a must-visit for chocolate connoisseurs.
Created in the Hunter Valley, Cocoa Nib experiments with local produce to create unique flavours. Some standouts include the Caramel and Macadamia Butter Crunch and the Raspberry Bark. Yum!
Sample some chocolate with a Silverskin Roasters coffee, or for only $15pp, why not book in for a full chocolate and wine tasting at the Keith Tulloch cellar door?
Tee off at The Vintage
Fancy a spot of golf? Then you’re in good company.
Many of the resorts at the Hunter Valley have a golf course onsite, but I’d say the most reputable is The Vintage whose 18-hole course was designed by none other than the Shark himself, Greg Norman!
There are plenty of golfing packages available for the seasoned or not-so-seasoned golfer.
The Vintage not only excels on the golf front, but it also provides a wide range of facilities that include restaurants and bars, an onsite spa, event and wedding venues, real estate for those who want to take up permanent residence, and a hotel, Grand Mercure The Vintage.
We stay at Grand Mercure while in the Hunter and love the privacy, the spaciousness and the comfort of our room and apartment. The only thing missing? Cold weather to justify turning on the cosy fire in the lounge room 😉
The neighbours are friendly
Taste-test some restaurants
Check out my other post here, where I review my mouth-watering food (and wine) safari through the Hunter.
Want to book yourself a trip to the Hunter Valley? Start here.
Shauna travelled as a guest of Destination NSW
Other Aussie wine region reads:
There are no comments
Add yours