Hunter Valley

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Graveyard Vineyard, Hunter Valley

Overview

Hunter Valley is the best-known wine region in New South Wales. Specifically, this is L. . . Read More >

Graveyard Vineyard, Hunter Valley

Overview

Hunter Valley is the best-known wine region in New South Wales. Specifically, this is Lower Hunter Valley, but mostly known as just ‘Hunter Valley’. The landscape is gently undulating, but with the impressive backdrop of the Brokenback Range.

Around 60% of Hunter Valley vineyards are planted with white varieties, the most important of which are Semillon and Chardonnay. Shiraz is the most planted and popular red grape. Hunter Valley has some of the oldest Shiraz plantings in the world, most of which are un-grafted, and some of which dates to the start of the 19^th century.

Semillon’s origin can be traced back to Bordeaux, in France, but it also has a significant history in Australia, where it is made as a single varietal wine in Barossa and Hunter Valley, and commonly blended with Sauvignon Blanc in Margaret River. Top producers include Brokenwood, Mount Pleasant, Tyrrell’s and Tulloch.

Key Grape Varieties

Shiraz from here is dense, full, and hearty, with a deep purple colour, and characteristic meaty – some would say “sweaty saddle” or leather notes and overall a pristine purity of fruit and pepper spice aromatics. But it is the Hunter Valley Semillon which is truly unique in the world, especially in its ageing qualities.

Harvested early, to beat the rains, Hunter Semillon is made, solely in stainless steel, into a dry and light bodied wine with a unique and uplifting toasty limey acidity when young; they then go through a “subdued period” of up to around 10 years and then after this time can develop wonderful and complex toasty and savoury flavours and are a truly special experience. We believe Australian Semillon is one of the best, if not best, examples of the single varietal style in the world, a unique experience, especially when aged.