A new look for an old favourite in the Hunter Valley

Farewell Small Winemakers' Centre, hello to Wine House Hunter Valley. 

There has been a re-branding, re-furbishing and re-naming, as well as the arrival of an all-day lounge with a all-day share plate menu to match the wines of producers including The Little Wine Company, Silkman Wines, Thomas Wines, David Hook and Hart and Hunter. 

Several of the wineries involved have their own cellar doors, but the Wine House is designed for visitors who want to taste several different styles in the one spot.   

The change comes after 30 years, with well-known local chef Ros Baldwin joining the team.

The menu in the former Epicure Cafe space features share plates of dishes like slow-cooked lamb shoulder with pomegranate seeds, coriander, barley and hummus and goat cheese croquettes with braised pepperonata and herbed crème fraiche. There is also a range of deli platters and a selection of desserts.

The tasting bar and wine lounge offer an ever-changing selection of more than 40 wines by the taste or by the glass, from the Hunter Valley and beyond.  

A series of structured wine experiences with various themes will be presented with culinary pairings with Enomatic machines allowing visitors to compare Australian varieties alongside international wines for a global wine experience.

Suzanne Little, winemaker of the Little Wine Company and Director of Wine House Hunter Valley says: “Whether people are here to simply enjoy wine and time with good friends or they are on a quest to further their wine knowledge, we believe that their tasting experience is as important as the wine itself. 

"Keeping this in mind we have designed the Wine House to ensure it is welcoming, informative and relaxing. We are excited to be building on what this boutique collective has been offering for the past 30 years.

”The ethos here is that wines have to be made by their owners - people who are on site here in the Hunter." 

An ideal one-stop shop for anyone lacking enough time to explore. 

Wine House Hunter Valley is at 426 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin. www.winehousehuntervalley.com.au. (02) 4998 7668. Open seven days a week 11am-5pm, and until 7pm Fridays and Saturdays.