About Catherine Vale Wines

Catherine Vale Vineyard, owned by Bill and Wendy Lawson, is located between Broke and Bulga in the famous Hunter Valley wine region. It is a picturesque vineyard which they built from scratch and now produce small quantities of quality fruit from five different varieties.

The wines that come from these superb grapes have won prestigious awards and wine lovers will be rewarded handsomely for the tasting of them.

The estate of Catherine Vale Vineyard lies at the foot of the Hunter Range, close to the Yengo National Park. The views across the vineyard and Wollombi Brook valley are spectacular and well worth the visit. South of the estate is tiny the village of Broke which shelters under the giant Yellow Rock and Milbrodale and Bulga villages lie to the north.

Fordwich, where the land that John Blaxland first received a grant, lies to the east. It is also where blocks were granted to soldiers who returned from World War I.

Bill and Wendy ended their respective teaching careers in Sydney and established the Catherine Vale Vineyard in 1993. With the help of a few friends they planted Semillon and Chardonnay grapes on three different rootstocks, which thrived in the rich Hunter Valley soil.

In 1998, they planted Verdelho and the Italian Red varieties Dolcetto and Barbera and the resulting wines are wonderful. The Verdelho was once used to make Madeira, and still is in places, but many Australian winemakers have now developed it as a dry white table wine.

Barbera, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Semillon and Verdelho are the wines on offer at the Cellar Door of the Catherine Vale Vineyard. The Cellar Door building, incidentally, was designed by Brett Cronan is in the style of an Australian Country Church.

Put this delightful vineyard on your list of ones to visit when you next travel to the Hunter Valley.