We’ve known for a while now that Glandore Estate offers one of the best wine tasting experiences around, so it was great to see this cool cellar door get officially recognised last week, when they won the Hunter Valley’s highly coveted Cellar Door of the Year award.

What makes Glandore so special?  Could it be their new state-of-the-art, cellar door offering panoramic valley views? Or perhaps it’s their delicious wines, paired perfectly with cheese or chocolate which can be enjoyed at the bar, on the deck or, if you’re a member, in their private Cellarhand’s Members Lounge? 

Come to think of it, maybe it’s their great service and the annual ‘Burning of the Barrel’ event, a favourite Winter’s night out for locals and visitors?

You see where I’m going with this…

There really is a lot to love about Glandore Estate.  Read on and you’ll see what I mean.

Located on Broke Road in Pokolbin, Glandore has been around for some time.  The Estate actually dates back to the 1860’s and accordingly, has some of the oldest vineyard plantings in the Valley.

It’s a really picturesque spot and the kind of place you could happily spend a few hours at.  Even more so, since the new cellar door opened. 

Whether you’re heading there for a quick casual tasting or a leisurely wine experience, Glandore have you covered.  If a chilled afternoon’s what you’re after, head to the covered outdoor area to enjoy gorgeous views of the vineyards and the majestic Brokenback Mountain range while you sip, swirl and relax.

Whatever you fancy though, there’re plenty of lovely spaces (and wines) to enjoy.  The Glandore Estate wine portfolio is surprisingly large too. 

Winemaker Nick Flanagan has been producing delicious Hunter drops for years as well as wines from other notable regions like the Hilltops, Orange, Tumbarumba, Canberra and McLaren Vale.

In the reds, you can try the Shirazes and Tempranillos, as well as a Sangiovese, Merlot and other popular red blends.

White wine drinkers will love Glandore’s Hunter Valley Chardonnay, Fiano, Semillon, Gewürztraminer and Savagnin (pronounced: sav-van-yin) an obscure but flavoursome, textural white wine, most famously produced where it originated in Jura, France.

The Rosé, Sparkling Shiraz and Dessert Wine are delightful additions too.

If you’re lucky enough to be a Cellarhand Club member, you’ll also be treated to back vintages and special releases of some of Glandore’s best wines which you can enjoy in their private members lounge.  

As with the rest of the cellar door, the lounge is beautifully appointed and features a fireplace and separate outdoor area. 

Fancy taking your tasting up a notch? Glandore offer a special wine and chocolate tasting experience or if you prefer savoury flavours, you can order a delicious Cheese Board.

Matched with five Glandore wines, including the Late Harvest Semillon Dessert Wine, the wine and chocolate experience costs $20 per person and features Adora’s unique hand-crafted chocolates. 

Alternatively, the Cheese Board costs $40 and features four European hard cheeses.  If you’d like a few extra nibbles to round out your grazing experience, you can add local goodies like olives, sourdough, pickled produce, terrine and charcuterie.  All up, it’ll set you back $75.

The Burning of the Barrel
Sadly the 2020 Burning of the Barrel event which is hosted by Glandore Estate each year around this time has been temporarily put on hold.  The team are however hoping to ‘let the embers fly’ later in the year.  Stay tuned.

Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year Award
Hosted by Hunter Valley Wine Country (aka the Hunter Valley Vineyards Association), the Cellar Door of the Year award recognises Hunter Valley Cellar Doors with outstanding public relations, sales technique, presentation and attitude.  The award is given annually as part of the Hunter Valley Legends Awards Gala event.

Of the coveted award, winemaker Nick Flanagan notes.

“Winning Cellar Door of the Year is a great pat on the back for the whole team.  It’s something we’ve been working towards for a number of years and it’s been really satisfying, particularly after a tense six months.”