Around Hermitage Blogs &#038; Media

Organic/ Biodynamic Wines in the Hunter Valley. Reflecting on the past 20 years of growing grapes and producing wines under the certification of Organic and Biodynamic confirms the positive outcome of looking after the soil and making the most natural wines possible! Macquariedale Organic Wines embarked on the road to…

Bob's Blog WMC19

Sangiovese in the Hunter!

Sangiovese in the Hunter! Our Legend’s lunch this month featured white wines from Germany and reds from northern Italy, just across the border as it were. We really couldn’t think of any serious reds from Germany! The question was asked as to why it took so long for Italian reds…

News WMC19

GETAWAY TRAVEL SHOW! Around Hermitage Feature

Watch our feature on Getaway … here’s to the good life! Missed tonight’s episode of Getaway? Featuring the scenic Around Hermitage cycleway with Sutton Estate Electric Bike Hire, Two Fat Blokes and Tintilla Estate. Catch up here: https://bit.ly/2VefGC5 Watch it YouTube https://youtu.be/qUBR-NDUdSg #aroundhermitage #huntervalley #tastestayplay Around Hermitage on Getaway

Bob's Blog WMC19

Around Hermitage and the Wine Media Conference

‘Around Hermitage’, Pokolbin. and the Wine Media Conference This is the first time the “Wine Media Conference” conference has been held outside the USA and the Around Hermitage vineyards will be hosting some attendees for a Hunter-Gatherers dinner and showcasing our wines. With the coming of some 300 wine writers…

Bob's Blog WMC19

On the Origin of Hunter River Semillon

On the origin of Hunter River Semillon; Bob’s Blog I recently went to the Mitchell Library in Sydney where there is an interesting exhibition called ‘Dead Central” which is an account of the Devonshire Street Cemetery that gave way to the building of Central Railway station. The cemetery opened in…

News WMC19

Braemore – The story of one of our country’s greatest vineyards

For almost 50 years, semillon vine trunks have grown out from the finely packed grains of earthen white sand that defines this part of Pokolbin. In the shadow of she oaks, which grow along the creek that divides the vines east to west, grapevine bark peels and splits away, forming…

News WMC19

Tyrian – A New Variety

Tyrian is a wine grape variety developed by CSIRO, producing a deep-red coloured wine with a full-bodied palate, berry fragrance and spicy fruit flavour. The name Tyrian derives from its association with colour, where it represents ‘deep purple hue’ and was chosen after extensive consultation with industry representatives and marketers.…

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The Tale of a Trail – A Potted History of Around Hermitage

Bob's Blog, News, WMC19

Around Hermitage in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley There are many areas within the wine regions of the world that have unique characteristics that contribute to their regions. The Around Hermitage precinct of the Pokolbin sub-region in the Hunter has developed in such a manner. Other precincts include the Parish of Pokolbin,…

Bob's Blog WMC19

Hunter Terroir defining a unique Region and wine style

Not enjoying the humidity that comes with a Hunter Summer? Well, you may not know it, but the vines are – not so much the risk of mildew infection, which we spray to avoid, but the protection the humidity gives them stopping them from drying out and shriveling. One key…

Bob's Blog WMC19

1st Release Wine Week – From Grape to Glass

‘From grape to glass’ to quote Pup Neeley as she summed up winemaker James Lusby’s description of the importance of the vineyard in making exceptional wines. In the run-up to our Around Hermitage First Release Wine Week, we have been conducting interviews and making short video’s with the men and…

Bob's Blog WMC19

Sensory perception is so unique

Visiting the Maitland Regional Art Gallery in the wet weather last week we strolled into the Open Collection Store which contains some 5000 paintings, drawings, prints and photographs stored in racks, draws and shelves. On display was a painting that stood out of a man in front of some sheds…

Bob's Blog WMC19

Lindeman’s Pioneers of Hunter Valley wines

With the recent announcement of the reopening of Lindeman’s Ben Ean winery by the McGuigan and Peterson families I thought it might be timely to look again at Henry Lindeman and his family and their great contribution to the Hunter and Australian wines more generally. Ben Ean is shown on…

Discover WMC19

Discover: Being Wild About The Valley

It is easy to be wild about The Hunter Valley! There are examples of nature’s resilience all around, and one of the features of a visit is that you can see wildlife amongst the gum trees. There are the easy to spot kangaroos freely found throughout the area without going…

Discover WMC19

Discover: The Mountains of the Valley: Looking up and down

For the photographer, walker, adventurer/road trips Free 1. Greater Blue Mountains National Park The Hunter Valley is conjoined with the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area which is one of the largest and most intact tracts of protected bushland in Australia. This deeply incised sandstone tableland covers over 1 million…

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Discover: Indigenous Art in the Lower Hunter Valley

Featuring Baiame Cave, Bulga, and the Finchley Aboriginal Cultural Walk, Yengo National Park For indigenous culture, local history, artists and photographers Your visit is free – no charges apply to either site Baiame Cave Painting Bulga No facilities are provided for visitors To get there: Take Welshs Road off Old…

Discover WMC19

Discover: Hunter River Reserve

For bushwalkers, photographers, bird watchers Few facilities are provided for visitors – rustic picnic table on escarpment Your visit is free – no charges apply. The walks contains steep stone steps. Directions Take Orient Street turn off at Greta and follow to end The Reserve provides spectacular views over Luskintyre…

Discover WMC19

Discover Hunter Valley Wine Country History – Links to the past

There is much history to see and enjoy around Wine Country and our environs: from aboriginal art of state significance, to convict trails and early settler’s relics, buildings and townships, to industrial beginnings within our wine, and mining communities. The following is a brief snapshot of some sites you can…

Bob's Blog WMC19

Terroir: it’s about people too

I often think the patchwork nature, small holdings, and landscape of the Pokolbin and Broke Fordwich wine subregions is similar to Burgundy. Indeed there is a move afoot to get Heritage recognition for some of the old vineyards that have survived and, given that we are a phylloxera free area,…

Bob's Blog WMC19

Budburst: Grape expectations and a warning

Over how many millennia have the expectations of grape growers been raised by the first appearance of leaves on their vines. The sign of a new vintage and all that implies. We share a common experience with the ancient Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Romans and all who lived around…

Bob's Blog WMC19

“The Good Life” an offer we can’t refuse?

People have been drawn to the Hunter from the early days of colonial settlement. Was it the search for the Good Life and all that concept entails? There is something about the land, the hills and valleys that gets to us, the vistas, the endeavours of people to use the…

Bob's Blog WMC19

There’s a lot more to Merlot

At a recent family celebration, I opened a bottle of Grand Cru Classe wine bought in Saint Emilion back in 1979! It was a Tertre Daugay 1964 and to our great surprise, it was still a very sound wine with those wonderful characteristics of an aged Merlot. Now you probably…

News WMC19

F**k the Fires — Drink Australian Wine