Hunter Valley: Wine Blending Class & Bottle to Take Home

You blend the wine yourself, then take the bottle home

You select and blend different red wine varietals under guidance from wine educators, tasting as you go until you've created a bottle that suits your palate. Once bottled and labeled, you take it home. The small group size and hands-on format mean you're learning by doing, not watching a demonstration. It's adults 18+ only, and the whole experience is built around the thing you're making, not a lecture about wine history.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hands-on red wine blending experience

• Join interactive wine blending session
• Select and blend different varietals
• Learn grape characteristics and effects
• Bottle your unique wine blend
• Enjoy a glass of your creation
• Take home your blended wine bottle

The experience

Hands move across the tasting bench, reaching for small pourers, tilting glasses to catch the light, comparing the color of one varietal against another before deciding which goes into the mix. That's you, in the first few minutes of the blending class at McCaffrey's Estate in Hunter Valley. The wine educators don't hand you a formula. They walk you through what each grape brings to the final taste, then step back and let you experiment with the ratios until something clicks.

The class runs small, between 2 and 14 people, which means there's room to ask questions without feeling rushed. You'll taste as you work, sampling different combinations and adjusting the blend until it matches what you're after. Some people aim for something bold, others softer. The educators know the grapes inside out. They'll tell you why a Shiraz-heavy blend tastes different from one built on Cabernet, and what happens when you add a smaller percentage of a third varietal to round it out. It's less lecture and more conversation, the kind that happens when someone who knows wine is standing next to you while you're actually making it.

Once you've settled on your blend, the team bottles it up with a label that marks it as yours. That bottle goes home with you: a tangible thing from the day, not just a memory or a photo. You'll have tasted it fresh in the class, so you already know what you made. Whether you drink it that week or save it, it's a one-of-a-kind souvenir that came from your own hand.

What’s included

You'll taste and blend your own bottle of red wine, guided by wine educators who explain how different varietals contribute to the final product. Once you've created your blend, the team bottles it and you take it home with you.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 10:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Pets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by McCaffrey's Estate Cellar Door

Is this one for you?Right for wine drinkers who want to understand blending by doing it themselves rather than sitting through a tasting or a lecture. The small group size and hands-on format mean you're learning directly from educators while you work, and you leave with a bottle you actually made.

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Top questions

What's included in the class?

Tasting and blending your own bottle of red wine, guidance from wine educators, and the bottled wine to take home.

What's the minimum group size?

A minimum of 2 people is required to run the experience. Maximum is 14.

Can children attend?

No. The class is for adults 18+ only.

Is it suitable if I'm pregnant?

The experience is not recommended for pregnant travelers.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

Do I need wine knowledge to join?

No. The class is designed for wine lovers of all levels, from beginners to experienced drinkers.