Keen to road test the strength of this new “doggie dollar”,my partner and I packed up our own brood of fur babies (Luna and Zeus) and headed to a wine weekender old faithful:the Hunter Valley. An easy two-hour drive from Sydney,the Hunter is one of the country’s best-known and most-visited wine regions.
Kick-start your tastings on aGrape to Glass Tour. Run by dog-lover Vanessa Egan-Smith,this 100 per cent pet-friendly and fully customisable experience takes in some of the best wineries in the area and includes multiple tastings at premium,boutique vineyards,two of which have the option for on- and off-lead exercise to keep pups entertained.
The area around Pokolbin has the highest concentration of wineries in the Hunter,so basing yourself here for at least part of your visit is a good call. And for discerning dog owners looking for designer digs here,Kirkton Park Hunter Valley is the place to go.
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Accessed via a picturesque tree-lined driveway,this hotel staple now allows pets in a number of its plush suites. Dogs are also welcome on the covered alfresco terrace,which is a good thing as you don’t want to miss out on the estate-to-plate fine dining courtesy of signature restaurant Locavore.
With some eight million or so visitors annually,the Hunter can,at times,feel jam-packed and touristy,so for wine-lovers who want to veer off the tour bus route,Broke Fordwich is a good way to go.
Located in the foothills of the Broken Back Range,this historic wine region 20 minutes from Pokolbin has – until fairly recently – largely gone under the radar,but with olive groves and farm gate producers,it’s emerging as a destination in its own right,not the least thanks to a new crop of restaurateurs preferring menus with a focus on seasonality and simplicity.