The Regard as a Pioneer of Australian Chardonnay, Hunter Valley is one of its kind

Hunter Valley is Australia's oldest and most established wine region. It is the birthplace of Australian wine. Known for its exquisite varieties of semillon and shiraz, it offers tourists a chance for a foodie getaway. Hunter Valley wine region has over 150 wineries and new restaurants are creating a whole lot of culinary experiences for everybody in the region. The Hunter Valley wine region is a truly beautiful region with so much to explore. You will be delighted if you visit!

Check out the best wine tastings and tours in Hunter Valley Wine Region

Where is Hunter Valley Wine Region

About a two-hour drive from Sydney, the Hunter Valley lies at the foothills of the Brokenback Range, part of the Great Dividing Range. The green hills are home to many farms and are bordered by UNESCO World Heritage National Parks.

History of Hunter Valley

Australian vineyards were first introduced in Sydney after its discovery in 1788. As settlers fanned northward towards the Hunter Valley, authorities encouraged the planting of vines as a way to promote both public sobriety and safety. One of the main reasons behind promoting viticulture and winemaking stemmed from men being more lower in sobriety when they drink alcoholic spirits.

Terrior ofHunter Valley

The soil in the Lower Hunter Valley wine region changes across a wide variety of alluvial sandy flats, deep friable loam and friable red duplex soils. In the Upper Hunter region, the rivers and creeks contribute to the areas black, silty loam soils. This can often be found over top of alkaline clay loam. Among the hills of the Brokenback range are volcanic strips in which you can produce grapes of incredible quality. The incline has a tendency to restrict vigor and concentrate minerals in the grapes, which produces a deep and intense flavour.

Hunter Valley  Characteristics 

Shiraz is the Hunter Valley’s most iconic grape variety. In the past, Shiraz wines from this hot and humid region were typically on the gentle side. Today, winemakers are producing wines that are medium bodied and savoury, with a layered complexity and overall food friendliness. Young Hunter Shiraz shows red, dark berries and plenty of soft tannin. As it ages, it becomes more complex with earthy tones and a beautiful aroma. It also acquires a smoothness and precision, becoming a pleasantly refined and appetizing produce. Semillon is the white wine in Hunter Valley. Upon bottling, this world-class wine is almost colourless with aromas of citrus, grass and straw. This wine is dry with a refreshing lemony and grapefruit tang. Patience pays off and the finest wines take time to mature, however it's worth it in the end. They will taste much better if they are not rushed through production. In as little as five years wine will show many desirable qualities including a low alcohol content and notes of honey on toast. They even taste as if they have been aged in oak barrels too. One of the first regions to grow Chardonnay, the Hunter Valley played a huge role in establishing the variety as an Australian wine icon. Hunter chardonnay was formerly known for the "sunshine in a bottle" style, with big, oaky, rich and buttery drops. But the region's wine industry has been going full steam for the past 15 years. They still produce fat-free wines which have a fuller flavoring. Flavors can range from peach to lemon.

Food to pair with Hunter Valley

1. Chicken Maryland

Chicken Maryland is an American dish that's a mixture of Southern fried chicken and Cream gravy. The gravy is usually made from Flour, Chicken stock, Heavy cream, Salt and pepper. It is still undecided whether the chicken should be breaded with flour, dipped in a batter, or dipped into eggs.

Even Escoffier himself (who is famous for his recipes) had a recipe for chicken a la Maryland in his book Ma Cuisine. In England, this dish is prepared with battered chicken pieces that are fried and served with a corn pancake and battered and fried pineapples/bananas on the side. In Australia "chicken Maryland" refers to a whole leg of chicken. We recommend you to tasty with Hunter Valley wines, it pairs very well with Chicken Maryland.

2. Maryland Crab Cakes

It's easy to agree that no dish represents Maryland's culture better than the crab cake. The combination of ingredients such as mayonnaise, eggs, bread crumbs, milk and seasonings must be combined before they are fried or baked. The blue crab is often seen as the perfect choice of crab for these delicious dishes.

They are usually served on a bun, accompanied by french fries, coleslaw or macaroni salad. The dish originated from the native's cooking before the settlers arrived. They have since been adopted to suit more modern tastes and are one of Chesa Restaurant's signature dishes.

Old Bay seasoning was first added to crab cakes in the 1940s and has remained popular ever since. The use of this aromatic seasonings helps make crab cakes a staple dish in Maryland. it goes well with Hunter Valley wines.

3. Fudge

Fudge is an American confection made with milk, sugar, butter and various toppings and flavorings. Merenda is created by boiling milk, butter, and sugar to 240 °F/116 °C. This creates creamy but firm blocks that are later cut into delicate individual pieces.

In America, modern producers replaced the milk with cream. This created a smooth and sweeter fudge that is now uniquely American. Although fudge is probably an original American invention, there are many predecessors to fudge that come from other countries like France.

The invention of fudge - a sweet chocolate and sugar dessert also encompassed with nuts, marshmallows and many other toppings - is often debated but there is little known about how fudge got its start. The most believable theory believes that fudge was created when someone accidently spilled some caramel onto chocolate. The first written mention of fudge goes back to 1921 and was discovered by a Vassar College student who wrote to her professor that the word may have been mentioned in 1886. It pairs well with Hunter Valley wines.

Frequently asked questions about Buzet Wine Region