Wine with a view over the Hunter Valley plus a fascinating history
On paper the Hunter Valley Wine Country’s Audrey Wilkinson vineyard seems to have it all. The history, the wines, the awards, the views and a bunch of super friendly, knowledgeable staff. But it’s not until you wind your way up to the cellar door that you can see for yourself why Audrey Wilkinson was named in the Top 10 Cellar Doors in the country by Gourmet Traveller Wine.
Planted in 1866 the vineyard is widely regarded as one of the first in the Hunter Valley and one of the oldest in Australia. Quite simply named after a man called Audrey Wilkinson, Audrey earned a reputation for producing fine wine with cutting edge technology for its time, today the Agnew family continue the wine making legacy of the Wilkinsons.
Perched atop of a foot hill in the Brokenback Mountain Ranges, the expansive views that surround the cellar door make for a spectacular arrival.
As does the beautiful cellar door which on any given day is a buzz with wine aficionados and tourists alike, keen to taste the highly awarded Audrey Wilkinson selection. The friendly staff will talk you through the varieties planted on the property and before long will have singing the praises of their Semillon, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Gewurztraminer, Shiraz, Malbec or perhaps even a Tempranillo.
For those who like the idea of lingering a little longer we highly recommend picnicking out on the grass or at one of the outdoor tables around the cellar door. The team at Audrey Wilkinson have put together a couple of hampers and wine tasting packages for you to choose from:
Picnic among the vines $75pp (minimum 2 people).
Enjoy a self-guided tour of our onsite museum, followed by a master class and premium tasting from the in-house wine expert.Collect your bottle of handpicked wine along with a picnic hamper to share between two and select a scenic location within our 270 acre property to enjoy the picturesque view and immerse yourself among the vines where you will feel as though you have the whole vineyard to yourself!
Behind the Scenes Winery Tour $120pp (minimum 2 people)
Meet the winemaking team for a behind the scenes tour of the winemaking process conducted in the working winery.
You may be lucky enough to taste wine straight from the barrel and at different stages of the winemaking process as you learn about a grape’s journey from the vine to the bottle. Following the winery tour, make your way along the winding road to the cellar door where you will be treated to a VIP tasting of our premium wines and finish the day with a cheese platter to share overlooking the magnificent view.
Cheese Hamper $35
Enjoy a cheese hamper for two, including two local Hunter Valley cheeses with quince paste, nuts, dried fruit and crackers.
Stay among the vines
Enjoy 2 nights in a 4 bedroom Vineyard cottage surrounded by Pokolbin’s oldest vines. Be greeted with a bottle of wine on arrival and a breakfast hamper for the first morning. Enjoy 360 degree views and the many walking trails throughout the property. Nearby, you will find our cellar door where you can enjoy a private wine tasting and self-guided tour of the in-house museum.
Just one word of warning we must offer before you visit Audrey Wilkinson and that is, allow plenty of time, with the cellar door having so much to offer you won't want to rush any of it.