A History Of Pokolbin And The Hunter Wine Region

The Hunter Valley is the center of the New South Wales wine country. Located in the center of the Hunter Valley, the village of Pokolbin is literally "the Heart of the Hunter.". When you visit Pokolbin today, you could be forgiven for believing that viticulture has always been the lifeblood of the region, but that's not quite the case.

Different sources give two different families credit for establishing the valley's first vineyard. Many say the Drayton family planted the first vines in Pokolbin in 1830. Others give credit to the Wilkinson family two years earlier, in 1828. Whether it was the Drayton's or the Wilkinson's, one thing's for sure: vines have been growing in the region well over a century and a half.

Aside from the big names in wine, like Tyrrell, Lindeman and others, many successful boutique wineries can be found in and around Pokolbin. One of the real pleasures of touring the region is discovering a lesser known winery and sampling their selections.

The Hunter Valley is best known for its traditional Semillon and Shiraz wines, but today many other varieties can be found as well, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and even some Pinot Noir. Mountain ranges on three sides of the Hunter Valley help protect it from the harshest weather conditions, while the Tasman sea breezes help keep the summer heat down. However, extreme summer heat and winter frosts offer challenges to vintners.

Pokolbin and the Hunter Valley were not always as sophisticated as they are today. Although the first vines were planted as early as 1828, the region did not become known for its wine until the 1960s. Before then, life was hard for the locals. Before then, mining was the principal industry in the Hunter, but when they were closed in the sixties, the region started looking for other means of income.

The sixties, too, was when Australians first started to appreciate the quality of their own home produced wines. The Hunter Valley, being so close to Sydney, became a magnet for Sydney wine lovers and the tourist industry in and around Pokolbin began to boom. Over the years, amenities and attractions for visitors were developed, including golf clubs, resorts, art galleries, restaurants and other attractions. Wine is still what attracts the majority of visitors, but the Hunter is becoming increasingly popular for other reasons as well.

The Hunter Valley Garden is an example of a Hunter Valley attraction that is not primarily about wine. Covering over twenty-five hectares in the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges not far from Pokolbin, the "Garden" is actually comprised of 12 distinctly different gardens and offers many other family attractions. A couple of the more popular ones include their monthly market stalls and their yearly Easter Egg Hunt for children.

There are so many Pokolbin accommodations to choose from, you may to do some looking around before you decide on the one that's best for you. Whatever your budget or preferences are, you will find something that's perfect for you. You can do a day trip from Sydney to Pokolbin, but do yourself a favor and stay for at least two days and a night.