Hunter Valley: Full Day Winery Tour & Cheese Pairing

Summary

Cheese, wine and laughter in the Hunter Valley’s rolling hills

You’ll spend your day tasting Hunter Valley wines paired with local cheeses during a relaxed tour led by an easygoing guide. Enjoy a gourmet lunch outdoors, meet winemakers at boutique vineyards, and finish off with craft beer or cider at a local brewery before heading home full and happy.

What’s the experience like?

Someone’s pouring chardonnay into my glass before I’ve even finished the last sip of semillon — that’s how our day in Hunter Valley started. Our guide, Mark, had this way of making everyone feel like old friends within ten minutes. He handed out little cheese cubes and said, “Try this with the next pour.” I tried to look like I knew what I was doing but honestly, pairing nine cheeses with nine wines is trickier than it sounds. There was this blue cheese that made me pause — sharp, creamy, somehow perfect with the shiraz. The room smelled faintly of oak barrels and fresh bread from the grazing box. Someone made a joke about “wine math” and we all laughed too loud.

We hopped between wineries — some tiny places where the winemaker actually came out to chat (I think her name was Jo?) and bigger ones with sweeping views over rows of vines. The weather kept shifting: sun one minute, then a cool breeze that carried the scent of eucalyptus. At one spot, Mark set up a mystery tasting and wouldn’t tell us what we were drinking until after we guessed. I got it wrong every time but didn’t mind; it felt good just being there, glass in hand, talking about tannins like I almost understood them.

Lunch was outside under big umbrellas — crusty bread, olives, smoked meats from the grazing box. There was this moment when everything went quiet except for birds in the distance and someone’s soft laugh at the next table. Later we ended up at a brewery for cold beers (or cider if you wanted), which surprised me because I thought it’d just be wine all day. Turns out beer tastes pretty great after hours of swirling glasses. On the way back I realized my hands still smelled faintly of cheese rind and grapes — weirdly comforting.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hunter Valley wine and brewery tour

• Attend cheese and wine masterclass
• Pair 9 cheeses with 9 wines
• Enjoy brewery tour with craft beers
• Finish with wine or cider tasting

Top questions

How long does the Hunter Valley winery tour last?

The tour is a full-day experience.

Is lunch included on this Hunter Valley day trip?

Yes, a generous gourmet grazing box is included for lunch.

Are there beer tastings as well as wine tastings?

Yes, you’ll enjoy both wine tastings and a brewery visit with craft beers or cider.

Does the tour include cheese pairings?

Yes, there’s a masterclass pairing nine cheeses with nine wines.

Is transportation provided during the tour?

An air-conditioned vehicle is included throughout the day.

Can pregnant travelers join this winery tour?

This tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers.

Are service animals allowed on this tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

Will we visit boutique wineries or only large ones?

You’ll visit a mix of boutique and larger wineries based on guest feedback.

What’s included

Your day includes travel in an air-conditioned vehicle around Hunter Valley’s best wineries and breweries, guided tastings of wine and beer (or cider), a glass of wine with your gourmet grazing box lunch outdoors, plus cheese and chocolate pairings along the way before heading back in comfort.