While hopping between the many cellar doors in the Hunter Valley can be a great way to spend a weekend or celebrate an occasion, sometimes all the travelling around can take it out of you. What if you could have experts bring the best of the Hunter Valley’s wines to you for a private tasting?

This is exactly what Stay n’ Sip is all about. They bring exclusive, rare, back vintage or museum Hunter Valley wines for you to taste at your accommodation, home, or workplace – no travelling between cellar doors required.

Brought to you by Mercedes Mendoza and Pierre Toumanoff, Stay n’ Sip was born in 2020 when the pair met while completing their formal wine qualification. Mercedes was born in the Hunter Valley and grew up in the region, while Pierre hails from the Loire Valley in France. 

Combining Mercedes’ career in managing a wine business and wine events with Pierre’s work at wineries and cellar doors in Champagne, South Africa, and the Hunter Valley, the duo saw a gap in wine tourism in the Hunter Valley that they could fill.

“We wanted to give wine lovers more options on how they experience great wines, anywhere and at any time. Stay n’ Sip focuses on convenience, allowing guests to stay in their beautiful accommodations for longer, celebrate in style, or relax and enjoy a fun, ice-breaking environment,” Mercedes said.

Mercedes and Pierre also saw that there was a lack of options for large groups to enjoy activities in the Hunter Valley. As a result, Stay n’ Sip can provide tasting events for big groups as well as intimate gatherings – just enquire about your group size.

Since launching, Stay n’ Sip has already earned a reputation for being one of the best, most unique offerings in the Hunter, winning Tourism Operator of the Year at the 2023 Hunter Valley Legends Awards hosted by the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association.

It’s easy to see what the fuss is about. Expert guided tastings of the best wines from Australia’s oldest wine region, brought to your location at any time? Sign us up.

Stay n’ Sip offer six different tasting options: Private Wine Tasting, Fun Wine Tasting, Gourmet Wine Tasting, Ultimate Wine Tasting, Sensorial Wine Tasting, and Paint n’ Wine Tasting.

For a relaxed tasting experience (accompanied by a gourmet local cheese plate of course), Mercedes recommends the Fun Wine Tasting.

“The Fun Wine Tasting epitomises the core values of Stay n' Sip – to make wine fun, approachable and educational. By gamifying the wine tasting experience, the guests become more engaged but they aren't required to have pre-existing wine knowledge,” she said.

The Gourmet Wine Tasting is another of Mercedes’ highlights. The experience pairs exclusive Hunter Valley wines with some of the best of the region’s produce, featuring Binnorie Dairy cheeses, Cocoa Nib chocolates, and honeycomb from A.M. by P.M.

Whether it's with family or work colleagues, Stay n' Sip is a great option for your Christmas or end of year celebration. Mercedes recommends the Gourmet Wine Tasting as a great ice-breaking and pre-dinner activity for colleagues to enjoy together, while the Fun Wine Tasting is a fabulous option for when you want to create some competition between friends.

Whatever tasting you choose, a Stay n' Sip tasting is an ideal way to enjoy the best the Hunter has to offer without leaving the comfort of your accommodation, home, or office.

If there’s non-drinkers or minors in your group, Stay n’ Sip has you covered – there’s non-alcoholic options for people who aren’t drinking or who are under the age of 18.

What are you waiting for? Time to level up your next wine tasting with Stay n’ Sip.