If you're in search of a great day trip from Sydney, Australia, join David's Been Here and Hunter Valley Boutique Tours on an unforgettable trip to New South Wales' oldest wine region. The Hunter Valley is home to over 150 unique, delicious wineries with beautiful, sprawling vineyards and friendly, hospitable venues. Family owned and operated Hunter Valley Boutique Tours brings you around to all the top wineries of the region, from the local & unique Iron Gate Estate and Ernest Hill Vineyards to the boutique, award-winning vineyards of Peacock Hill. With an included lunch at Australia's "best contemporary restaurant" alongside some of the country's finest, locally made wines, a visit to the Hunter Valley with Hunter Valley Boutique Tours is an excellent way to spend a day outside of Sydney.
About Me: My name is David Hoffmann and for the last decade I have been traveling around the world in search of unique culture, food and history! Since starting Davidsbeenhere in 2008, I have traveled to 71 countries and over 1,000 destinations, which I welcome you to check out on my YouTube Channel, blog and social medias.
I focus a great deal on food and historic sites, as you probably have seen! I love to experience the different flavors that each destination has to offer, whether it’s casual Street food or gourmet restaurant dining. I’m also passionate about learning the local history and culture.
Boutique Tours Australia is a small family-owned company based in Sydney.
They specialize in small, personable group tours with an authentic approach.
Boutique Tours has been voted the best tour operator in the Hunter Valley
several years in a row, and I had to see for myself.
The Hunter Valley is one of Australia's oldest wine regions and is home to over 150 wineries.
It is perhaps best known for its Semillon and Shiraz varieties,
but also produces Chardonnay and Verdello.
Join me for a taste of New South Wales.
Today we're exploring the Hunter Valley wine region, the oldest wine region in Australia.
It's a full day affair.
Pickup is at 8am and we're doing this tour with Boutique Tours.
Boutique wineries only allow small groups,
and the first one that we're going to visit is called Iron Gate Estates.
Now let's go inside for our taste testing.
Welcome to Iron Gate.
Let me tell you a little bit about us.
We're one of the new wineries in the Hunter.
We've been open for about 15 years.
What is different about us is that we're one of the very few true Hunter Estate wineries.
Every bottle of wine here is made from fruit grown in our own vineyard,
made into wine in our own winery.
So it's a true estate.
This is a passion for me.
It's a lifestyle.
I enjoy what I do and I think that comes through on me.
If you find yourself in Sydney and you want something to do,
do come up to the Hunter.
It's a great day out.
Come and see Iron Gate Estate.
Next stop on our tour is Ernest Hill,
a family-owned vineyard with an award-winning Alexander Chardonnay
and shareholder Shiraz,
as well as an assortment of dessert wines.
You get to meet the Wilson family,
whose dedication to premium wines has led them to become
one of the Hunter Valley's best boutique sellers.
Next stop, lunch.
Located within the Hunter Valley's Garden Village,
the Cellar Restaurant has a beautiful courtyard,
as well as indoor dining.
Part of your boutique tour to the Hunter Valley includes lunch.
You could upgrade your meal to a gourmet lunch,
and that's what we did.
And right now, we're dining at The Cellar,
one of the top restaurants here in the Hunter Valley.
And right around the corner, there's actually a cheese factory
and a chocolate shop, which we're going to check out after.
And right now, it's a gorgeous day.
So we're eating outside and now check out The Cellar.
It was named Best Contemporary Australian Restaurant,
and you can see why.
The menu is fresh, seasonal, and varied.
For our last stop of the day,
we requested to visit Peacock Hill Vineyard.
Well, thank you very much, David,
for letting me have a few words about Peacock Hill Vineyard.
My name is George Siros.
I own Peacock Hill Vineyard along with my wife, Sylvia.
Peacock Hill is a completely unique vineyard in the Hunter Valley.
We are a boutique.
We only produce 2,000 to 3,000 dozen a year,
and we only sell through The Cellar door.
We have won quite a few awards for our white and red wines.
Our range goes from sparkling through to dry whites,
reds, and right through to dessert wines.
I welcome everybody to come to Peacock Hill
and experience how unique and pleasurable it is.
On the way back to Sydney,
you'll get to watch a documentary about the history of Australian wines.
If you love wine as much as I do,
and you find yourself in Sydney,
don't miss the opportunity to explore the Hunter Valley with Boutique Tours.
