Hunter Valley wine tour or self-drive between wineries?

Unless you’re visiting several wine regions on an Australian holiday, it’s better to do a Hunter Valley wine tour than self-drive. But the do-it-yourself Hunter Valley self-drive day trip method can lead to a richer, more memorable experience at smaller wineries.

At first glance, self-driving in a wine region is a foolish thing to do. After all, the whole point of visiting somewhere like Margaret River in Western Australia, the McLaren Vale in South Australia or the Hunter Valley in New South Wales is to taste the wines. It won’t take too many tastings at cellar doors to send you over the drink-drive limit.

Which Hunter Valley wine tour?

That’s why several companies offer Hunter Valley wine tours. Cheers Bus offers affordable wine tours from Pokolbin, Newcastle and Sydney, while Hunter Valley Tours For Two specialises in private couples trips. There are dozens of options somewhere in between, but the general gist is the same. For half a day or a full day, the buses stop at three to five wineries, with a tasting session at each. Some will include a lavish winery lunch, others might throw in a cheese factory, chocolate maker or Hunter Valley craft brewery.

Most Hunter Valley wine tours will try to provide a good mix of wineries. There will be some big international names, such as McGuigan Wines, plus at least one smaller wine-maker. The more expensive, private tours will aim to tailor the wineries visited to the tastes of the guests.

Self-driving around the Hunter Valley wineries

But played smart, driving can be the way to expand your horizons. Dropping by at the tourist information centre on the way in works wonderfully. Their printed guides have maps of the wineries, stating which ones do which varietals, and staff will direct you to smaller cellar doors that are more likely to cater for your tastes.

Say you like big, bold reds, and you may well be pointed in the direction of Piggs Peake. This backroad winery that doesn’t serve tour groups and does much of its business via a membership club. The reds are big and bold – just what the doctor ordered. But, more importantly, I’d not have discovered them any other way – these aren’t wines you’d find in a random supermarket.

Piggs Peake winery in the Hunter Valley wine region, New South Wales — The Piggs Peake winery is one you’re not likely to visit on a Hunter Valley wine tour. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Hunter Valley driving

The limitations of self-drive sampling can turn into strengths. Staying under the drink-drive limit involves forces you to ask questions about which wines you’re most likely to enjoy. You have to narrow down the number of samples to the ones cellar door staff particularly recommend. Not being in a group leads to a much more personalised service – and, if you ask nicely, further recommendations for other wineries that may fit the bill. It quickly becomes a treasure trail.

If you’re just visiting one wine region on your Australian holiday, then you’ll get more from taking a guided wine tour. If visiting several wine regions, however, a self-drive wine tour provides a different, possibly richer experience. Other activities in the region include Hunter Valley hot air balloon flights and horse-riding tours through the vineyards.