This is around a18km round trip from the property at Fleming Street. For a longer, more challenging ride, watch out for Easy Itineraries 7: Marrowbone Road.
Be aware that Oakey Creek Road is narrow with no shoulder, and there are some crests, so ride with care. You don't have to ride, you could also drive this itinerary.
These are all small, family-owned businesses featuring estate grown fruit and stunning views. They showcase wines you are not going to find in bottle shops. It's an opportunity to get off the main tourist track and experience some hidden gems.
Tasting fees at all these cellar doors are $10. This is pretty standard across cellar doors in the Hunter Valley, and very reasonable given that the average tasting experience gives you an hour of staff time providing you insight into how the grapes are grown and the inside scoop on the winemaking process. You get to enjoy the equivalent of 1 or 2 glasses of wine.
Start out at Simply D'Vine Cafe for breakfast, which is on the opposite side of Wine Country Drive at the end of our street. The coffee is great and the serves are generous. you can either head past the nursery and rejoin O'Connors Road via the bush track, which is behind the nursery, or you can use the main road. Head on up O'Connors Road (dirt road) and turn left to your first wine destination Iron Gate Wines.
Iron Gate is open 7 days. They have estate grown fruit. They grow well-known Hunter white varieties of Semillon, Chardonnay and Verdelho, as well as Shiraz, Cabernet ,Tempranillo. Some of their range includes fruit from other regions.
Hanging Tree Wines is on the next street over, you can go around the block in either direction and end up there. They are open 7 days.
Hanging Tree have quite a wide range of reds and whites - verdelho, pinot grigio, a Semillon/chardonnay blend which has a long tradition in the Valley as "classic Hunter White". They have a number of sparkling wines and some fortifieds, which can be hard to find in the Valley. Definitely worth taking your time to explore their range.
Continue west on Oakey Creek Road for lunch at Twine.
This restaurant is another hidden gem in the Valley. It offers a modern Australian menu and a space to relax, indulge, and enjoy. They offer a diverse menu showcasing the best local produce the Hunter Valley has to offer. We have never had a bad meal at Twine. Every visit has been a delight. They are always accommodating and the food is superb.
They are closed Monday and Tuesday.
Next stop is Bonvilla.
Bonvilla is a relatively new business on a well established estate that used to be Eagles Rest. While they only have vintages dating back to 2019, all the wines here are well made by PJ Charteris who is a highly respected winemaker in this Valley. All of the views on this little itinerary are lovely and this one is a treat. If you are here on the weekend there is also live music. They are open Tuesday to Sunday.
Being small businesses, it helps them to manage their bookings and allocate appropriate staff to make reservations ahead of time.
Bookings:
9.00am Simply D'Vine
10.30 Iron Gate Wines
11.30 Hanging Tree Wines
1pm Twine Restaurant
3pm Bonvilla
Ride back to Fleming Street (downhill most of the way), and if you feel like you haven't had enough, stop into the pub for a paddle!
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