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Hunter Valley: Small Group Wine, Gin & Chocolate Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.81 (311 reviews) 87% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/16

Duration11h–12h

GroupUp to 21

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Hunter Valley day trip with tastings lunch and local stories

You’ll taste your way through Hunter Valley with boutique wine flights, gin straight from local distillers, and plates full of regional flavors at lunch—all with stories from guides who know every shortcut. Expect laughter over cheese pairings, hands-on tours behind cellar doors, and maybe even a new favorite chocolate before heading back to Sydney.

11h–12h

Step-by-step itinerary

Hunter Valley wine and food tasting

Depart from Sydney
Visit first winery for tasting
Visit second winery for tasting
Visit third winery for tasting
Tour and tasting at distillery
Enjoy relaxed lunch with drink

The Experience

The first thing I remember is the way the minivan door thunked shut behind us in Sydney—like, okay, here we go—and then how everything got quieter as we left the city. By the time we rolled into Hunter Valley, the air felt softer somehow, like it carried a hint of eucalyptus and something sweet I couldn’t place. Our guide, Jess (she grew up nearby), pointed out rows of vines that looked almost too neat. She told us the locals call this time of year “wine weather”—which made me laugh because honestly, isn’t every season?

Our first stop was a family-run winery where the owner’s dog greeted us before anyone else did. Inside, you could smell oak barrels and something fruity—maybe blackcurrant? The winemaker poured us a semillon and explained why Hunter Valley’s whites are so sharp and bright. I tried to sound like I knew what I was talking about but mostly just nodded and sipped. Jess nudged me when I nearly mixed up my glass during the cheese pairing (rookie move). There was laughter echoing around the tasting room—people from Melbourne, a couple from Singapore—everyone loosened up after a few pours.

The distillery was next. They let us try gin straight from these squat little bottles lined up on a wooden plank. The botanicals hit different—juniper but also lemon myrtle? My friend tried to say “thank you” in her best Aussie accent; the bartender grinned and poured her an extra splash. Lunch came after—a big plate of something hearty (I picked chicken schnitzel) with a glass of local cider that tasted crisp and cold against all that sun outside. There’s this moment when you look out at those rolling hills and realize you’re not thinking about anything else except maybe how good food tastes when you don’t rush.

Somewhere between chocolate samples (honestly, I lost count) and wandering behind-the-scenes at another winery, it hit me how everyone here seemed proud but never showy about their craft. It’s easy to forget you’re just an hour or two from Sydney when you’re standing among barrels in that cool cellar air. On the way back, someone fell asleep against the window; I kept replaying that first sip of semillon in my mind—you know? Still kind of lingers.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off from central Sydney by air-conditioned minivan, guided tastings at three boutique wineries plus a local distillery stop for gin and vodka samples, behind-the-scenes access to wine production areas (just remember closed-toe shoes), as well as a relaxed one-course lunch paired with your choice of wine or beer before heading back to Sydney in comfort.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Daves Tours