The Pokolbin district, in the Lower Hunter Valley in New South Wales, is one of Australia's premier wine regions. Viticulture in the region has a long history, the first vineyards being established in the 1850's.

Pokolbin is something of a cross between a village and a district: it's a collection of vineyards and very small villages (Lovedale, Mount View and Rothbury), it doesn't have a single center that could be thought of as a township.

See

• Hunter Valley Gardens, 2090 Broke Rd, ☏ +61 2 4998-4000. Daily 9am-5pm. These magnificent gardens are of a horticultural standard you won't see elsewhere in Australia. 

Do

• Hot-air ballooning. Balloon Aloft 1 800 028 568, Hunter Valley Hot-Air Ballooning (1800 818 191).
• Jazz in the Vines. A popular event held in October, hosted by Tyrrell's Winery. 
• A Day on the Green. A concert hosted each year by Bimbadgen Estate. 

Buy

Wine

• Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard, DeBeyers Rd, +61 2 4998 7411. M-F, 9.30am-5pm. Widely regarded as the first vineyard in the Pokolbin district.
• Bimbadgen Estate, 790 McDonalds Rd, ☏ +61 2 4998 7585. 
• Brokenwood Wines, 401-427 McDonalds Rd, ☏ +61 2 499 87559, fax: +61 2 499 87893. 
• Hermitage Road Cellars at Hunter Resort +61 2 4998 7777. Daily tours at 9am, 11am & 2pm (booking required).
• McGuigan Cellars McDonalds Rd, +61 2 4998 7402. The McGuigan's complex houses McGuigan Fine Wines, the Hunter Valley Cheese Company and the Chocolate and Fudge Shop.
• Lindemans Ben Ean McDonalds Rd, +61 2 4998 7684. Open for tastings M-F 10am - 5pm, closed Christmas Day, Good Friday and New Years Day.
• McWilliams Mount Pleasant Estate, Marrowbone Rd, +61 2 4998 7505. Established in 1921, McWilliams is the largest Australian family owned wine company in the country. Daily 10am-4.30pm. Guided tours $2.20/person.
• Oakvale, Broke Rd, ☏ +61 2 4998 7088, fax: +61 2 4998 7077. Often has value for money wines at the cheaper end of the price range. 
• Pepper Tree Wines Halls Road, +61 2 4998 7539. The tasting room is surrounded by beautiful grounds and gardens. A good place to follow up wine tasting with a picnic. Open M-F 9am - 5pm, Sa & Su 9.30am - 5pm.
• Rothbury Estate Broke Road, +61 2 4998 7363. Open 7 days 9.30am - 4.30 pm.
• Tower Estate Wines Cnr Halls and Broke Rd, +61 2 4998 7989. Open 7 days 10am - 5 pm.
• Tyrell's Vineyards Broke Road, +61 2 4993 7000. One of the region's oldest vineyards. Open M-Sa. Winery tours are held at 1.30pm.

Eat

Be aware that many restaurants pay to be listed in tourist guidebooks and are exhorbitantly priced. It may be better to ask a local for recommendations. Rock Restaurant and Bistro Molines at Tallavera Estate are the only restaurants in Pokolbin to be awarded a chef's hat and both have a very good reputation. Other excellent restaurants are Shakey Tables, Esca at Bimbadgen Estate (especially for the wood-fired duck, which is the restaurant's speciality) and Cracked Pepper at de Iulius Estate.

Mid-range

• The Mill Restaurant, Tuscany Wine Estate, cnr Hermitage Rd & Mistletoe Lane, ☏ +61 2 4998 7288, fax: +61 2 4998 7277. 

• Amanda's On the Edge Restaurant, McDonald's Rd, ☏ +61 2 498 7900. A very popular restaurant. It seems to be the only restaurant in this part of the Hunter Valley that is not a winery too. 

Sleep

Mid-range

• The Sebel Kirkton Park Hunter Valley, 336 Oakey Creek Road, ☏ +61 2 4998 7680. Hunter Valley hotel offering boutique Hunter Valley accommodation in Pokolbin. Located 2hrs from Sydney, this Pokolbin hotel is ideally positioned to experience Hunter Valley wineries and attractions. 

Premium

• Mercure Grand Hunter Valley, Vintage Drive, off MacDonalds Road, Rothbury NSW 2320, ☏ +61 2 4998 2222, fax: +61 2 4998 2200, h5740@grandmercurethevintage.com.au. Contemporary one and two-bedroom apartments with gas fireplaces, doonas and fully self-contained. Apartments cost approx $230 - $390 per night. 

Go next

• Visit the historic village of Wollombi.