Hunter Valley: Horse Carriage Wine Tour & Cheese Tasting

Summary

Horse-drawn tastings in Pokolbin’s vineyards with local flavors

You’ll ride through Pokolbin by horse-drawn carriage, stopping for wine tastings at two local vineyards before sampling cheese and chocolate at a specialty shop. With a small group and friendly guide, you’ll get time to savor each bite (and laugh at your own wine guesses). There’s space for slow moments here—just you, good company, and those rolling Hunter Valley views.

What’s the experience like?

There’s this gentle clop-clop sound under you before you even realize how slow the world’s gotten. I was trying to snap a photo of the vines when our driver — I think his name was Mick — handed me a chunk of hay to feed the horse (I panicked and dropped half of it, but she didn’t mind). The Hunter Valley looks different from a carriage. You notice the way the light hits the leaves, or how the breeze smells faintly like eucalyptus and something sweeter I couldn’t place.

We stopped at a winery with old barrels stacked by the door — Tamburlaine, maybe? The woman pouring our first tasting told us about organic wines and laughed when my friend tried to guess which grape was which (she was way off). Sitting there with a glass in hand, you get this feeling that time’s stretching out. I kept reaching for another piece of cheese without thinking. The private tasting felt relaxed — nobody rushing us along. There was this moment where someone said something about “notes of chocolate” and then we all just started craving actual chocolate.

The last stop was for cheese and chocolate — not sure if it was Pokolbin Village Smelly Cheese or somewhere else, but honestly? I didn’t care by then. The air inside smelled creamy and sweet all at once. We tried little cubes of brie and some dark chocolate that stuck to my teeth. Our guide told us stories about local winemakers while we snacked. On the ride back, I leaned back against the seat and watched rows of vines blur past. It’s quiet out there except for the horses’ hooves and someone giggling behind me. Still think about that view sometimes — not sure photos do it justice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hunter Valley wine and tasting tour

• Join 3-hour horse and carriage tour
• Visit 3 tasting venues
• Enjoy 2 wine tastings
• Taste cheese and chocolate
• Learn about wine making process

Top questions

How long does the Hunter Valley horse carriage wine tour last?

The tour runs for 3 hours in total.

What is included in the wine tour?

You get two wine tastings plus cheese and chocolate tastings at three venues.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join; they may ride in a pram or stroller or sit on an adult's lap.

Is lunch included on this Hunter Valley wine tour?

No lunch is included; only wine, cheese, and chocolate tastings are provided.

Which wineries do we visit during the tour?

The venues depend on availability but may include Pokolbin Estate, Tamburlaine Organic Wines, McGuigan Wines, Sobels Wines, or others in Pokolbin.

Does this tour include pickup from my hotel?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; you meet at the starting point in Pokolbin.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels but not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries.

Can people under 18 join the wine tastings?

No alcohol is served to anyone under 18; they can still enjoy cheese and chocolate tastings.

What’s included

Your day includes two guided wine tastings at local vineyards plus a stop for cheese and chocolate sampling—all while traveling between venues by horse-drawn carriage with a friendly local guide leading your group through Pokolbin’s scenery.