Everyone loves a weekend getaway but there's something a little naughty about sneaking away midweek. While everybody else is slogging away at work you're having a fabulous break… and posting about it on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or What's App. During Hunter Valley Wine & Food Festival there are loads of daily events, so why wait until the weekend? Pack your bags and take off on a whim.
GRANGE VS THE HUNTER
You've probably heard that Penfolds Grange Shiraz is one of the most exceptional wines made in Australia but how does it stack up when pitted against some of the Hunter's best? You can find out every day throughout June at Wine House Hunter Valley. You get to taste three local iconic wines – 2009 Brokenwood Graveyard, 2009 Thomas Kiss and 2009 Tyrrell's Vat 9 – and the 100-point 2008 Grange BUT it's a blind tasting so you won't know which wine is Grange. Will you pick it? You can do the taste test any day or join a Saturday Masterclass and have expert guidance from a winemaker.
TULLOCH WINES & GOOSE ON THE LOOSE
A charcuterie board and wine just go hand in hand, but which wines to pair with those meaty textures? Every day in June you can head along to Tulloch Wines and pick up some guidelines. They've partnered with Australia's finest artisan salami makers Goose on the Loose – love that name – to present a fun experience where you can taste five salamis matched with five Tulloch Wines. From the sweet subtle flavours of pork and truffle to the robust flavours of duck and kangaroo, they have a wine to suit.
SEMILLON & SUSHI TASTING EXPERIENCE
Another daily event where you can snack on sushi and sip Semillon – yes please! Apparently you don't drink sake with rice (who knew?) but a crisp, citrusy Semillon is perfect and Briar Ridge has some beauties. They're cracking a selection of young and aged Semillons to pair with a range of freshly prepared sushi pieces with a touch of wasabi and soy on the side. Makes for the ideal light lunch and you get 25% off any of the Semillons tasted when you buy a six-pack or more.
THEN & NOW TASTING EXPERIENCE
Over at Pepper Tree Wines they also fossicked around in the cellar to find some fantastic museum wines for you to taste, alongside some current release wines in their 'Then & Now' Tasting Experience. Every day you can take a seat in their VIP tasting area called The Vault and compare the differences between the new and aged wines while munching on a grazing platter.
LIFE'S ICONIC PLEASURES
This is heaven for fine wine and fromage fans. Daily in June you can sit down at Mount Pleasant and explore a three-vintage vertical of the Hunter's iconic Lovedale Semillon and Maurice O'Shea Shiraz, served in premium Riedel glasses of course, paired with some of the world's finest cheeses from The Artisan Cheese Room from Manly.
CHEESE, CHARCUTERIE & CHARDONNAY FLIGHT
If every day is Chardonnay Day at your house, you should visit Leogate Estate Wines.They're holding a daily experience where you can enjoy a flight of four Chardonnay wines with a cheese and charcuterie plate while a wine educator takes you through the different.
