Allandale Winery

Overview

The Hunter Valley and wine go hand in hand, as any NSW resident with even a passing interest in the latter knows. Any Aussie in general is well aware, too, for that matter. So many vineyards, so many drops to choose from, so many places to start.

Our pick: Allandale Winery's verdelho. Named for the Portuguese grape, it's a particularly fruity white. And, as made with Aussie grapes, it's known for an intense but clean taste. If you're interested in the technical side, Allandale's verdelho is cold-fermented in stainless steel, using specially selected yeast, all at its four-decade-old winery in the Lovedale area.

Vino lovers who drop by can enjoy a cellar-door tasting for $5 a person, with the fee waved if you end up buying a bottle (or several). You'll also soak in the site's views of the Brokenback Mountain Range — and all those sprawling vines, of course.