Hunter Valley restaurants and cafes feature outdoor areas where your dog is welcome, though booking in advance is recommended. Margan, Muse Kitchen and Bistro Molines are among the many pet-friendly eateries.
Pepper Tree Wines in Pokolbin offers another dog-friendly vineyard that welcomes both you and your four-legged pal for wine tasting. Make sure to pat their cellar door pups!
Comyns & Co
As not all Hunter Valley vineyards are dog friendly, there are still a few that provide enjoyable wine tasting experiences with your furry companion! Pepper Tree Wines, Mount Pleasant Wines and Glandore Estate Wines allow dogs into the cellar door area; each has an outdoor area dedicated to pups where you can both relax while tasting wine!
At Comyns & Co, Scott and Missy Comyns are crafting some of the most intriguing wines in their region. As a young, cutting-edge brand that has made waves for their innovative blends and bold branding. Their wines combine tried-and-true varieties such as tempranillo with newer styles such as fiano and gruner veltliner for an exquisite result.
Glandore Estate Wines is an award-winning vineyard that welcomes dogs. Their flagship is Glandore Chardonnay – a crisp and refreshing style that showcases the best of the region – while their Shiraz boasts subtle notes of spice and dark fruit to round out its unique bouquet of fruity notes.
If you’re up for something different, take part in their “Create Your Own Platter” experience. Packed full of local produce such as flatbread leaves, cheeses, olives and oils from their farm store – you can pair this artisanal platter with their impressive wines to make a delicious meal both you and your pup can enjoy!
Vino Paw Tours offer unforgettable and all-inclusive winery tours. Their packages include two nights accommodation at Vacy Hunter Valley Lodge and three-course dinner, all while keeping your pup safe! Their mini vans are equipped with seat belt restraints that secure their furry passengers!
De Iuliis Wines
De Iuliis Winery in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley is owned and run by a family-operated business that first planted vines at their Lovedale estate in 1990; however it wasn’t until their son Michael completed postgraduate studies at Roseworthy Campus of Adelaide University in 1999 that things took off – with Michael’s focus on site specific wines making De Iuliis one of the leading stars from this region.
Hunter wines are known for their distinctive regionality, satisfying both casual and sophisticated palates alike and have received high ratings from the Australian Wine Companion. The estate produces various wines but are best-known for their award-winning Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties; all boast bold yet fruit-forward flavours with soft tannins to bring out their complexity.
As well as offering mouthwatering wines, Hunter Valley Cellar Door also boasts an amazing lunch menu that’s fully dog friendly. Enjoy lunch either on their spacious covered outdoor seating area with stunning vineyard views or relax over lunch at Bistro Molines (one of Hunter Valley’s premier dining establishments) where there’s sure to be something on offer that tickles your fancy.
While most cellar doors are dog-friendly, it is still important to check with them prior to visiting as policies can change and some may impose leash length restrictions or other rules. A great alternative would be joining Vino Paw Tours who specialize in including your furry companion into their tour of Hunter Valley wineries with transportation included and an exquisite three course meal featuring Persian cuisine alongside classic Australian fare.
Glandore Estate Wines
Glandore Estate Wines of Pokolbin is a family-owned winery known for their premium wines produced from grapes grown on their vineyards. Offering an extensive range of wines to select from – their flagship offering being Glandore Estate Shiraz! Additionally, tours of their vineyards and winery provide visitors with insight into their winemaking process.
Glandore Estate’s winemakers use their knowledge of the Hunter Valley climate and soil to craft quality wines that reflect its classic Hunter Valley style. Their vineyards are famous for producing top-shelf Shiraz, Semillon, Chardonnay as well as Chardonnay varieties – and its welcoming cellar door provides the perfect environment to sample all their offerings while admiring its breathtaking surroundings.
Glandore Estate Wines’ team is passionate about producing flavorful wines full of personality. They use only premium grapes in handcrafting their wines in small batches for consistency in quality and taste, winning numerous awards including for the Glandore Estate Shiraz which received praise from wine critics.
Timm began his wine industry career in 2005 in the UK at Witenagemot Winery where he learned all aspects of business operations. On returning to Australia he worked at several wineries before being hired at Oakvale in 2015 where he has remained since.
Duane’s passion and commitment to quality have enabled him to craft wines that are distinct, full-flavored and food friendly. His experience as a professional chef combined with time spent in Italy and France helped hone his natural gift and belief that truly great wines should be handmade, true to their origins, with character. Now, Duane brings his skills and vision to Glandore Estate where he lends his expertise towards producing their impressive wine collection.
Pepper Tree Wines
Pepper Tree Wines, located in the Hunter Valley, boasts stunning countryside views. Their award-winning wines can be enjoyed while relaxing on one of their patios with your dog or dining at one of their restaurants. Furthermore, the Pepper Tree Wines provides other activities such as guided tours and tastings to round off an exciting experience.
Pepper Tree Wines produces premium varietals like Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and features stunning views with their scenic vineyard setting, making for the ideal relaxing escape. Their organic and biodynamic farming methods produce superior-quality wines. Visit their cellar door at 725 Hermitage Rd in Pokolbin NSW 2320 today! The cellar door is dog-friendly!
Visits to the cellar door are sure to be memorable experiences, both for you and your furry companion. While at Pepper Tree Wines you can sample delicious wines and sample exquisite flavours. Staff members are warmly welcoming, happy to accommodate any special requests that arise during your time there.
Many wineries in the Hunter Valley welcome pets, although it is always wise to call ahead before visiting to ensure yours will be welcome. There are also pet-friendly tours such as Grape to Glass boutique winery experiences or Vino Paw Tours’ dog-friendly wine weekend package with accommodation included.
Hunter Valley boasts several dog-friendly breweries for your tasting pleasure. Ironbark Hill Brewhouse features an outdoor seating area where your canine companion is welcome; Vamp Wine Rooms has an exquisite medieval-themed cellar and courtyard that welcomes them as well.
Leogate Estate
Leogate Estate not only hosts weddings but also hosts other special occasions like elopements. Their venue can host up to 175 guests for dinner weddings or 250 for cocktail weddings. Furthermore, they can provide wedding planning/coordinator services, photo services, catering, beverages, music entertainment, parking facilities and parking passes as needed.
Pokolbin Winery, situated in Pokolbin, New South Wales is owned and managed by Bill and Vicki Widin who transitioned from raising Angus cattle to producing fine wines in 2008. Since then they have garnered multiple awards, as well as being given five stars from James Halliday.
Vineyards at Cristom are testaments to a world-class terroir and talented team. Vineyard Manager Michael Burgoyne has overseen his vines for 16 years, yielding premium fruit that award-winning winemaker Mark Woods uses in his award-winning wines. A variety of viticultural approaches are taken in order to maintain fruit traits while protecting against regional issues like frost, vintage rains and humidity.
The Brokenback Vineyard Shiraz is an iconic wine from its region, beloved by discerning wine drinkers worldwide. Boasting deep crimson purple color and complex aromas of plum, earth, spice, light pepper, and red fruit flavors; its complex structure makes this wine ideal for pairing with steak and other red meat dishes.
The Gates Restaurant at the winery serves a range of Australian cuisine in an atmospheric and welcoming setting. Friendly service allows you to order tasty ribeye, belly pork and beef tenderloin dishes; their wine list boasts an impressive selection, while delicious desserts like ice cream and lemon pie complete an outstanding dining experience. They also offer fruit juices and chocolate frappes!