Page 162 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

160  BEY OND SY DNEY

3 Hunter Valley

Some of the earliest vineyards to be planted in Australia Singleton,
were on the fertile flats of the Hunter River in the Upper Hunter Sweetwater Creek
1830s, developing a thriving industry in fortified
wine. Since the 1970s, it has evolved into a premium Terrace
wine district (see pp184–5). With some 150 wineries
and cellar doors, the area is a great weekend trip from Old North Road Range
Sydney. Hot-air ballooning, golf and horse riding are
other popular activities in the region. The Jazz in the
Vines festival takes place in October, while some of the
world’s biggest acts have performed at Hope Estate,
including Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Hermitage Road Rothbury Creek
the Rolling Stones. Many wineries open daily
but it is best to phone ahead and check. Hunter Estate
Marsh Estate
Brokenwood Sutherland
Under the ownership Deaseys Road
of Ian Riggs, this Mcdonalds Road
medium-sized winery
has produced some of
the region’s finest Shiraz Rosemount Mary Anne’s Creek
from the Graveyard Estate, Upper
vineyard, as well as an Hunter
excellent Sémillon.

Broke Road
Brian
Lindemans McGuigan
In 1842, Dr Henry John Glenguin
Lindeman resigned his Tyrrell’s Brokenwood
Wines
naval commission to
establish a vineyard in Tamburlaine
the Hunter Valley. His Tulloch
company has been Pokolbin
a major producer in
the Australian wine Debeyers Road
industry ever since. Hungerford Pokolbin Creek
Hill
Draytons
Oakey Creek Road
Drayton Family
Estate
Personalities of the Hunter Valley
The wine industry seems to attract or create McWilliam’s
larger-than-life characters. Among the
legends was the great Len Evans, Marrowbone Road
writer, wine judge, bon vivant Saddler’s
and founder of the ambitious Petersons Creek
Hope Estate and Evans Family
Wines, as well as Tower Estate. Broken Back Range
His contemporaries included
Max Lake, a Sydney surgeon
who started Lake’s Folly as a
weekend winery, and the late
Murray Tyrrell, patriarch of
a wine-making family that
produced its first Hunter
vintage in 1864 and proudly
retains its independence. Len Evans checking grape vines

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