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Heart of Hunter Tours

Name: Heart of Hunter Tours
Address: 701 Lovedale Road, Lovedale, NSW, 2325, AU
Telephone: +61411144050

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Australia
Lovedale, NSW
Heart of Hunter Tours

We provide private tours of Australia's world-renowned Hunter Valley wine country.

09/06/2024

Yesterday’s Bespoke Tour

We love creating bespoke tours for our guests. They are both challenging and rewarding.

Guest requirements for yesterday’s tour:
1. Revisit the place where we eloped nearly 6 years ago.
2. Show my Aunt a great time (it’s her birthday and first visit to the Hunter Valley).
3. A brewery for lunch.
4. Wine preferences: “something not too sweet, a good red (especially Cab Sav), Riesling or Chablis, Chardonnay, sparkling”.

Challenge accepted. With a touch of creative freedom, we ticked all the boxes!

A huge thank you to the following awesome businesses (in alphabetical order) for making it all possible:

wines vale (pictured, and the location of aforementioned elopement)

26/05/2024

Yesterday’s tour was about showcasing our beautiful valley to two guests visiting from Singapore.

Shout out to the following awesome businesses (in alphabetical order) for making it such a special day:

(pictured)

25/05/2024

Apparently, today is National Wine Day.
I’m not sure if it’s celebrated internationally or just America.

Anyway, it provides the perfect excuse to open this superb Australian (and Hunter Valley) wine.

Halliday rated it 97 points way back in 2013. Amazing intensity and length, It’s improved since then!

Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz 2011.

24/05/2024

Off to tonight to celebrate and maybe/hopefully win an award. 😊🤞🏻

23/05/2024

Art Series Chardonnay 2017
A very special wine for International Chardonnay Day.

20/05/2024

An update on our bid to be crowned Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association 2024 Hunter Valley Tourism Operator of the Year…

We didn’t win. 😢
But we’re still very proud to be one of 9 finalists. 😊
The award went to for the second consecutive year (congratulations guys).

We’re in the running for another award (must be the season for awards)… more on that tomorrow!

07/05/2024

Exciting news to share!

We are thrilled (and very proud) to be announced as a finalist in the 2024 Hunter Valley Legends Awards for Tourism Operator of the Year.
We are looking forward to the evening of celebrations at on Thursday, 16 May.

28/04/2024

Just thought I’d provide an update on these awards…
Unfortunately, we couldn’t attend the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, held on 13 April at The Star Sydney.
We didn’t win, but we were one of just 14 finalists, nationwide, in the Tourism Category.
Also flying the flag for the Hunter Valley were Hunter Valley Tours and
Congratulations to the winners: .au

In other exciting news, we’re finalists for two more awards! Stay tuned…

13/04/2024

Paper Anniversary
Yesterday’s couple chose to celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary with a full-day tour of our beautiful wine country.
Start and finish was a little different, with pick up from Caves Beach (and return). A long but rewarding day.

As always, they loved the hospitality afforded them by the following amazing businesses (in alphabetical order):

(impromptu visit)
(the glass of sparkling on arrival was a very classy touch)
(pictured)
(impromptu visit)wines

Thank you from Heart of Hunter Tours. 🙏🏻😊

02/04/2024

Open-top concrete fermenters

Anyone know what the metal contraption is? I assume it’s for temperature control. Must ask next time I visit.

30/03/2024

Yesterday’s tour

What a great way to spend Good Friday!
A young couple from Newcastle, plus her mum and dad visiting Australia for the first time (from Canada).

As always, they loved the hospitality at every venue. A special shout out to who conducted their tasting at (they felt very privileged).

My thanks to all the businesses for providing my guests with outstanding experiences. In alphabetical order…

(pictured)

24/03/2024

Hunter Valley sunset

24/03/2024

4 Texans

Yesterday’s wonderful guests were off Nautica.
They were on the second leg of their cruise from Sydney to Singapore. The first leg was Tahiti to Sydney, and the third leg will be Singapore to South Africa. How good is that!

Anyway, luckily for me and them, they decided to tour the beautiful as part of their adventure.

They absolutely loved the wines, and their lunch at Baumé (they’d never heard of a seafood pizza 😂).

But most of all they loved the “servers” at all the venues. So a huge shout out and a genuine “well done” to the following awesome businesses (in alphabetical order).

(pictured)

P.S. They’re now fans of Hunter Semillon (and Shiraz) and took about 12 bottles back to the ship.

11/03/2024

Killing time while my guests are wine tasting isn’t so bad.

10/03/2024

Great tour yesterday with 4 guests, all the way from Oklahoma USA.

They were 90+ nights into their 274 night world cruise aboard Serenade of the Seas. That’s not a typo… 274 nights!

Sadly, despite plenty of searching, I couldn’t find them a single wild kangaroo. Where were all the kangaroos hiding yesterday?! 🤷🏻‍♂️🦘

But I did find them incredible wine, food, cheese, fudge, and coffee. All thanks to the following amazing businesses (in alphabetical order):

(pictured)

08/03/2024

Very proud. 😊
Tourism Category
Winners announced 13 April.

01/03/2024

Self-education

In order to provide my tour guests with the best possible experience, I pride myself on being able to engage in meaningful discussion (when welcomed) on all things Hunter Valley, and the world of wine.

I recently attended two very different industry events to further my knowledge of wine and keep abreast of developments in the Hunter Valley.

The first was “Exploring Village Wine in Spain”, courtesy of and , expertly hosted by , at

The second was the launch of Still House range of wines at
Definitely worth a visit to try these wines and view the historical distillery.
And you can even sample Penfolds Grange! ($65 for 50ml)

09/02/2024

Coquun Shiraz 2011

Wow. What a beautiful wine!
No surprise really. Consider the synergy of the component parts:

1. Vintage 2011. Rated 10/10 by for red wines.

2. Tallawanta vineyard. This famed Shiraz vineyard was planted in 1920.

3. Jim Chatto of
One of Australia’s most respected winemakers.

And there you have it.

03/02/2024

Old Vines Shiraz 2014

A beautiful medium-bodied Hunter Valley Shiraz, from a great vintage. Dark fruits, with complexity from French oak maturation and bottle age. Delicious!

Tip: be careful not to drink your red wines too warm, especially in summer. This wine was stood upright in the morning (to allow any sediment to settle), decanted about 6:00 p.m., then popped in the fridge for 40 minutes before serving. Perfect!

02/02/2024

Research

One of the things I love about running a tour business is the research.
I have a rule - never take a guest somewhere I haven’t been myself.
There are around 150 cellar doors in the Hunter Valley, and I keep a list of those I haven’t visited (or haven’t visited for a long time). The list is getting shorter, but there’s still work to be done.

Recently, my research took me to
It was a pleasure to meet and chat with Adam Kossak, the owner/founder and winemaker.
Currently, Adam produces 4 wines (pictured) and he has a wonderful story to accompany each wine/label. He might even play a tune on the piano while you enjoy your tasting.
Well worth a visit.

20/01/2024

A husband’s surprise birthday gift to his wife, as follows.

I must admit, I was a little jealous of the way my guests spent their day yesterday. Here’s how it went down.

1. Pick up from their stunning accommodation:
2. “Shiraz Sojourn” tasting at This was for him - he loves red wine. (Photo taken during this time.)
3. Premium tasting at This was for her - she loves Chardonnay.
4. Taste the “Cabernets” at Note: My guests had been trying to visit here for years, but “the gate was always closed”. So this was a special treat.
5. He specifically requested a picnic lunch. The “Picnic among the vines” experience at filled the bill perfectly.
6. A quick stop at to purchase some bonbons.
7. Then upstairs to for a premium tasting.
8. And return to their accommodation.

But wait, there’s more!

9. 8:15 p.m. Pick up from their accommodation and off to for dinner.
10. 11:02 p.m. I received the text “Ready when you are mate”.
11. 11:12 p.m. Pick up and return to their accommodation.

How’s that for a day in the Hunter done right!

14/01/2024

Limited Release White Label Semillon 2013

So many outstanding Hunter Valley Semillons from the 2013 vintage. These producers immediately come to mind:

And I reckon this Margan wine is right up there with the very best.

06/01/2024

My first tour today since having Mohs surgery in late November, and what a perfect day it was!

Huge thanks to the following businesses (in alphabetical order) for taking great care of my guests:

wines

31/12/2023

Did the thing.
Most of these were taken on tour. I love taking photos while my guests are enjoying incredible experiences… food, wine, beer, spirits, etc.

Thank you to all my guests and the wonderful businesses who took great care of them. I can’t wait to do it all again in 2024.

Happy New Year!

24/12/2023

Merry Christmas everyone!
Wishing you a safe and happy day.
🎄😊

16/12/2023

Preparations are underway for tonight’s dinner party.
and are doing the cooking, and I’ve raided the cellar.

Some special wines:wines

09/12/2023

One of my favourite views in the Hunter. Anyone know where this is?

Taking a short break following Mohs surgery to remove a couple of skin cancers from my nose and forehead. Healing up well and can’t wait to get back out there - late December / early January.
Don’t forget to slip, slop, slap, people!

01/12/2023

Summer and Semillon. You can’t go wrong.
Especially with an aged classic like this.

So much amazing Semillon in the Hunter. Enjoying an outstanding, aged Hunter Valley Semillon is one of the world’s great white wine experiences.

But it doesn’t have to be aged, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Young Semillons are delicious and offer great value for money. Seek them out and give them a try. Better yet, choose our Bespoke Tour and let us introduce you.

18/11/2023

The beautiful Brokenback Range is part of the Great Dividing Range, and dominates the Lower Hunter Valley landscape.

12/11/2023

It’s that time of the day…

I’m always on the lookout for great coffee. And there’s plenty of options in the Valley.
I’ll often enjoy a coffee, around morning/afternoon tea time, while my guests are wine tasting.

Featured today is
Very relaxing on this beautiful balcony/verandah.

Address

701 Lovedale Road
Lovedale, NSW
2325

Opening Hours

Saturday	9am - 6am
Sunday	9am - 6am

Telephone

+61411144050

Website

http://www.heartofhuntertours.com.au/

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Videos

There’s more to the @huntervalley than wine (and beer and spirits). @huntervalleywildlifepark (formerly @huntervalleyzoo ) is definitely worth a visit. They even have animal encounters like this one. #huntervalley #huntervalleyzoo #huntervalleywildlifepark #huntervalleynsw #visitnsw