The No.1 magazine for visitors to Hunter Valley Wine Country
BLACKBOARD
Sip Into Spring IT’S TEE TIME! Top Golf Spots in the Hunter MOVERS & SHAKERS COCKTAIL RECIPE’S INSIDE!
SEPTEMBER 2016 | ISSUE #115
Spring
THE HUNTER BLACKBOARD IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH...
FOR YOUR DIARY
September
FRIDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER | SPRING AWAKENING 2016 | Hunter Tafe, Cessnock | Join Cessnock Performing Arts Centre in welcoming the arrival
of Spring! At 5.30pm, join the lantern parade at the Performing Arts Centre, as they lead a dazzling procession of lanterns and illuminate the way to the TAFE grounds. Afterwards you can immerse yourself in an illuminated wonderland! Warm yourself among the flaming sculptures and be intrigued by interactive installations. Pack a picnic, enjoy the melodies and experience a night of fire and light with family and friends. This is an alcohol free event. For more information visit www.cessnockperformingartscentre.com.au
15TH - 18TH SEPTEMBER | HUNTER VALLEY MOON FESTIVAL 2016 | Various Hunter Valley Locations | The first annual Hunter Valley Moon
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ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: PH +61 2 4943 2888 HunterValleyOnline.com.au enquiries@wcpmedia.com.au WCP MEDIA Suite 4, 2 Smith St, Charlestown, NSW 2290 September 2016. Copyright © 2016 WCP Media. Published monthly by WCP Media. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint or quote excerpt granted by written request only. While every attempt has been made, WCP Media cannot guarantee the legality, completeness or accuracy of the information presented and accepts no warranty or responsibility for such.
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From 1st September 2016 until the 30th September 2016 inclusive or while stocks last.
Festival will be a colourful four-day celebration of the rich cultural traditions of Asia with performances, Asian cuisine, lion dances, lanterns and traditional moon cakes matched with Hunter Valley wines. The theme of the event is “Seven Stars & The Moon” with seven “stars” of the Hunter Valley including Hope Estate, Peterson House, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Drayton’s Family Wines, Hunter Valley Zoo, King Horse and Vineyard Hill Resort joining in on the celebrations. For more information, visit www.huntershows.com
SUNDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER | BUDFEST AT BRIAR | Briar Ridge Vineyard, Mount View | The Budfest at Briar festival is back for its third
year this September, celebrating budburst and enjoying the simple pleasures found in wine and food. As simple food is enjoyable, Briar Ridge will be taking all our favourite take-away foods, and adding a twist! So, bring along a picnic rug and settle in for an afternoon of great music, some take-away favourites and great wine! For more information visit www.briarridge.com.au
SATURDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER | OAK AUSTRALIAN WIFE CARRYING TITLES | Singleton Showground | One of Singleton's most popular
annual events, The Australian Wife Carrying Titles, will once again be held in September at the Singleton Show. Anyone 17 years and over can enter and compete in this event, with eligible winners having the opportunity to compete in the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland! The course is approximately 250m long and is comprised of numerous obstacles. Designs for the course vary from year to year, so it is never the same! Great to watch or compete in, the Wife Carrying Titles are held during the annual Singleton Show. Visit www.singletonshow.com.au for more information or to enter.
SATURDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER | WOLLOMBI MUSIC FESTIVAL | Wollombi | Now in it's 7th year, Wollombi Music Festival is fast becoming one
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thb 2 | SEPTEMBER 2016
of the most loved small festivals. Combining a beautiful mountain setting with an awesome adjacent camping area, Wollombi Music Festival fills its two stages with an eclectic mix of Australian bands. It's colourful, friendly, full of great music, awesome markets, food stalls and more! This year the lineup includes the likes of the Lachey Doley Group, Kallidad, The Fumes, The Royal Artillery, Cheap Fakes, Dubarray, King Tide, plus more! Don't miss your chance to join in on this truly unique festival. More info at www.wollombimusicfestival.com.au
SUNDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER | SPRING CRUIZ-IN | Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village | Spring Cruiz-In is back with a huge range of cars on display
including Vintage, Veteran, Classic, Modern, Hot Rods, Kombis, Bikes and Trucks. Vehicles start from Bunnings Wallsend and leave in groups between 7:30am 9:00am driving the scenic route to the Hunter Valley Gardens Village, where you can enjoy 50's and 60's rock 'n' roll music and a variety of vehicle exhibits and craft stalls. This free event has face painting available for the kids, plus prizes on offer for raffle winners and for the best selection of vehicles. Spring Cruiz-In participants entry donation is $5 per vehicle with all profits to be donated to ROADwhyz. For more information visit www.hvg.com.au WANT MORE? Keep up to date with events in the Hunter by visiting www.huntervalleyonline.com.au
FROM THE EDITORS With September comes Spring in the Hunter Valley and a time when the vines come to life with an explosion of green known as ''budburst.'' It's a wonderful time of the year to be in Wine Country with a plethora of activities on the go as the weather starts to warm up and the perfect time to be adventurous with a wine tasting tour, a balloon flight or horse-ride. Alternatively, say goodbye to your winter slumber and pamper yourself at the day spa, take a stroll through Hunter Valley Gardens (which is stunning in Spring) or visit the local markets. Spring is a signal that it’s time to shake off those Winter cobwebs and get out and about in Wine Country. Wollombi is best known for its creative and diverse culture and rich indigenous history, but what many don’t know is that it also boasts a groovy annual music festival that’s gaining momentum each and every year. We welcome the Wollombi Music Festival back to this quaint little town this month. This month we celebrate our cultural ties with China at the first ever Hunter Valley Moon Festival. Uncork the sights and sounds of the Orient at this gala event which also happens to be one of Asia’s most significant harvest festivals. Join in on the excitement by visiting Australia’s largest ever lantern festival or enjoying the tantalising tastes of
the Chinese moon cakes matched with Hunter Valley wines – there will certainly be something for everyone at what we hope will become an annual event for Wine Country. Still on festivals (because Spring really is the season for them) don’t forget to put the annual Budfest at Briar on your social calendar this month – it’s perhaps the best way to celebrate the arrival of budburst in the vineyards. The Hunter region boasts a multi-million dollar tourism and wine industry with over 150 vineyards producing some of the countries best wines. Season in and season out we’ve been happily doing this for over 185 years, but in recent years the region has also become a prime destination for Sydney’s elite, including our own Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbill, the Packers and USborn Billionaire Blair Parry-Okeden. This month we find out about the Valley’s movers and shakers and the impact they’ve had on our area. There’s a multitude of tasty treats in this issue, so swing into Spring with this colourful, delicious celebration of the Hunter Valley.
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Contents ASIAN CELEBRATION
10
The inaugural Hunter Valley Moon Festival is expected to attract a record number of visitors to the region, as it celebrates one of Asia’s most significant harvest festivals.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
12
TIME TO TEE OFF
15
SIP INTO SPRING
16
AARON MERCER
23
HUNTER BLACKBOARD MAP
32
Over the Hunter Valley’s 185 year history, there have been a number of iconic individuals who have left a lasting impact on our wine industry and the region.
Dine at the divine Circa 1876 until the 30th of September 2016 with our decadent 5 Course Tasting Menu for $120 per person (food only). Mention this ad to book in your complimentary kitchen garden tour! Our own bees supply bush honey, free range chickens offer up our eggs each day, and a lush, bountiful kitchen garden is lovingly tended to by Chefs with a passion for presenting you produce that comes light on carbon footprint and high on flavour. Sink into the rich soil of Circa 1876 and transport yourself you to a truly exceptional dining experience. Bookings are essential: info@circa1876.com or Ph: 02 4998 4998
Need a break from wine tastings? How about taking in the country air and beautiful views with a leisurely round of golf at one of the Hunter Valley’s world class golf courses?
Spring is in the air – and in our cocktail glasses! Forget about winter with 2 recipes for our favourite seasonally inspired sips!
Fresh from working on the Californian Coast for the last three years, Hunter-born Aaron Mercer has returned home to pursue his love of sustainable viticulture at Tamburlaine Organic Wines. The Hunter Blackboard’s handy guide to finding your way around Wine Country.
64 Halls Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320 www.theconventhuntervalley.com 3 | SEPTEMBER 2016 thb
WHAT’S HOT IN THE HUNTER
Balloon FIESTA The annual Balloon Aloft Hunter Valley Balloon Fiesta is set to take to the skies over the Hunter Valley on the 22nd and 23rd October, and it's promising to be the biggest year yet!
HOPE A WINNER Great beer, great food and great times. That's what you want in a brewhouse, and Hope Estate Brewhouse's hard work has paid off, winning the Hopco Champion Small Brewery award recently in the Craft Beer Industry Associations' (CBIA) Craft Beer Awards night in Brisbane. With 12 very different beers on tap at any given time, including Pokolbin Blonde, Chocolate Milk Porter and Gluten Free Pilsner, it's not difficult to see the reason behind this award. Brewer Matt Hogan brings a winemaker’s approach to brewing, where he strives to add new dimensions to some of our old favourites. He also likes variation and choice -relentlessly adding new brews to the list when he can. The beer is 100% fresh, with no preservatives, no pasteurisation, and of course nothing between you and the pure beer flavour. Together with the delicious cafe style food on offer at the Brewhouse café, Hope Brewhouse is a great place to stop in wine country!
Each day will see around twenty hot air balloons from all around the country launch together at sunrise in a beautiful display of colour. Come join in the excitement as a passenger or follow along from the ground! The best way to see the fiesta is definitely as a passenger on board, with celebrations continued afterwards at Peterson House. Live music, a gourmet breakfast plus a delectable champagne tasting will definitely wrap up a fun-filled morning. You will also get the chance to meet Balloon Aloft pilot Nicola Scaife, who recently defended her title at the Second Women's World Championship competition in Lithuania - who better to have as your pilot! Tickets start from $299 per person inclusive of flight, breakfast and champagne tasting so be quick to book.
WHERE Hope Estate Brewhouse, 2213 Broke Road Pokolbin. Ph 4993 3555. www.hopeestate.com.au
RS EDPITI O CK MB SEPTE
ER
Find Your
INNER ZEN FOR FREE! Nanna Kerr’s Kitchen have fed our bodies with their delicious organic food and now they want to feed our souls with their free yoga classes running at 9am Thursday to Monday! In true Nanna Kerr’s style, Jimmy and Matty welcome everyone from yoga novices to yoga veterans to attend. Begin your day relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to take on all that the Hunter Valley offers. No bookings are needed for these classes, just show up ready! Mats are available to use or you can bring your own. WHERE Nanna Kerr's Kitchen, 16 Pokolbin Mountains Road, Pokolbin. Phone 4998 7333 or visit www.nannakerrskitchen.com.au
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SHEILA A STAR! People and animals can form amazing bonds, making them inseparable. In most cases, it's a domestic animal such as a cat, dog or bird. However, Deb from Moorebank Vineyard shares a very special bond with her black sheep, Sheila. Sheila was already a local celebrity, but her star status soared since catching the attention of the one and only Dr Harry for a special story on Channel 7’s Better Homes and Gardens in July! Check out the story on the Better Homes and Gardens website and let Sheila’s un-sheep like behaviour make you laugh and truly warm your heart. Or better yet, pay Sheila a visit at Moorebank Vineyard at 150 Palmers Lane, Pokolbin and taste her very own wine – the 2008 Sheila Black Sheep Shiraz! www.moorebankvineyard.com
UPCOMING EVENTS Spring Festival of Flowers 1-30 September 2016
THOUSANDS OF ANNUALS IN BLOOM Spring Cruiz-In 25 September 2016
SPRING has Sprung at Hunter Valley Gardens Say goodbye to your Winter slumber and let Hunter Valley Gardens awaken your senses with the Spring Festival of Flowers, an event designed to immerse visitors in a visual and sensory experience they will never forget.
SPECTATOR ENTRY FREE! LOCATED IN THE HUNTER VALLEY GARDEN S SHOPPING VILLAG E
Rose Spectacular 15 October-13 November 2016
HUNDREDS & THOUSANDS OF BLOOMS
Now an annual event on the Hunter Valley calendar, The Spring Festival of Flowers will be held from the 1st to the 30th of September. It’s the perfect time of year to visit Hunter Valley Gardens with over 100,000 annuals, bulbs and blossoms all coming alive. The event invites those young and young at heart to enjoy the vibrant colours, warm aromas and beautiful spring blossoms. Ever wondered where the idea for the Hunter Valley Gardens came from? Or how it became Australia’s largest display gardens? At 11am each day of the festival, all your questions will be answered with daily talks about the history of the gardens. There will also be talks each afternoon about the individual gardens including the Oriental Garden, Storybook Garden, Lakes Walk and Moongate Garden. Visit the Hunter Valley Gardens website for the full schedule of daily talks. Enhance your experience by undertaking a guided train tour of the gardens. Commentary is provided by the friendly train driver, offering fascinating insights about the history and development of the gardens. The 40 minute tours depart every hour and can be booked at the Gardens Entry. The guided tours are offered at the additional cost of $7 per adult, $5 per child or $20 for 2 adults and 2 children. Spring sees layers of colour spread across the gardens as the trees and flowers flourish, it is truly an enchanting time to visit the Hunter Valley Gardens. For more information, visit www.hvg.com.au
Nestled at the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges, in the heart of the Hunter vineyards is the magnificent Hunter Valley Gardens. With ten internationally themed display gardens and a variety of annual events, the Gardens is great for the whole family.
02 4998 4000 - hvg.com.au - Broke Road Pokolbin
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MUST DO
Photo: SimplyInfinite Photography by Nadia Gradwell
The Wollombi community is vibrant and diverse and there’s no better place to hold a music festival of this type. Combining the beautiful mountain setting with an awesome adjacent camping area, the Wollombi Music Festival is full of fantastic music, awesome markets, great food, camping, workshops, roving performers and more! Of course no visit to Wollombi would be complete without sampling a Dr Jurds Jungle Juice at the Wollombi Tavern or relaxing with the locals at the Laguna Trading Post. Don’t miss the festivals FREE launch party at the Wollombi Tavern on Friday September 23rd. A camping area will be available for all festival patrons, however if camping is not your thing a great variety of accommodation is available in the area.
Wollombi Music
FESTIVAL
Tickets including on-site camping are available for $100 plus booking fee and day tickets or tickets including off-site camping at Wollombi Tavern are $90 plus booking fee. Ticket sales are limited to 400 onsite camping and 100 day/tavern camping tickets, so be quick so you don’t miss out! For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.wollombimusicfestival.com.au Photo: Fletcher Pilon, SimplyInfinite Photography by Nadia Gradwell
The Wollombi Valley is known for its creative and diverse culture and rich indigenous history. The Wollombi Music Festival to be held on Saturday September 24th is about reflecting these qualities and wrapping them into one groovy night of festival fun. Now in its 7th year, the Wollombi Music Festival continues to grow in popularity and presence to the point where it is now one of the most popular small festivals around, with an eclectic line-up of Australian bands. This year’s impressive line-up includes The Lachy Doley Group, Kallidad, The Fumes, Cheap Fakes, Zoe K, King Tide, Hot Potato Band, local musician and multi-instrumentalist Luke Jon Shearer plus many more.
Hunter Valley
Horse Ridingures & Advent
Trail Rides for Beginners and Experienced Riders
Pony Rides • Family Rides • Picnics • BBQ’s • Breakfast Rides Personalised Rides • Hiking & Mountain Bike Trails Sunset Rides • Kangaroos • Spectacular Valley Views Childrens Sulky Rides • Tractor Hay Rides to Feed the Animals! Spotlight Safari Tour to see the Nocturnal Wildlife - Departs After Sunset Stay after your ride and enjoy a picnic!
For Bookings Phone Margaret on 4930 7111 or 0417 233 008 Stay & play at Hilltop, 288 Talga Road, Lovedale So close to all of Wine Countrys attractions, yet you feel a million miles away..
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Local talent Dave Wells
A Budding EXPERIENCE Celebrate budfest in the vineyard with the annual Budfest at Briar Festival, which will return to Briar Ridge Vineyard for its third year on Sunday September 18th. It is often assumed that fine wines should only be enjoyed at formal occasions or by true wine connoisseurs. Head Winemaker Gwyn Olsen is a firm believer that “a good wine doesn’t always need candles, white tablecloths and Wagyu beef, but can be equally enjoyable with your favourite takeaway.” It was Gwyn’s commitment to making wines more accessible and love of takeaway food that were the inspiration behind the Budfest at Briar Festival.
“Some of my best wine memories are heading to the beach with a bottle of Semillon, some fish ‘n’ chips and a great sunset,” said Gwyn. Epicure Café will be preparing a selection of five lunchtime favourites, such as a pork slider with chips and lamb korma with rice, whilst winemaker Andrew Ling will be on hand to guide you with a number of wine pairing options. There will also be showcase of Hunter Valley cheeses, handcrafted sweets, craft beer and cider available for purchase. Get your friends and family together for a laugh by taking part in the ‘Briar Budfest Wine Challenge’, whilst the kids are entertained with games on the lawn. Popular local musician Dave Wells will be playing some relaxed Sunday tunes, so take along your picnic rug and settle in for an afternoon of great music, food and a glass or two Briar Ridge’s finest. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children (17 years and under). Adult tickets include a take home Govino festival wine glass, a meal of your choice, a glass of Briar Ridge wine and participation in the ‘Briar Budfest Wine Challenge’. Children’s tickets include a meal, soft drink or milkshake and lawn games. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.briarridge.com.au
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MUST DO
Hunter Valley Vineyards Boutique Cheesery
HUNTER VALLEY
CHEESE FACTORY Images of Dashville 2015 by Kell Stoner www.littlestory.com.au
Dashville Skyline
Award winning cheese handmade in Pokolbin Hunter Valley to compliment the varietal wines of the region. • Tasting rooms open daily 9am to 5.30pm. • Cheese-making and maturation room viewing all day. • Complimentary instructional cheese-making tutorial daily 11am and 3pm.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, Dashville Skyline returns in 2016 bigger and better from Friday 30th September to Sunday October 2nd. The festival will again be nestled in the pristine bushland oasis affectionately known as ‘Dashville’ and will gather the best artists and songwriters together in one location to share music from the golden era of ‘Americana’ music, so kick back and have a bit of fun over a lazy long weekend. This year’s line-up for the boutique Americana celebration boasts an Australian rock icon, international guests and a stellar array of our nation’s new generation of songwriters. Leading the festival’s roster is Brian Cadd, a man who is bonafide music royalty. He has had a number of solo hits including Ginger Man and Keep On Rockin, as well as hits with Axiom, such as A Little Ray of Sunshine. However, he is most well known as being a prolific songwriter with his songs being performed by an incredible list of artists, including Joe Cocker, Ringo Starr, Glen Campbell, Gene Pitney and Charlie Daniels. Festival organiser Matt Johnson is excited about the inclusion of Brian Cadd, who he describes as “an absolute legend. For me, I think he represents a huge part of what this festival is about… supreme song writing.” Cadd will be joined on the line-up by San Franciscan folk and bluegrass band The Brothers Comatose. Led with sweet and furious energy by the Morrison brothers, Ben and Alex, the five-piece band has been whipping American music lovers into a frenzy and hopes to do the same to the Dashville Skyline audience. The bumper line-up also includes Melody Pool, The Wilson Pickers, Raised by Eagles, The Hello Morning, Henry Wagons & The Only Children, William Crighton, The Eastern (NZ), Davey Craddock, The Spectacles, Jordie Lane, Spookyland, James Thomson & The Strange Pilgrims, Dashville Progress Society and many more! Along with the musical soundtrack, expect the best in American cuisine, cars and culture alongside the relaxed family atmosphere and onsite bush camping that Dashville has become popular for. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.dashville.com.au
thb 8 | SEPTEMBER 2016
ARTISIAN AUSTRALIAN CHEESEMAKERS Located at Mcguigan Wine Complex 447 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin PH 4998 7744
www.huntervalleycheese.com.au
A Great Day Out in Broke The scenic Broke Fordwich wine region will once again host the annual Broke Village Fair and Vintage Car Display on Sunday 11th September. It is little wonder the popularity of this event grows every year, with a range of activities including market stalls, children’s activities and rides, live music, bush poetry, tug-o-war, rocker car racing and so much more - it is a guaranteed great family day out. The event first started 30 years ago with just a couple of men comparing cars at the local store. This year, McNamara Park will come alive with the Vintage Car Display attracting all sorts of vintage and classic cars, motorbikes, trucks, tractors and an amazing array of vintage farm machinery. This year, there will be over 60 market stalls featuring local arts, crafts and fresh produce, including local winemakers and olive producers who will be on hand to answer questions and provide tastings. While Mum and Dad enjoy the festival atmosphere, the kids will be entertained by the amusement rides, laser tag and the petting zoo. Following the popularity of the free mine tours of the Bulga Open Cut mine at last year’s event, mine tours will be operating again between 10am and 1pm for the whole family. Entry to the fair and vintage car display is a gold coin donation, with all money raised to be donated to local community groups including the Broke Fire Brigade and Broke Hall. For more information, visit www.brokefordwich.com.au
Check out whats happening on
Hermitage Road NEW MATILDA BAY BREWHOUSE HUNTER VALLEY Winemakers say, “It takes alot of great beer to make a Hunter wine...” What better way to finish off a hard day of wine-tasting than with a cleansing ale. We have 12 amazing craft beers for you to look at, analyse and taste… experience the unique Beer Tasting Paddle with tasting notes.
NEW LA GLACE GOURMET PRODUCE & DESSERT BAR La Glace is the oldest and probably best confectionary in Denmark. Founded in the middle of old Copenhagen in 1870, it has through six generations delivered joy and quality to Copenhagen and its visitors. In the best of Danish tradition, please come in and visit La Glace Dessert Bar at Hunter Valley Resort for the freshest Ice Creams, Chocolate, Cakes, and of course coffee. Did we mention our range of gourmet produce?
NEW SEGWAY TOURS The Hunter Valley has finally got a guided Segway Tour. Explore this historic region famous for its world class wine on your very own Segway! This amazing adventure starts off at the brewhouse at Hunter Valley Resort, before entering the off road tracks / trails of this vast bush land property and travelling along an old 1880’s stock route. So make sure you bring your camera, it’s an experience not to be missed! HUNTER WINE THEATRE At 11am & 2pm, see the 15 min movie following a grape through the winemaking process into the bottle. The wine tutorial afterwards is a must do. Groups welcome. HERMITAGE ROAD CELLARS 49 different wines from 12 small Hunter producers, all at the one Cellar Door. Must be the largest selection of wines in the Hunter.
BINNORIE CHEESE DAIRY Arguably the best locally made cheeses in the area. You have not experienced the best cheese the Hunter has to offer if you miss this place. HUNTER VALLEY WINE SCHOOL Every day at 9am, the 2 hour Wine School includes a Vineyard inspection, experience the winemaking process, learn how to taste and blend wines. Finally, a personalised Wine Appreciation Certificate. Bookings essential. HEAVENLY HUNTER MASSAGES Sally Margan’s Heavenly Hunter Massage Centre – the name says it all… Book in a Hawaiian Ka huna today. Bookings essential. BIG KIDS CANDY MAKING Make Rocky Road from scratch.
30min Massage + 30min Facial + 30min Pedicure
$149 (normally $207)
at Adina Vineyard 492 Lovedale Rd, Lovedale
facility. You travel along an old 1880’s stock route.. Kids can do the 20 minute pony ride too. Bookings essential. Tyrrells
Broke Road
Hunter Gardens/ Cessnock Deasys Road
HUNTER VALLEY RESORT
Singleton/ Branxton
Mistletoe Lane
H ermitage Road
DELUXE TASTING PACKAGE
• Massage • Facials • Body Treatments • Pedicures/ Manicures • Hens Parties • Spa Packages
WINE COUNTRY HORSERIDING Pokolbin’s only horseriding
d Roa rth
Reflections Day Spa
Old No
Hunter Valley
Big Kids = Alcoholic Rocky Road… Also great activity for families, minus the alcohol of course! (Min 8 pax – bookings essential)
COME AND EXPERIENCE THE QUIETER SIDE OF POKOLBIN. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
For more information visit www.hunterresort.com.au or call 02 4998 7777
New England Highway
OPEN 7 days PH 4930 9006 • www.reflectionsdayspa.com.au
9 | SEPTEMBER 2016 thb
A CELEBRATION OF ASIAN CULTURE In the Hunter Valley BY MICHELLE MEEHAN
Commencing at the Moon Palace on Saturday 17, the world’s first LED lion dance will dance its way between all Seven Stars destinations, spreading wealth, luck and health throughout the Hunter Valley before returning to the Moon Palace at the culmination of the festival. Of course, there will be more than just bright lights to dazzle visitors to the Moon Palace, with an array of authentic Asian experiences on offer throughout the festival including Kung Fu and Tai Chi demonstrations, cultural talks, cookings shows, traditional dances and performances by the Cantonese Opera. The younger members of the family are also well catered for, with the Little Moon Princess Pageant for girls aged under 15 to be held at the Moon Palace on September 17, while those with a creative side can enter the lantern design competition for a chance to win some great prizes.
The Hunter Valley wine region will uncork the sights and sounds of the Orient this month as part of a celebration of one of Asia’s most significant harvest festivals.
Visitors stuck for an idea for their lantern can take inspiration from those on show at the Moon Palace and throughout the Seven Stars venues, which together will form Australia’s largest display of Chinese lanterns.
Presented by Hunter Shows, the inaugural Hunter Valley Moon Festival will run from September 15-18 featuring everything from the wonder and excitement of Australia’s largest ever lantern festival to the uniquely tantalising tastes of Chinese moon cakes matched with Hunter Valley wines.
There will also be inflatable games at Vineyard Hill Resort, while those looking to get in touch with their wild side can head over to Hunter Valley Zoo to experience a sheep shearing show, have their photo taken with some of its four-legged inhabitants and take part in the venue’s first night guided tour.
The event is based on the traditional harvest festival also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated by ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese people on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese Han and Vietnamese calendars, within 15 days of the autumnal equinox.
But, as with any event in the Hunter’s wine region, the festival is not just about the sights and sounds of Asia – it’s also about savouring the flavours as well!
It is a time for family and reunions; for thanksgiving, prayer and worshipping of the full moon, which is said to be at its brightest at this time of the year and is a symbol of harmony and unity. And what better place to celebrate with your friends and family than in the beautiful Hunter vineyards, renowned for their ability to put on truly memorable outdoor events. Set around the theme of Seven Stars and the Moon, the four-day Hunter Valley Moon Festival is expected to attract a record number of visitors to the region as it celebrates the rich and diverse cultural traditions of Asia. It will be held across seven venues - Hope Estate, Peterson House, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Drayton's Family Wines, Hunter Valley Zoo, King Horse and Vineyard Hill Resort - with each of these “Stars” representing a different theme for visitors to explore and experience. Hope Estate’s picturesque grasslands will also play host to the main attraction of the event, the magnificent Moon Palace, where the festival will be spectacularly opened on Thursday, September 15.
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Drop into Drayton’s Family Wines for a taste of their specially-created Moon wine and mouth-watering mooncakes or join the parade to Peterson House to enjoy the bubbles of their limited edition Moon sparkling or savour the sweetness of their Moon chocolate and Moon dessert. Relax in style and comfort while raising a glass of Moon beer at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, sample an authentic taste of Asia at Vineyard Hill as it launches three new signature dishes direct from its Hong Kong Michelin Star restaurant or simply savour a lakeside wine tasting experience under the stars at King Horse. A range of ticket options are available for the festival, starting from as little as $10 for a single admission to the Moon Palace and the performance hall at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley through to $308 family packages that will allow two adults and two children to indulge in the full festival experience. Visit www.huntershows.com for more information and to purchase your tickets.
The Hunter Valley’s first Asian Cultural Celebration!
The first annual Hunter Valley Moon Festival will be a colourful four-day celebration of the rich cultural traditions of Asia with performances, Asian cuisine, lion dances and most importantly, Moon Cakes matched with Hunter Valley wines!
HUNTER VALLEY
The theme for this year’s event is “Seven Stars & the Moon”, with seven “stars” of the Hunter Valley including Hope Estate, Peterson House, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Drayton’s Family Wines, Hunter Valley Zoo, King Horse and Vineyard Hill Resort offering festival-goers a rich and culturally immersive experience.
TICKETS MOON PALACE - ONLY $10!
Includes unlimited entry into the festival at the “Moon Palace” at Hope Estate, performances and fair.
FULL FESTIVAL PACKAGE
SEPTEMBER
15-18
Hope Estate, 2213 Broke Road, Pokolbin Crowne Plaza, 430 Wine Country Drive, Lovedale
Hunter Valley Moon Festival
Hunter
Adults $88 – Students, Concession & Children $70 – Family Pass (2 Adults, 2 Children) $308. Includes “Moon Palace” admission tickets, one lunch ticket, one Hunter Valley Zoo admission ticket, one game, gift and souvenir pack, welcome drink and a coupon booklet (total value more than $200). FREE entry on the first day of the festival for community, school and VIP groups. Register on our website for your FREE admission ticket. Tickets available to purchase from
www.huntershows.com
Scone – the small hamlet in the Upper Hunter with a population of 4,624 people. She also has a property in Mosman – Sydney. The interest of the well to do in the Hunter Valley is nothing new. In fact, it has been going on since the sixties with the growing interest in wine and the Hunter as an alternative lifestyle to that of city life.
The Early Years It was only when Sydney Cove started experiencing food, fuel and material shortages that an expedition headed by Lieutenant Colonel Paterson was sent to the Hunter region, where a penal colony was soon established for the more difficult convicts of Sydney Cove who served their time cutting timber and mining coal. What followed was the construction of the Great North Road and the first road linking Sydney and Newcastle - crossing the Hawkesbury River at Wiseman's Ferry. Peter O'Meara, owner of Adina Vineyard and Olive Grove.
The Hunter Valley Home to the...
"Movers & Shakers" BY QUENTIN VON ESSEN
It’s Australia’s oldest and premier wine region - built on 185 years of passion and dedication to the craft, resulting in the production of many world-class wines. It’s fair to say that the roots of old grapevines run deep in this part of the country with wine making in the Hunter Valley dating back to the 1820’s, when James Busby returned with cuttings of European vines and established what is considered the first vineyard in the area. Some of the most well respected names in Hunter Valley wine history shortly followed, establishing vineyards in the area in the 1850's - some of these long-established names are still in existence today However, it was not really until the 1960s that the wine industry of the Lower Hunter Valley really took off due to the closure of local mining operations and the arrival of European immigrants after the Second World War led to a reorientation of Australian tastes. By the 1980s the wine industry had replaced the mining industry as the centerpiece of the local economy.
The convenience of road transport quickly opened up the Hunter Valley to new settlers, who found that the sandy banks of the river flats were suitable for many types of agriculture. Pastoral and agricultural activities soon grew to the point where it equaled coal mining and timber in importance. By early 1820's approximately 20 acres of vineyards had been planted on the northern banks of the Hunter River between Maitland and Singleton by early winemaking pioneers such as George Wyndham, James King and William Kelman. By 1876, land planted with vine had exceeded 1800 acres. From these humble beginnings, the Hunter Valley flourished, with several families establishing vineyards in the area. The Wilkinson, Tyrrell, Elliott, Tulloch, Drayton and McGuigan families winemaking history can all be traced to the mid to late 19th century, as can the viticultural pursuits of Dr Henry Lindeman. The 1950's and 1960's saw consumer taste shift toward drier styles of wine. As a result the 1960's saw a dramatic increase in the number of plantings of vine including red wine varietals and the reintroduction of Cabernet Sauvignon to the Hunter Valley. It was at this stage that a real "mover and shaker", the larger than life and now late Dr Max Lake entered the Hunter Valley wine scene – establishing the small boutique winery Lake’s Folly in 1963, famed for its Cabernet and Chardonnay which were planted in 1963 and 1969 respectively. Today the vineyard has an enviable reputation, epitomising the wine dream and attracting a loyal following of devotees. By 1976, plantings in the Hunter Valley had grown to exceed 10,000 acres and the Australian wine boom of the 1990's pushed plantings even further to over 11,000 acres. This served to attract even more interest in the Hunter Valley as a potential property investment, career change, alternative lifestyle or to fulfil a passion and love of wine and winemaking. Since then, there have been numerous families who, with a shared love of the Hunter Valley, have made a significant contribution to the area – introducing new restaurants, cellar doors, attractions, a new way of doing things and new ideas.
Today, the region boasts a multi-million dollar tourism and wine industry with over 150 vineyards producing some of the country’s best wines – most notably Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz. In recent years, the region has also become a prime destination for Sydney’s elite, including our own prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who in 1982 inherited his father’s property situated between Aberdeen and Scone and has since added a number of pastoral properties to his real estate portfolio in the Hunter region. There’s also the Packer family’s Ellerston Pastoral – the cattle and sheep station located just north of Scone that includes an 18-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman as well as stables, tennis courts and polo fields. So extensive are the polo facilities alone at Ellerston, that they were able to host much of the US Olympic equestrian polo team when it came for the 2000 Olympics. The Hunter is also home to the Australia’s richest woman - US born billionaire Blair Parry-Okeden who lives a reclusive life as an heiress in
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Darren (second from left) and Tracey Scott (far right) with their four children.
Michael Hope, founder of Hope Estate and a pharmacist by trade, gave up his pharmacy career to do something he loved – to make wine. Hope Estate was first established in Broke in 1994 and moved to its current location in 2006 on the site of the former Rothbury Estate. Since then Michael has taken the estate to a new level, adding a restaurant and brewery to the existing cellar door and creating an amphitheatre that holds 20,000 people, becoming the Hunter’s premier concert destination attracting world famous bands and artists from all over the world. Yet another noteworthy name worthy of the title 'mover and shaker' is Australian film director Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, The Bone Collector and Rabbit Proof Fence), who with his brother Michael, owns Noyce Brothers Wines in the historic town of Wollombi.
Hunter Valley Gardens is one of the most visited places in Pokolbin.
Names such as the late Brian Agnew, who’s family business Agnew Wines owns Audrey Wilkinson and Cockfighter’s Ghost vineyards, the late Len Evans who it is said did more to advance the cause of wine in Australia than any other individual and the late David Clarke - co-founder of Macquarie Bank and owner of Pooles Rock Wines, will forever be remembered and are indelibly written into the Hunter’s wine history. Another couple that have made a significant impact on the Hunter Valley are Bill and Imelda Roche, who after selling their business - Nutrimetics International, in 1997, decided to create a garden that would be enjoyed by generations. After significant investment, the gardens were opened to the public in 2003 and are now considered one of the largest privately owned gardens in the world, and a major tourist attraction - receiving in excess of 200,000 visitors a year. Peter O’Meara is another, who after years spent travelling the world and working in various roles such as Director of IBM Australia and President of Lexmark Asia Pacific, turned his back on the corporate world to pursue his love for wine and in 2003, purchased the 130 acre Adina Vineyard and Olive Grove in Lovedale. Today, the upgraded facility includes a modern cellar door complex that includes a restaurant, an olive mill and processing plant and 4 star tourist accommodation. Peter is also now President of Australian Olive Association. Sydney based dentist Darren Scott and his wife Tracey fell in love with the natural beauty of the region during their first trip to the Hunter and in 2000, purchased the property "Ironbark Estate" on Sweetwater Ridge which they named RidgeView. The 40 hectare timber property has since been transformed into a vineyard with 22 acres of selected vines, four self-contained cottages, a state-of-the-art cellar door and outstanding 110 seat restaurant. Then there’s Vicki and Bill Widin, who made the decision to purchase the former Rothbury Estate Brokenback vineyard in 2008, renaming it Leogate Estate and set about building a new state-of-the-art winery, luxurious cellar door and tasting room, as well as the renowned Villa du Pays Restaurant with its own purpose built Dry-Ageing room. Bill, an accountant by profession who branched out into farming and grazing also owns the 12,500 acre Middlebrook Park Black Angus cattle stud just south of Tamworth. John Davis, owner of Briar Ridge Vineyard, Tallavera Grove and Pepper Tree Wines, is a geologist who has applied his learning about rocks to two different but related fields - oil exploration and winegrowing. His first career was in oil and he found it during his first attempt in WA's Canning Basin. In his wine career, he's been a Hunter vineyard owner for almost 30 years and today, the Davis family vineyards include four quite different regions and total 173 hectares – with vineyards in the Hunter Valley, Orange, Wrattonbully and Coonawarra.
Hope Estate is renown for their big-name concerts.
The Hunter Valley Today Today the Hunter Valley is about more than wine – it’s about wine and food and everything in between. Not only is the wine amongst the best in the world but the restaurants and chefs are amongst the best in the country with an number of hatted restaurants making up the local dining scene. People are also attracted to the Hunter Valley for its natural beauty and all the things they can do that include amongst others golf at one of 4 championship golf courses, ballooning, horseriding, relaxing at a day spa or strolling through an art gallery. With 3 major concert venues – Bimbadgen, Hope Estate and Roche Estate, the Hunter Valley has in the past 10 years also earned the reputation for being the ultimate outdoor concert destination attracting thousands of music lovers and world famous bands and musicians that include Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, Elton John, Tom Jones, Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Richie, Neil Diamond, Simply Red and the Rolling Stones just to mention a few - all of whom have performed in the Hunter Valley in past year or two. Assisted by the unprecedented growth in the Hunter Valley, thanks largely to the fast growing tourism and hospitality industries and its location being less than 2 hours from Sydney, the area has become a leading holiday destination for weekend getaways, day trips and short breaks. Apart from visitors, the Hunter Valley is increasingly luring people who are looking to make a lifestyle change. Of course, the increased mobility of the workforce, improved technologies and telecommunications has also meant that people can live and work in the Hunter Valley with just a few days spent in Sydney. But it’s more than the geography of Hunter Valley and lifestyle which has lured in Sydney-siders. The property boom that Sydney has experienced still hasn’t reached the Hunter Valley, where prices are still very much affordable, not to mention schooling which can be less than half the price of education in Sydney.
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HOPE ESTATE’S
Massive Wine Sale at The Garden Cellars
“Largest beer range
Come in and Pick & Mix 12 wines from $100. Huge selection of wine to choose from.
Come in and visit the ‘Tunnel of Beer’. Stocked to the brim with delicious brews from around the world.
in the valley!”
Mention this ad in store and receive a free bottle of wine with any purchase exceeding $30!
THE GARDEN
CELLARS
Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village Broke Road, Pokolbin OPEN 7 DAYS 10am - 5.30pm | PH 4998 7466 www.gardencellars.com.au
CAMPBELLS STORE Morpeth
Free Ginger Beer, Fudge & Honey Tasting awaits you at Campbell’s Store, Morpeth. Campbell’s Store is the Hunter Valley’s ultimate unique shopping destination and foodies paradise. A leisurely 45 minute drive from Hunter Wine Country, the 180 year old Campbell’s Store houses 13 speciality shops, investment Australian Art Gallery, Antique Centre & Tearoom, all under one roof. OPEN Thursday – Sunday & most Public Holidays 10am – 5pm. (Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day & Boxing Day)
Mention this ad to receive Free: A Morpeth VIP card & offer of the month.
175 Swan Street, Morpeth, NSW 2321 PH 02 4933 1407 • www.campbellsstoremorpeth.com
thb 14 | SEPTEMBER 2016
GOLF
Cypress Lakes is a picturesque 6,487m par 72, 18-hole championship golf course.
Teeing Off Amongst the Vineyards BY QUENTIN VON ESSEN
Take in the invigorating country air and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and vineyards with a leisurely round of golf. Golf still enjoys great popularity in Australia - ranking sixth among participation sports - and contributes almost $3 billion annually to the economy. But for many it’s the perfect opportunity to just get away from it all while getting in some exercise at the same time. There's nothing like the Hunter Valley to set the scene for a great round of golf. From 4 world-class golf resorts and a few local courses to choose from - giving players plenty of options for both serious and social players. It's also the perfect way to get out and stretch those legs between wine tastings! The region boasts a number of golf clubs and resorts offering high-class facilities and challenging courses set amidst picture-perfect natural surroundings. In addition, there’s also the added promise of a locally brewed craft beer or a spectacular vintage to be enjoyed at the 19th hole after you've completed the course. For a first-rate golfing experience visit the Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club - a picturesque 6,487 metre par 72, 18-hole championship golf course that is ranked among the top golf resorts in Australia. The front nine is a links style layout par 37 and the back nine is a tree lined with sloping fairways par 35. Opened in 1992, and designed by Steve Smyers of Florida, each tee and green offers stunning panoramic views of the neighbouring vineyards and the surrounding Brokenback mountain range. This Championship layout boasts dramatic fairways shapes and elevation changes, 60 strategically located bunkers and generous greens that are in superb condition all year round. Significant golf course infrastructure investment by the Oaks Hotels group is quickly catapulting Cypress Lakes to the top of must play resort destinations in Australia.
The always immaculate, Hunter Valley Golf and Country Club located within the grounds of the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, is another outstanding option, where great golf meets first-class resort amenities. This superbly manicured 18 hole, par 71 course is nearly 6,000 metres long and comes with stunning views, tree-lined fairways, an expansive lake, the odd encounter with native wildlife and a chilled atmosphere. The course is well suited to golfers of all levels and the impressive layout features a number of challenging holes that will exceed all expectations. Once you've finished playing pamper yourself at the in-house health and wellness centre, or enjoy a drink at the alfresco bar before relocating to the restaurant for some casual dining. The prestigious Vintage Golf Club in Rothbury features a Greg Normandesigned championship golf course which is ranked among the best in Australia with fairways and greens set alongside undisturbed wetlands, beautiful water features, eucalypts and vineyards and perfect for golfers playing at all levels. The 18-hole course measures 6,310 metres with a par 71 and is the only Greg Norman designed public access golf course in the Hunter Valley and in fact in New South Wales. Those who are serious about their golf would know that the course is well known for its challenges. Signature bunkers and water traps keep the pros focused while the highly respected 8th hole is a par 3 heart breaker. And if you are feeling a little rusty you can even have your swing analysed before enjoying a challenging ‘on the course’ golf lesson with resident Golf Professional Richard Mercer who is 5 times nominated NSW PGA Teaching Professional of the Year and considered one of Australia's finest teaching professionals. Alternatively get your swing on at the fully serviced driving range or put some practice in at the putting green near the pro shop. Stonebridge Golf Course is the Hunter Valley’s newest 18 hole golf course. Designed by local golfing master, Jack Newton, this 18-hole Par-72, 6,127m layout offers unique challenges to all golfing enthusiasts. The course's signature 18th hole features a challenging par three playing over a tranquil lake, as well as the stone bridge directing golfers over the water and onto a picturesque green. Perfection to a tee. The Hunter Valley offers some truly memorable golf experiences and for those who have an appreciation for this noble sport, there is no shortage of world class golf courses and facilities to keep you both challenged and entertained. If you are looking for a more chilled out session to improve that golf swing – pop along to Hunter Valley Gardens Aqua Golf which boasts a 5,000 square metre lake full of floating target nets to land your ball in.
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COCKTAILS
SIP INTO
Spring
Spring has sprung at last and it’s safe to say we are looking forward to the warmer weather and our palettes are ready for the season’s bounty. However, we are not just craving all the fresh seasonal produce in stores, but also the seasonal spirits and cocktails. It’s time to put aside the winter warmers and deep, richly flavoured drinks in favour of the lighter, brighter and fresher flavours of Spring! So what is a spring cocktail? While there is no definitive answer, most people would agree it would be something that can be tossed together with the freshest seasonal ingredients, that rewards you with maximum refreshment for minimal effort. There is no better way to celebrate the impending arrival of the warmer months than using the flavours of Spring, such as mint, ginger, strawberry, mango and raspberry to concoct a little spring in a glass, that is as delicious as it is colourful. Just like the menu at your favourite Hunter Valley restaurant, Spring cocktails change from year to year depending on what fresh seasonal produce is available as well as what is on-trend at the moment. So to impress your friends at your upcoming cocktail party, dinner or casual BBQ, we have rounded up the hottest trends in cocktails this Spring:
Fresh Farm to Table Ingredients - Where cocktails were once the realm of sticky liqueurs and tinned fruits, there has now been a push towards using the freshest available ingredients. Beer Cocktails - With the dramatic rise of craft breweries, it is only a matter of time before we see more beer showing up in cocktails - fancy a Corona-Rita? Yum! Herbs & Spices - There has been a move towards Greco-Roman inspired drinks with the increasing use of herbs, spices and honey to provide unique and delicious flavours in cocktails. Here are two of our favourite Spring cocktails that are both easy and quick to prepare – no fancy inclusions or too many types of alcohol. Just simple, refreshing spring sipping, with flavours of herbs and fruits. Here’s cheers to Spring! ►
OPEN FOR TASTINGS AND SALES
7 Days, 10am - 5pm 1686 Broke Road, Pokolbin Hunter Valley PH (02) 4998 6737 • info@hunterdistillery.com.au www.hunterdistillery.com.au thb 16 | SEPTEMBER 2016
STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI
MOSCOW MULE
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
4 fresh strawberries 2 tsp white sugar 35ml white rum 1 tbsp Hunter Distillery Strawberry Liqueur 25ml fresh lime juice
45ml Premium Valli Vodka 60ml Hunter Distillery Ginger Liqueur 30ml soda water Lime wedge
Method:
1. Shake vodka and ginger liqueur with ice in a cocktail shaker.
1. Place the strawberries, sugar, rum, strawberry liqueur and lime juice into the base of a cocktail shaker and mash (or muddle) with the end of a wooden spoon or cocktail muddler.
Method:
2. Strain into a sugar rimmed martini glass. 3. Top with soda water and finish with a generous squeeze of lime.
2. Place the lid onto the cocktail shaker and shake well.
4. Toss the lime into glass to serve.
3. Strain the mixture into a martini glass and serve.
Indulge with
Hunter Valley
Chocolate
We invite you to indulge in our fine range of unique hand-made chocolate products and our huge variety of freshly made fudge. Our chocolates are produced using the finest Belgian couverture, Australian dried fruits and nuts, and distilled pure fruit oils. Peterson House • Cnr Broke Rd & Wine Country Dr • Ph 4998 7301 Hunter Valley Gardens Village • Shop 5, Broke Rd, Pokolbin • Ph 4998 7221 TWENTY - 3 - TWENTY • 2320 Broke Rd, Pokolbin • Ph 4998 6999
www.hvchocolate.com.au • admin@hvchocolate.com.au
All things bees and honey! Free tastings daily of a huge range of local and not so local honeys Hunter Valley Gardens Village Pokolbin Entry through Ye Olde General Store… PH 4998 7191
Epicure Café is nestled in the heart of wine country, offering a relaxed casual dining experience. Open for breakfast and lunch and anything in between. Chef/Owner Andreas Burri uses fresh seasonal produce with an emphasis on local products and delivering on taste.
2/246 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin PH 4998 6665 OPEN Mon to Fri 9am – 4pm, Sat & Sun 9am – 5pm
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FOOD 5 WAYS
BERRY BERRY
Spring! BY DI VON ESSEN
Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, goji berries, boysenberries, cranberries, raspberries, acai berries… there’s something about these little balls of sweetness that signals Spring! Maybe it’s just that berries taste better in the warmer months, or maybe it’s the rainbow of colours on our plates. Whatever it is we love them (and so do our bodies!) Research studies have been focusing a great deal in recent years on determining which kinds of foods have the most extensive anti-aging attributes. One factor which has assisted this process has been the invention of the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbing Capacity) score for food items. This sophisticated-sounding name just means the overall antioxidant levels for a particular food and it's latent potential to absorb the various free radicals, which are responsible for so much cell damage and premature aging. The good news is that berries may be little, but they contain antioxidants in spades – so you can eat them completely guilt free and in copious quantities! There are countless recipes and uses for berries. From the humble smoothie to the Zumbo-esque dessert creation and everything in between (including liqueur). Here are five of our favourites…
STRAWBERRIES
niacin. Emerging research: Raspberries have higher levels of ellagic acid than strawberries; ellagic acid has been shown “to be a powerful antioxidant and toxic to cancer cells”. • Sabor in the Hunter - Red Velvet & Summer Berry Cheesecake - A moist Red Velvet cake set upon a croquant base doused in Raspberry Coulis then buried in a summer berry Cheesecake, encased with a Raspberry glitter glaze and topped with a Raspberry and white chocolate garnish + WINE MATCH Lambloch Estate Diva • Harvest Restaurant - Lemon Semifreddo with Meringue, Raspberry Sorbet and Dehydrated Raspberries (bonus – this dish is also gluten free!) + WINE MATCH Hope Estate 2014 Late Harvest Verdelho • Restaurant Cuvee - Raspberry soufflé served with white chocolate and macadamia semifreddo and vanilla poached rhubarb (also gluten free) + WINE MATCH Peterson House Sparkling Illusion
BLUEBERRIES
One of the few naturally blue-hued foods humans eat, blueberries are packed with antioxidant power, which comes from high levels of anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid or plant compound. They also contain significant amounts of micronutrients and fibre. Blueberries also have anti-inflammatory effects and may be a memory-protecting food. • The Verandah Restaurant - Brulee, Blueberry and citrus cheesecake with walnut praline. + WINE MATCH Calais Estate 2013 Reserve Botrytis Semillon • Sabor in the Hunter - Blueberry & Ricotta Crumble Cheesecake - A baked ricotta cheesecake with blueberries throughout, topped with a crumble and served slightly warmed + WINE MATCH Robyn Drayton White Port 2011
BLACKBERRIES
Blackberries have a sweet, tart flavour, making them a perfect addition to salads or fruit smoothies. They are one of the best high-ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) foods available. These antioxidant compounds protect against aging, inflammation, cancer, and other neurological diseases. Minerals like copper, manganese, magnesium, potassium, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, riboflavin, niacin, and folic acid, are also found in blackberries.
The only fruit to flaunt its seeds on the outside, strawberries are an excellent source of vitamins C and K, dietary fibre, flavonoids (anthocyanidins) and the plant compound ellagic acid. They also contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium and have been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk factors in several animal and human studies, • Redsalt Restaurant - Blackberry and Granny Smith Apple Crumble with such as elevated blood pressure, hyperglycemia and inflammation. macadamia and bush honey ice cream. + WINE MATCH Pokolbin Estate • Circa 1876 - Circa Strawberries & Cream - Nitrogen poached strawberry 2011 Late Harvest Riesling mousse, vanilla and strawberry ice cream, strawberry jelly, strawberry LIQUID BERRIES snow, dehydrated strawberries, sweet crumble and cream + WINE OK, we admit that these may not have all the health qualities found in MATCH Mistletoe Petillant "Bubbly " Rosé 2015 fresh berries – but we guarantee they will make you feel great! • Restaurant Eighty-Eight - Strawberry and Raspberry Semi Freddo • Hunter Distillery Strawberry Liqueur - A beautifully perfumed Cardamom Crumble, Vanilla Tuile, Balsamic Glaze and Fresh Berries + strawberry liqueur, very drinkable. Enjoy straight up, or in a cocktail. WINE MATCH Tamburlaine Organic Wines Framboise • Hunter Distillery Blackberry Schnaps - A classic blackberry fruit RASPBERRIES schnapps, combining good fruit acid and overall sweetness. Perfect A high-fibre powerhouse, raspberries also have calcium, magnesium, straight up on the rocks, or in a cocktail. phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C and bone-building vitamin K. They also are a good source of several B vitamins, including folic acid and
thb 18 | SEPTEMBER 2016
WE BELIEVE IN THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE. THEY JUST NEED TO BE AMAZING.
Restaurant Indoor/Outdoor Dining Fresh Local Produce Weddings, Events and Private Functions Wood Fired Pizza Oven
At Cockfighters Ghost Vineyard, 576 De Beyers Road, Pokolbin PH 4998 7776 www.huntersquarter.com.au OPEN Lunch Thurs - Sun, Dinner Thurs, Fri, Sat & Mon
mostly organic & made with love
WARM UP WITH HARRIGAN’S FAMOUS BEEF & GUINNESS PIE, SERVED WITH CREAMY MASH AND BROCCOLINI PLUS A GLASS OF SCARBOROUGH PINOT
BISTRO • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT • SPORTS BAR
Ph: 02 4998 4300 - www.harrigans.com.au - Broke Road Pokolbin
19 | SEPTEMBER 2016 thb
Designed to Delight. Premium Wines • Spectacular Views 2342 Broke Rd, Pokolbin. Open 10am - 5pm Daily PH 4998 6722 • www.lambloch.com • cellardoor@lambloch.com
thb 20 | SEPTEMBER 2016
International Judge Matt Walls
was good to see a few Mediterranean varieties demonstrate what else the Hunter is about,” he said. Up there as one of Australia’s most reputable wine labels, Tyrrell’s Vineyard, dominated the show prize list winning 17 of the 59 gold medals, and 10 of the 24 trophies on offer. These included trophies for Best Current and One-Year-Old Chardonnay, Best Two-Year-Old and Older Chardonnay, Best Mature Three-Year-Old and Older Shiraz, Best Mature Two-Year–Old and Older Semillon, Best Museum Red, Best Museum White, Best Semillon, Best Chardonnay and Best White Wine of the Show. The Tyrrell’s 2005, 2013 and 2016 Belford Semillon whites won the Iain Riggs Wine of Provenance.
LOCAL WINE INDUSTRY
Recognised at Awards
The Hunter Valley Wine Show has been held continuously since 1974 and is considered one of the leading wine shows in Australia – attracting the highest calibre of Australian and international judges.
Other awards worth mentioning are Silkman Wines who won the trophy for Best Shiraz and Best Two-Year-Old Shiraz for their 2014 Reserve Shiraz and little-known producer Dimbulla Estate who took out Best Red Wine of the Show and Best Other Red Trophy for their 2014 Tempranillo Shiraz. The Little Wine Company 2016 Vermentino won the Best Other White Variety trophy and the Peter Drayton 2015 Semillon won the Best OneYear-Old Dry Semillon. Other trophy-winning wines were the Hungerford Hill 2016 Verdelho, Drayton’s Family Wines Heritage Vine Liqueur, Tempus Two 2016 Copper Rosé Shiraz and Margan Family Wines 2011 Breaking Ground Ripasso Shiraz.
A team of respected wine show judges led by PJ Charteris and including One of the unique aspects of the Hunter Valley Wine Show is the international judge Matt Walls assessed a total of 644 Hunter Valley "named" class of judging, where an exhibitor produces wine from a wine entries from 70 exhibitors in 33 different classes. This year’s results specific piece of land that the winemaker considers to have an intrinsic saw 59 Gold, 108 Silver and 208 Bronze medals being awarded. Twentyquality. four trophies were also awarded and shared between just 12 producers. Trophy for Best Named Vineyard White Wine went to Meerea Park for International Judge Matt Walls, who is also a writer, author, Decanter their exceptional 2009 Alexander Munro Semillon. The trophies for Best contributor and editor of the London Wine Guide app, was impressed Named Vineyard Red Wine and Best Named Vineyard Wine went to by his first visit to Australia. Lucy’s Run for their Lucy’s Run 2014 Shiraz. A fantastic achievement for “We do see some Hunter Valley wines in the UK, but not as much as I’d Lucy’s Run owners Brad and Heather Wright. like. I’ve seen quite a few Semillons and Shiraz, which were very good. It
For an altogether sweet experience, a visit to Sabor in the Hunter’s Dessert Bar is a MUST! Pair something scrumptious with a delicious Hunter Valley wine…. it’s a unique Hunter Valley experience that you can only enjoy at Sabor in the Hunter Dessert Bar. The Sabor Dessert Menu features over 50 different desserts, each one created individually. Nothing is served by the slice and this brings a new level of culinary delight to desserts in the Hunter Valley. Indulge in multi-award winning Portuguese Chocolate mousse, decadent cakes, pastries, hand-made chocolates, Portuguese tarts and gourmet ice-cream. There is also a large range of gluten free desserts, barista-made Glinelli coffee and a selection of teas to enjoy amongst the vines or to take away and savour in your home or hotel.
Enjoy a world of desserts at Sabor in the Hunter Dessert Bar Pokolbin! Located at Lambloch Estate 2342 Broke Rd, Pokolbin • PH 1300 958 939
Open Thurs 10am - 4.30pm, Fri & Sat 10am - 9.30pm, Sun & Mon 10am - 4.30pm
www.saborinthehunter.com.au 21 | SEPTEMBER 2016 thb
RESTAURANT
It’s time for High Tea!
Your always welcome at...
Indulge in your inner Marie Antoinette with a Traditional High Tea for just $42 per person, book now and mention this ad to receive a complimentary glass of bubbles! Valid until the 30th of September 2016.
Oishii Japanese Thai Restaurant
Perfect for hens parties, bridal and baby showers and spoiling your loved ones for an intimate celebration.
There is nothing quite like a festive sushi platter to impress your guests. It tastes healthy, light and delicious. A favourite dining experience for locals and visitors alike. Always fresh... Always vibrant Open 7 days for lunch and dinner. Takeaway available every day. Roche Estate, Hunter Valley Corner of Broke Rd & Mcdonald Rd’s Pokolbin, NSW 2320 PH 02 4998 7051 www.oishii.com.au
Nestled within the grounds of Peppers Convent, and offering superb service and comfort, make sure to add 88 to your next foodie trail through the Hunter Valley. Farm to fork dining at its best! J A P A N E S E T H A I C U I S I N E
Breakfast all days 8am – 10am Lunch Wed to Sun 12pm – 3pm High Tea Wed – Sun 12pm – 4pm Bookings essential: Ph 02 4998 4999 | convent@peppers.com.au
/OishiiPokolbin
88 Halls Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320 | www.theconventhuntervalley.com
Much more than a Vineyard.
Our Matilda range is made up of easy drinking styles that are produced for your enjoyment.
Whether it's a luscious Hunter estate Pinot Gris, a beautiful Chardonnay or a wonderful Cabernet for the warmer months, you will find the line-up of Adina white and red wines just perfect for your enjoyment. Taste and buy at our cellar door – we are open 7 days from 10am to 5pm. Enjoy! You can also buy online for delivery to your home or office.
VINEYARD
492 Lovedale Rd, Lovedale PH 02 49 307 473 www.adinavineyard.com.au
thb 22 | SEPTEMBER 2016
Come Waltzing with Matilda... 205 Gillards Road, Pokolbin • PH 4998 7887 www.constablevineyards.com.au
FOCUS ON
Aaron Mercer
Senior Winemaker at Tamburlaine Organic Wines Fresh from working on the Californian Central Coast for the last three years, Aaron Mercer has returned home to join the team at Tamburlaine Organic Wines as Senior Winemaker. In addition to his recent time with the Thornhill Companies in California, Aaron has built a breadth of international experience over the last decade working at wineries in Canada, France and Germany. Born and bred in the Hunter, Aaron had aspirations in environmental management after leaving school and studied at the University of Newcastle majoring in environmental sustainability, biological farming and ecological management. During this time, Aaron began working at Scarborough Winery in the Hunter Valley. His role was varied and saw him gain experience in all aspects of the business including cellar door sales, routine vineyard work, driving tractors, scrubbing tanks, fruit picking and so on. It was this time that Aaron says was invaluable in developing his holistic understanding of the wine industry. After gaining experience at some of the Hunter Valley’s most wellknown producers such as Tyrrells and Brokenwood, Aaron moved to South Australia to complete his Postgraduate degree in Oenology at the University of Adelaide, where he has exposed to cutting edge winemaking technology and research. Upon returning to the Hunter Valley in 2012, Aaron was awarded the Alasdair Sutherland scholarship, an award which aims to foster the talent of aspiring wine show judges. Now with more than 15 vintages under his belt, Aaron has taken up role of Senior Winemaker with Tamburlaine, where he will be able to pursue his love of sustainable viticulture while managing the increasing annual production from Tamburlaine’s Hunter Valley and Orange region vineyards. Aaron says “It is with excitement I take on a new position with Tamburlaine. I’ve had a hand in making some high quality wines over the years and looking back on these I see just one common thread – sustainable farming."
The ‘new age’ of viticulture is here and it’s spearheaded by organic practices. Tamburlaine is at the forefront of this movement and are well positioned to provide great value premium wines to a growing customer base who seek wines of place and also tread gently on the environment. Tamburlaine is equally excited to have Aaron on board. “As Australia’s largest producer of organic wine, Tamburlaine is very well established but we still have plenty of room left to grow. Aaron understands this and is up to the challenge. We believe that Aaron’s unique combination of technical expertise and passion is the perfect fit for the company,” says Mark Davidson, Managing Director of Tamburlaine.
Tamburlaine Organic Wines celebrates 50 years! When asked about Tamburlaine’s success over the last 50 years, Managing Director Mark Davidson says “How time fly’s when you are having fun!”. Since 1966, Tamburlaine have welcomed well over 1 million visitors to their Hunter Valley Cellar Door. “The winery has continuously engaged with the wine curious and enthusiasts alike for the last 5 decades. While the winery is no longer the tin shed that it once was, not quite as ‘boutique’, the connection the winery has with a vast number of consumers has been worth every minute invested,” says Mark. To toast the occasion, the Tamburlaine winery team have crafted a one-off méthode champenoise Pinot Noir Chardonnay; a blend of the 2005 and 2015 vintages. “With fruit from our cool Orange region vineyards, well-suited to top quality sparkling, the result is a wine with richness from the 35% aged component and fruit freshness from the 2015 wine, at the same time; a quite exceptional result.” Taste the difference of Tamburlaine Organic Wines at their Cellar Door at 358 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin or visit www.tamburlaine.com.au for more information.
23 | SEPTEMBER 2016 thb
AWARD WINNING VENUE
LIVE MUSIC AND GREAT FOOD AT POTTERS HOTEL BREWERY RESORT
HOME OF
Voted Best TAB - Country NSW and Best Unique Beer Offering in NSW, Potters Hotel Brewery Resort has it all. Make your next stop in Wine Country something completely different. Live music each weekend and jumping castle for the kiddies on a Sunday.
WINE COUNTRY’S FIRST MICRO-BREWERY
RELAX FOOD
BEER
BREWERY
BRASSERIE TOURS
WINE COUNTRY DRIVE, NULKABA NSW 2325 | PH (02) 4991 7922 | WWW.POTTERSHBR.COM.AU
PK's on Pokolbin
is a locally owned, recently refurbished café with a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Our outdoor area is perfect for a quick catch up or a long lunch with friends and family, serving barista coffees and an all day breakfast from 8am. Create your own tasty gourmet toasted Turkish, sandwich or wrap or choose something sweet from our delicious patisserie range. We can also prepare platters of all sizes to take with you on your wine tasting adventure. PK's on Pokolbin is conveniently located right next door to the Hunter Valley Visitor Centre, making it the first place you should stop when visiting Wine Country.
PH (02) 4990 4002
455 Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin NSW 2320
• Hundreds of colourful hand blown &
crystal wine glasses • Exciting selection of unusual glass vases, lamps & homewares • Large selection of Cheryl Cusicks latest original artworks • Many uniquely coloured tea lights & lamps • Souvenirs - Australian & the Hunter Valley • Comical wine glasses, coasters & magnets Shop 3, Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village Phone 4998 6888 • Open 7 Days
Wine Glass Gallery Because great wine deserves a great wine glass
Over 3,000 colourful eclectic products to choose from... Come and enjoy a friendly Hunter Valley Experience!
Cheers Bus
Hunter Valley Guided Winery Tours
Book your tour securely at www.cheersbus.com • Private or shared deluxe tours in an air conditioned mini bus, seven days per week • Pick up from your local accommodation or group pickups only from Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle, Maitland and Singleton areas and be escorted throughout the day • Witness the beauty and tranquillity of Hunter Wine Country on route to our our your chosen boutique cellar doors, as well as vodka, schnapps, cheese, olive and chocolate tastings • Wedding, restaurant, concert and airport transfers available
book@cheersbus.com • Call John on 0408 987 057 thb 24 | SEPTEMBER 2016
through productivity gains, innovation, differentiation and meeting market demand.
WINE VARIETY
Alternate Varieties The CSIRO has a long history of involvement with the grape and wine industry and since the 1960s, has investigated 50,000 or more breeding lines to develop wine, table and dried grape varieties best suited to Australian conditions. The CSIRO has now successfully developed several new grape varieties better suited to Australian growing conditions, with good productivity and desired wine aroma and flavour characteristics. Cienna: A grape that is grown primarily in the semi-arid regions of Southern Australia and producing a light, deep red wine that tastes of summer berries.
Developing Grape Varieties for Australian Conditions For some years now, many Australian winemakers, including those in the Hunter Valley, have been experimenting with 'new' wine grape varieties leading to the introduction of a number of new varieties on the Australian wine scene. These new and interesting varieties add another dimension to our wine drinking and enjoyment, giving the consumer a touch of the exotic, new tastes and also provoking debate. Australia has no native grape varieties suitable for winemaking or table and dried grape production and as a result grape varieties have historically been imported from overseas, but these imported varieties do not always suit the Australian conditions that include heatwaves and drought. This increase in alternative varieties in Australia is becoming an increasingly important topic for the country’s winemakers who are realising that more resilient grape varieties are needed to survive in these challenging and often harsh conditions – now and in the future. Another more contemporary challenge is for the Australian grape and wine industry to more profitably compete in an increasing and fiercely competitive global marketplace. To remain relevant in the global wine industry, it’s imperative that Australia continue to improve the competitiveness of its wine, dried grape and table grape businesses
Rubienne: Ideally suited for the warmer Australian conditions, the deep coloured Rubienne produces a full bodied wine, boasting plum and cherry aromas. Taminga: Well suited to warmer climates, the white berries of the Taminga produce a high quality botrytised sweet wine, and are also ideal for blending. Tarrango: A refreshing light-bodied red wine that is best served slightly chilled. Tyrian: A deep-red coloured wine with a full-bodied palate, berry fragrance and spicy fruit flavour.
2013 Tyrian - PETER DRAYTON WINES Peter Drayton Wines on Hermitage Road in Pokolbin, produce an interesting portfolio of wines that include Tyrian – one of four different crossbreeds of Cabernet Sauvignon and the Spanish Sumoll variety. This remarkable wine is deep crimson red in colour with an aroma of berry fragrances, spicy ripe fruit and earthy notes of black olive and wet stone has developed from eighteen months in French Oak. TASTING The palate is full-bodied with flavours of ripe cherry, cranberry and raspberry. It has a youthful and bright red berry finish supported by dense yet velvety tannins. FOOD MATCH Rich red meat dishes such as steaks and roast beef, as well as rich tomato based pasta dishes. DRINKING This is a rich and complex wine with the structure to suit long term cellaring.
Hart & Hunter nailed this vintage. – James Halliday, 2017 Wine Companion.
VISIT US AT CELLAR DOOR THURSDAY TO SUNDAY 10AM - 4PM 463 DEASYS ROAD POKOLBIN | PH 02 49987645 | WWW.HARTANDHUNTER.COM.AU 25 | SEPTEMBER 2016 thb
LOCAL
provides one of the best and most rewarding wine experiences in the Hunter Valley. The properties roots and colourful history go back to the 1800's when the property was first settled by George Wills and called Clayton Winery. Since then, the property has played a significant role in the history of Pokolbin and the Hunter Valley and developed a reputation for producing some of the regions finest wines. Known as Happy Valley Vineyard in 1866, the vineyard then passed into the hands of Barrie Drayton during the superheated wine boom of the 1960's before being sold to a short-lived public company known as Pokolbin Winemakers Ltd. The property then became part of Saxonvale Wines Ltd and in 1973 the very first restaurant in the area was opened adjacent to the cellar door with Robert Molines - then a relatively unknown chef, recruited to take over the restaurant and its management. Today, Robert Molines is one of the most celebrated and awarded chefs in the Hunter.
WYNWOOD ESTATE
Saxonvale Wines including the Happy Valley Vineyard and winery were later sold to Sydney trading company Gollin & Company in 1975 and within 12 months became embroiled in one of the most sensational financial failures in Australian corporate history. The Saxonvale brand was then sold to the McDougal Brothers who kept the Saxonvale brand alive and thriving. The Happy Valley Vineyard and winery were later sold to German wine company Pieroth in April 1985.
With its historic past, extensive range of wine varieties, large informal cellar door, friendly and knowledgeable staff, a wine museum and outstanding views, Wynwood Estate on Oakey Creek Road in Pokolbin
In 2011, the 42 hectare property by then renamed Golden Grape was purchased by its current owners who spent a significant amount of money restoring the building to its original glory - by rebuilding and renovating the original cellar door and restaurant and function centre now known as Twine Restaurant. The cellar door also boasts a
Returning to its Former Glory
R EC REATI NG H I S T O RY Bringing the old vines back to their former glory... 310 Oakey Creek Road, Pokolbin 2320 PH (02) 4998 7885 E cellar@wynwoodestate.com.au W www.wynwoodestate.com.au thb 26 | SEPTEMBER 2016
wine museum that features, among other interesting examples of old winemaking tools, the oldest wine press on the continent. With the renovations of the original building - consisting of a cellar door, private tasting room, museum and restaurant completed, as well as the extensive landscaping of the surrounding grounds - Wynwood Estate was opened for business in November 2011. This was the start of yet another chapter to this properties colourful history. The estate has almost 30 hectares of low-yielding vineyards, including Shiraz, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Semillon, Verdelho and Muscat. A more recent addition to the vineyard is the planting of Durif grape vines (also known as Petite Sirah) which are actually a cross between the noble grape Syrah and the less well-known Peloursin. Cellar Door manager Matt Harrison says that "since its opening in 2011, it has been the intention of the Wynwood team to nurture the original vines and apply their years of experience to return the wines to the quality of the old Saxonvale days - producing traditional, premium quality wines from the grand 90 year old vines."
The Wynwood Estate wine range is comprehensive – with wines to suit all tastes and preferences. In particular, the Grey Gum range of wines can be enjoyed on their own or with a range of different food styles. These are light, zesty, fruity and sparkling styles all fresh and easy to drink.
Above: Wynwood has one of the most far reaching views in the valley. Below: Taste amongst the old barrels in their Cellar Door (left) or outside in the grounds (right).
The cellar door and surrounds create a lovely ambience in which to taste the wines and enjoy one of the valley’s best views. For these reasons and more, Wynwood Estate is a must visit for any trip to the Hunter Valley.
IVANHOE WINES…A Wine for Every Knight. 525 Marrowbone Rd Pokolbin | Ph 4998 7325 | Open 7 Days 10am—5pm | www.ivanhoewines.com.au
Premium Boutique Wines
2015
CERTIFICATE of EXCELLENCE
27 | SEPTEMBER 2016 thb
Take time to rejuvenate at Golden Door Elysia Day Spa. Choose from our extensive range of spa, beauty and wellness treatments. All treatments include complimentary use of the Day Spa facilities including steam room, spa bath and relaxation lounge.
TO BOOK CALL 02 4993 8500 EMAIL SPA@ELYSIA.COM.AU VIEW SPA MENU GOLDENDOOR.COM.AU 165 THOMPSONS ROAD, POKOLBIN THEGOLDENDOOR
@GOLDENDOORAUSTRALIA
Introducing the Hunter Valley's
Organic Wines
Tasting under the silk tree
Jack’s bbq in the orchard
POKOLBIN ESTATE VI NEYARD
Tempranillo | Nebbiolo | Sangiovese Get your taste for adventure today at ...Pokolbin Estate. POKOLBIN ESTATE VINEYARD 298 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin | Open 7 Days 9am -5pm PH 4998 7524 | www.pokolbinestate.com.au
thb 28 | SEPTEMBER 2016
TASTE A RANGE OF AWARD WINNING ORGANIC WINES OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: Cellar Door hours 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM AWARD WINNING WINES. AVAILABLE AT FINE WINE CELLARS. COME AND ENJOY OUR PRISTINE CERTIFIED ORGANIC VINEYARD! FOR A WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE PAIRED WITH ORGANIC CHEESE AND OLIVES, PLEASE CONTACT US P: 02 6574 5275 M: 0431357105 WWW.ASCELLAWINE.COM INFO@ASCELLAWINE.COM WWW.SILKRADIOTV.COM
RIVERPINES VINEYARD 203 THOMPSONS RD MILBRODALE, NSW 2330
TOP DROP
VERMENTINO The New {it} Wine
Ten years ago, we would have had a tough time even spelling Vermentino and yet today – here it is – one of the most popular white grapes in Italy and it seems to be catching on in Australia too. Vermentino is quickly becoming the ‘it’ white wine and this exciting wine variety is fast making an impression on the wine scene in Australia – especially those wineries located in the mild to warm wine regions. It is quintessentially a Mediterranean grape variety - traditionally grown in Liguria, Toscana, Corsica and in parts of southern France (the Languedoc and Provence), which are all relatively warm regions.
PETERSON HOUSE 2015 Vermentino
Vermentino is aromatic, crisp, medium bodied and flavourful wine that is generally unoaked, and packed full of flavours of citrus, white peach and granny smith apples.
WINE MAKING NOTES: This wine has had a secondary fermentation in a pressure tank to capture the bubbles.
With a firm acid and mineral structure and robust flavours, Vermentino complements a wide range of food flavours and textures. Roast pork or chicken are delicious matches as are marinated sardines, sliced octopus drizzled with lime, shellfish and antipasto platters with cured meats, olives and dips.
BOUQUET: Ripe stone fruit notes of nectarines and peaches dominate the aroma, with a touch of sharper citrus underlying.
If you like crisp, flavourful white wines and are looking for something different that is not a Sauvignon Blanc, then you honestly can't go wrong with a quality Vermentino. It’s the perfect all-rounder, great with food and equally as good on its own as a mid-afternoon thirst-quencher. It would seem Vermentino’s future in our warm Australian climate seems assured.
APPEARANCE: The wine has a slight green tinge on the fresh straw overlay.
PALATE: The bold stone fruit aromas are also seen in the palate, peaches and apricot come through on the first impression. The mid palate has hint of lime leaves and as it lingers in your mouth you see some Honeydew melon notes. The rich fruit is offset by a clean acid note to finish, but is still a big mouthful of a wine. FOOD MATCHING: This wine is rich and luscious and will cut through bolder dishes, duck and pork would be well suited. The full flavour will handle robust foods.
FREE Live music @ Pok ol SECOND an d LAS bin Village on the T Sunday of the month
Smelly Cheese Shop Chocolate and Jam Company Winemakers Outlet General Store Buon Cibo Restaurant Tempt and Vixen Giftware Pokolbin Village Accommodation MMG Photo & Cinema
The most unique, relaxed wine experience in the Hunter Come enjoy spectacular views and premium wines, including an exclusively Hunter Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Relax by the fire, listen to music and indulge in the peace and vistas our vineyard and cellar door has to offer! Pre-book for a late afternoon underground cellar tasting experience with cheese platter and if you desire a tasting of a cellar aged wine of your choice.
999 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin PH 4998 7295 • MOB 0477 888 382 www.blueberryhill.com.au
29 | SEPTEMBER 2016 thb
TO DO
Wirragulla Polo Club has been hosting polo games for nearly 100 years, with ‘The Hunter Polo Challenge’ having taken place for the past 4 years. Beau Blundell, President of Wirragulla Polo Club, Director of NSW Polo, and Australian Polo Federation coach says “We are a not for profit sporting club that endeavours to promote the game of polo for competition as well as a social or spectator sport that can be enjoyed by everyone.” For anyone wondering just what a game of polo is like, Blundell says “Polo requires teamwork, gamesmanship, athleticism and agile ponies with plenty of stamina and a keen sense of the game; there is no place for the faint-hearted.”
Grab a Picnic Basket and Head to the Polo! Who’s up for watching some polo – the guts and glory high adrenalin sport often referred to as the sport of kings? On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September 2016 the Wirragulla Polo Club, located in a beautiful rural setting on the southern outskirts of the lovely country town of Dungog, will host The Hunter Polo Challenge – an event that unites country folk and urbanites, all seeking the sociable, relaxed, weekend fun that only a polo tournament can provide. One can always tell from the atmosphere of a country town, that a polo tournament is imminent. There is excitement in the air; the pubs, hotels and B&B’s full; the horse truck procession banked up the main street; the young grooms saddling, plaiting, brushing and bandaging; the players assessing their horses and planning their game; the jovial and excitable commentator warming his voice over the speaker.
thb 30 | SEPTEMBER 2016
The Club Captain of Wirragulla Polo Club is Jock Mackay, grandson of one of the founding members of the club and a key member of the Australian polo team. Jock has been a professional polo player for 12 years and has been selected as part of the Australian squad to play at The Polo World Championships, which will take place in October 2017 in Sydney. “The 2016 Hunter Polo Challenge is looking to be the biggest yet,” Mackay says. “We already have 10 teams from around NSW booked to play, which is a good indication of the anticipation for the event. The level of polo will be high, with some competitors very keen to win trophies and defeat previous winning opponents.” In addition to the polo that will be played, guests can expect gourmet food vendors, a well stocked licensed bar, entertainment for the kids and activities to get the crowd involved such as the quintessential ‘stomping of the divots,' fashions on the field, and prizes in abundance. Proceeds from The Hunter Valley Challenge will go to The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service who WPC has been a keen supporter of for many years. Tickets can be purchased on the day at the gate for $10 each, with children under 16 years old free. A coach service will run from Maitland and Dungog. The event will run 9am to 5pm each day.
SANDALYN ESTATE Wander the wild side and enjoy the rich heritage and pristine beauty of the Lovedale region along Wilderness Road, one of Australia's oldest and most historic wine trails. Fuch family named wines have been associated with premium wines since 1626. The tradition continues in the Hunter region with our range of family-produced Sparkling wines.
Premium Wines • Fuchs Sparkling Wines • Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegar Tastings Pasta & Sushi Making Classes • Max Brenner Chocolate • Puddings Speciality Gourmet Produce • Hand-Crafted Turkish Delight
www.sandalyn.com.au
162 Wilderness Road Lovedale NSW • PH 4930 7611 • wine@Sandalyn.com.au
mium Sparkling Wines
PETERSON HOUSE PREMIUM SPARKLING WINES
Cellar Door Open 7 days 9am-5pm
Restaurant Cuvée Breakfast 8.30am-11am Lunch 12pm-3pm
Corner Broke Road & Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin 2320 P 02 4998 7881 www.petersonhouse.com.au www.facebook.com/PetersonHouseltd
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Hunter Beer Co.
Potters Hotel
The Brickworks Brasserie
Lomas Lane
Hunter Valley Zoo
Capercaillie Wines
Londons Rd
M
De Beyers Road
Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley
DRIV NTRY OU C E
Hunters Quarter Restuarant
De Beyers Rd PK’s on Pokolbin Café Visitor Information
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K
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BROKE ROAD
i
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MCDONALDS ROAD
i
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LOVEDA
Hunter Distillery
i
Hunter Honey Hive The Cellar Restaurant The Garden Cellars
TO NEWCASTLE
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Brickmans Lane
Adina Vineyard HV Reflections Day Spa
The Deck Café
TO BRANXTON MAITLAND MORPETH
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Green Lane
Australian Alpaca Barn
20
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Station St
Wine Glass Gallery
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Campbells Store
LOVEDALE ROAD
Ascella Pure Wines
OU NT R
Dark Horse Vineyard
St Swan
19
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Palmers Lane
De
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HV Horseriding and Adventures
TO WINE COUNTRY DRIVE
18
ER HUNTER RIV TO MORPETH RD EAST MAITLAND
17
M
Hunter Valley Gardens HVG Shopping Village
Deasys Road
Hart & Hunter
W
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Talga Road
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16
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Matilda Bay Brewhouse
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7
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9 10
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8
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SHOPS
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GOURMET PRODUCE
adee n Rd
Adina Vineyard H17 Ascella Pure Wines I1 Blueberry Hill E10 Briar Ridge R12 Capercaillie Wines L16 Constable Estate J9 Dark Horse Vineyard G15 Draytons Family Wines P9 Hart & Hunter F10 Hermitage Road Cellars F5 Hope Estate K12 Hunter Distillery K6 Ivanhoe Wines P8
PAY
16
17
19
MARKETS
HV Wine School F5 iHop HV stop i Vineyard Hill Resort K16
18
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Balloon Aloft (Pickup Point) K14 Handmade in the Hunter Markets K12 Cessnock Regional Art Gallery Q17 Crowne Plaza HV L15 Golden Door Health Retreat & Spa L9 Hunter Beer Co. N16 HV Horseriding & Adventures D17 Hunter Valley Gardens K10 Hunter Valley Zoo M16 HV Reflections Day Spa H17 HV Wine Theatre F5
ACTIVITIES
Pokolbin Village K11 Wine Glass Gallery K10
15
Hunter Moon Festival on Sep 15-18. Look for this symbol
TO SYDNEY M1 PACIFIC MOTORWAY
W
CELLAR DOORS
1
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TO QUORROBOLONG
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TO ABERMAIN KURRI KURRI MAITLAND NEWCASTLE
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Check out all the cars at The Spring Cruise-in on Sep 25 K10
Golfing Experiences in the Hunter Page 15
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O’Connors Road
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COMING UP
October
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HANDMADE IN THE HUNTER MARKETS Kevin Sobels Wines
ROCK SYMPHONY IN THE VINES at Hope Estate
HUNTER VALLEY BALLOON FIESTA at Peterson House
LOVE ON THE LAWN WEDDING FESTIVAL at Hope Estate
The inaugural Rock Symphony in the Vines will be held at Hope Estate and will launch with the music of the legendary David Bowie.
03 WOLLOMBI MARKET Wollombi Saleyards
World renowned conductor George Ellis will lead the charge with the Australian Symphony Orchestra and the Ziggy Band featuring members of Baby Animals, The Whitlams, Jimmy Barnes Band and The Badloves. Coming off the back of the highly successful Ziggy – Songs of David Bowie, which sold out shows across the country and to rave reviews, it’s only fitting that singers Jeff Duff, Steve Balbi and Brydon Stace reunite for this one off show.
08 OPERA IN THE VINEYARDS at Roche Estate
Don’t miss this stunning evening, as it pays homage to one of the world’s greatest and most important artists of all times, in full symphonic sound.
For more information and ticket sales visit www.operainthevineyards.com.au
thb 34 | SEPTEMBER 2016
Celebrations will continue after the flight back at Peterson House Winery with live music, a gourmet breakfast and a champagne tasting to wrap up an exciting and funfilled morning. The Hunter Valley Balloon Fiesta offers bountiful photographic opportunities and is a thrilling morning’s adventure for passengers and spectators alike. For more information, visit www.balloonaloft.com.au
29 JAZZ IN THE VINES at Tyrrell's Vineyard
15-13
OCT NOV
ROSE SPECTACULAR at Hunter Valley Gardens
Take the opportunity to see Hunter Valley Gardens become a sea of colour with over 2 million rose blooms at the annual Rose Spectacular! See 35,000 rose bushes in over 125 different varieties, with the majority of the fragrant variety. For more information visit www.hvg.com.au
Love on the Lawn is not your average wedding expo. It is Australia’s original wedding festival, with the 2016 Hunter Valley event to be held at Hope Estate. The event has a chilled festival vibe and is a relaxed day out for the wedding industry to showcase their products and services to happy brides-to-be. The festival is a visual feast of colour and creativity with expert advice from over 100 inspirational vendors, live entertainment, wine tastings, food sampling, wedding workshops (learn how to create your very own flower crown!), celebrity MC’s and three fashion shows. Love On The Lawn is a personality filled festival (not an expo!), that everyone will wish to attend, not just those with upcoming nuptials. Who doesn’t love an afternoon of good food and wine, live entertainment and pampering?
For more information visit www.hopeestate.com.au
If sitting in an open-air amphitheatre, glass of wine in hand and enjoying opera beneath the stars sounds more like you, don't miss Opera in the Vineyards at Roche Estate. Join sopranos Natalie Arovan and Greta Bradman, tenor David Hobson, international tenor Richard Troxell (USA) and Maestro Brian Castles-Onion as they present a delightful program of romantic arias, duets and comic ensembles by the great composers Mozart, Rossini, Puccini and Verdi.
The Hunter Valley Balloon Fiesta is set to yet again take to the skies over the Hunter Valley with upward of twenty hot air balloons from all around the country launching together at sunrise in a beautiful display of colour.
It is the end of an era in the Hunter Valley with the last ever Jazz in the Vines being held on Saturday 29th October. Jazz in the Vines is unlike any other jazz concert in Australia. Apart from being the longest running annual music festival in the Hunter Valley, Jazz in the Vines is more like a picnic with good friends, fantastic food and great Hunter Valley wines all wrapped up in the beautiful surroundings of the Brokenback Mountains.
Tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door, with under 16's free entry. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.loveonthelawn.com.au
You will be entertained by some of the country’s biggest names in jazz at Tyrrell’s Vineyard, with acts such as James Morrison, Leo Sayer, Mental as Anything, Lisa Hunt, Emma Pask, John Morrison's Swing City Big Band, Monica Trapaga and many more. For more information about the event and other featured artists visit www.jazzinthevines.com.au
DARK
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Our wines are small batch, hand picked, single vineyard and exclusively Hunter Valley. CELLAR DOOR • HOMEWARES & GIFTS
OPEN Friday to Sunday, 10am - 5pm 386 Wilderness Rd, Lovedale, 2320 • PH 0450 206 398 www.darkhorsevineyard.com.au
HunterValleyGardensShopping.com.au
Shopping Vill V Village age Shop AUSTRALIAN ALPACA BARN specialises in quality Australian Alpaca fashion, homewares and accessories. Alpaca coats, sweaters, shawls, scarves, gloves, socks, beanies, throw rugs, bedding, yarn and alpaca toys. PEPPERS CREEK ANTIQUES An exquisite array of spectacular jewellery, stylish watches, amazing giftware and homewares. Gifts for all ages and occasions collected from all corners of the world. CANDELABRA One of Australia's most famous boutique candle stores - the stunning fragrances, colour and endless variety of product is truly amazing. HUNTER VALLEY CHRISTMAS SHOP Nestled in the heart of the Hunter Valley, is a magic land where it is Christmas every day of the year! PULP ADDICTION Satisfy your paper cravings with our delightful range of designer stationery which is guaranteed to intrigue and delight. THE TWIG A gorgeous selection of home furnishings and personal giftware unlike anything else on offer in the Valley. THE WAITERS FRIEND A great selection of quality kitchenware and barware and some of the best prices anywhere in Australia. VILLAGE BOOKS A fantastic range of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books and a unique collection of quality toys, games, souvenirs and gifts. WILSON & HUNTER A unique selection of Australian and New Zealand fashion and accessories from Camilla, Mela Purdie, Tigerlilly, Verge, Willow & Zac, Samantha Wills, Solsana and more. Plus a small range of menswear and accessories. WINE GLASS GALLERY A unique gift gallery, colourful hand blown also crystal wine glasses, original artworks, homewares, collectable teapots, art glass vases, new season scarves, jewellery, shot glasses & a variety of souvenirs.
Dine AND THE WINNER IS OSCARS We are a family friendly café serving honest wholesome food and great coffee, in a casual relaxed environment. We are opened for breakfast, lunch and everything in between. Our menu is available dine in or take away and is sure to impress. Phone 4998 7355 LITTLE PANTRY CO Relax and enjoy breakfast, lunch or a sweet treat. We offer a full range of Coffee Beans/Pods and Speciality Teas. Hunter Valley Cookies, the delicious and famous Hunter Valley Gelato and many more local products also available. It’s our very own Little Pantry. TASTE OF THE COUNTRY Experience a Taste of the Country in this award winning café and retail outlet. This popular café is like walking into an old fashioned, country kitchen. Phone 4998 6605. THE CELLAR RESTAURANT This award winning restaurant features an excellent selection of wines and serves Modern Australian cuisine in a relaxed, friendly environment. Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday. Bookings recommended. Phone 4998 7584.
Pamper ZEN HAIR SKIN BODY A full Hairdressing Salon and Beauty Spa in one location, innovative & deluxe treatments in an environmentally friendly setting, the salon can cater to any need. Phone 4998 6844.
Play AQUA GOLF & PUTT PUTT If you fancy a bit of action then visit our Aqua Golf and Putt Putt Golf Course - fun for the whole family! Win cash & prizes! Phone 4998 7896.
Savour HUNTER VALLEY CHOCOLATE COMPANY Established more than ten years ago the ORIGINAL Hunter Valley Chocolate Company & Fudge Factory is one of the premier attractions in the area. HUNTER VALLEY LIQUEURS & BAERAMI OLIVES Extra virgin olive oils, infused olive oils, vinegars and a large range of specialty liqueurs and an impressive array of bottles to customize your selection. THE BRITISH LOLLY SHOP The largest range of imported English Confectionary. All your old favourites, humbugs, sherbet lemon, come in and sample our hospitality. THE GARDEN CELLARS We stock a wide range of boutique Hunter Valley and other regional wines. See our Tunnel Of Beer along with a variety of quality white, red, sweet, sparkling wines and much more. HUNTER HONEY HIVE Visit Hunter Honey Hive to experience everything honey and bee related, with free tastings daily!
Essentials YE OLDE GENERAL STORE A modern convenience store with a twist of yesteryear. Full of groceries and curiosity. POKOLBIN VILLAGE PHARMACY Offering you friendly, professional service as well as a wide range of products: full PBS prescription service, medicines, vitamins, skin care, cosmetics, hair care, fragrances, sunglasses and much more. Phone 4998 6677.
Shopping Vill V Village age BROKE ROAD, POKOLBIN OPEN 7 DAYS FROM 10AM