Hunter

The country of the Upper Hunter covers more than 18,000 square kilometres that includes National Parks, cattle and merino farms, vineyards, mountains and fertile river flats. The region is a lively mix of agriculture, thoroughbred studs, world class wine, coal mining, power generation, olive groves, country shows and rodeos. Best known for Chardonnay and Semillon the upper Hunter is located north-west of Newcastle on the Golden and New England Highways. Muswellbrook is 295 km (or a 3 hour drive) north-west of Sydney and other towns in the area are Scone, Sandy Hollow, Denman, Broke, Singleton and Gresford. Bordered by the Wollemi and Yengo national parks, this region offers a relaxing wine-tasting experience with a peaceful character that makes it calmer and quieter than the energetic Lower Hunter.

The Wanaruah were the original settlers of the region around Singleton. And their Great Spirit Baiame, who created all things can be seen in red ochre in a cave painting at Milbrodale where he can be seen as a figure with long outspread arms. The main town of the Upper Hunter, Singleton, was founded in 1820, making it one of Australia’s oldest towns. For most of its history Singleton has been an agricultural area. But the discovery of vast coal reserves has transformed the region into a producer of coal given the area a more industrial feel and bringing in many new people from around the world.

While Singleton is the largest town, it is in the areas surrounding the Broke Fordwich valley that most of the Upper Hunter’s wine growers can be found. In the last 30 years the Broke Fordwich area has become an important player in the Australian wine industry and in 1997 it was the first sub region of the Hunter Valley to be formally recognised as a separate viticultural area. The village of Broke itself is nestled at the base of the Brokenback and Hunter Ranges, on the Wollombi Brook.

Although linked by the Hunter River, the Upper Hunter is very much a distinct region to its better known Lower Hunter cousin. Its well-drained black silty loams allow its vineyards to be planted much closer to the river systems, while rows of vines set against the rocky hillsides add a wild and untamed feel to the landscape. In particular, the distinctive Yellow Rock escarpment that shelters Broke Fordwich also protects it from too much rainfall. The variety of soil types of the area encourages the planting a range of grapes, including the famous Terra Rossa.

In fact, more than a quarter of the Hunters wine grape production comes from the Broke Fordwich region and it is the home of numerous boutique style vineyards and intimate Cellar Doors. A boutique olive industry has also developed in the area and beautiful olive groves dot the landscape giving it a unique feel. Eight cellar doors in the region are clustered around Denman and Broke. One of which, Broke’s Promise Vineyard and Olive Grove, is a small family owned vineyard and olive grove set between the Yengo National park and the Wollombi Brook with stunning views of the Brokenback Range and Yellow Rock. Their wines include Semillon, Chardonnay, Verdelho, and Shiraz as well as a Northern Italian red variety called Barbera. Planted with 8 acres of vines, Broke’s Promise also has an 18 acre olive grove.

Another, and picturesquely named winery, is the Cockfighters Ghost Vineyard. Named for a brave explorer's horse that drowned in the nearby Wollombi Brook, the vineyard offers a fully-equipped two bedroom cottage for visitors and produces the Cockfighter's Ghost range of wines. Krinklewood vineyard is another of the Upper Hunter’s many family owned boutique vineyards. Situated in the beautiful valley of Broke Fordwich, the 48 acre vineyard grows varieties of Semillon, Chardonnay, Verdelho and Shiraz, and more recently such French varieties as Viognier and Mourvedre and the Spanish Tempranillo.

The Upper Hunter Wine and Food Affair at Denman, in May, is a major opportunity to sample the regions offerings. Which in addition to wines, includes such local produce as Pukara Estate olives and olive oil, Hunter Belle soft cheeses, Bacco’s Italian Bakery in Murrurundi, Blakefield Fish Farm near Denman, fruit, pecan nuts, jams and honeys. Broke Fordwich also boasts a Macadamia Farm and an Alpaca Farm.

Other local attractions include many horse stud tours out of Scone, Mercy Convent’s ‘Sacred Spaces’ at Singleton, Burning Mountain Nature Reserve, Lake Glenbawn, the Barrington Tops and the Goulburn River national park at Lake St Clair. As well, a major event of the region is Countryfest, held in Singleton in April each year. The program includes Professional Bull-Riding, an Australian Light-Horsemen exhibition, woodchoping, and the Australian Wife Carrying Title (which included a trip to Finland for the winner in 2008 to compete at the WORLD Wife Carrying Titles).

The Upper Hunter gives its Chardonnays a unique style, while the local Semillon is full-bodied. Also, such Upper Hunter wineries as Polin & Polin and Pyramid Hill have recently developed the production of Verdelho, a variety that promises well for the future of distinctive wine in this region.