How The Duchess Does It

A little way out of the way and nestled into a hill with a fantastic view that the Hunter is famous for, is the cutest and most welcoming cellar door you will find in the Hunter Valley. Ballabourneen, is a family run business and although this is a pop-up originating from their recently opened vineyard cellar door, you can’t ask for more. 

Paul greets us at the front door, drilling some holes into a barrel in order to extend their deck furniture. He offers us to come inside, which is a welcome relief from the heat of the day and rather than putting a list in front of us, asks us what kind of wines we enjoy.  

Ballabourneen is a family run business and the Wine Maker Director, Daniel Binet, makes a large range of wines that will suit any taste. The new trend in the Hunter at the moment is to charge people for a wine tasting experience (fair enough if you ask me) – but not at Ballabourneen. Paul simply asks you to make yourself comfortable and enjoy, plonking a selection of bottles on the counter and starts pouring from the top of their driest of whites to the darkest of red wines that leave you wanting more.  

This is not a place to simply come if you are in a hurry or just want to down a few tastings in order to get your buzz on. This is a place you are going to want to take your time. Listen, learn and I guarantee you will enjoy the experience if you afford them the time – no different than they offer you. Nothing is rushed here, so neither should you. 

Ballabourneen and Domain de Binet offers up some serious wines. For such a little vineyard they have a range of 15 wines that will play with your taste buds and surprise you from what you thought knew about wine. For a fun afternoon in the sun, or a beautiful gift for someone you love, you simply cannot go past their Ballabourneen NV Moscato ($26). The packaging of this wine, is as sweet as it tastes and is simply the prettiest wine I have tasted in a long time. 

The Ballabourneen 2013 Traminer is an awesome drop! (At approx. $26) this wine can be enjoyed with or without food and is just simply fun for your mouth. This wine reminds me of Hunter Valley Traminer’s of times gone by. 20 years ago the Hunter used to make beautiful fun wines such as this, and it’s like Ballabourneen are reminding the Hunter not to be so serious all the time. 

We are a little obsessed with the Domaine De Binet 2013 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc. Meant for summer days and light lunches, this wine has been carefully barrel-fermented to give you bucket-loads of tropical fruits. 

However, if you are wanting to get serious, you simply cannot leave without a bottle of one of the best reds currently on offer on the Hunter Region. La Mere 2013 Shiraz ($50) is “the mother” of all Reds and if consider yourself a Red drinker, you will not be disappointed. Don’t be fooled though, this is not a light, easy-downing red for a casual dinner. This is serious stuff and is to be given as much respect as it deserves. Whist this might be one of the more expensive reds in the Hunter, it is worth every drop so open it and make it an occasion to be savoured and enjoyed slowly. This is not a ‘rushing through the city dinner wine’. This is a ‘romantic fireside kiss me!’ Wine. Get the picture?! 

The beautiful Hunter Regions is awash now of exciting little vineyards that often get overlooked by the big tour companies. Walking to all the bigger names, you will be struggling for space and fighting for some attention. Not here! For a small fee they offer you a cheese platter with your tasting, so my suggestion is to take some time, sit on the romantic verandah and enjoy a lesson from a lesser-known, but none the less amazing vineyard. You will leave satisfied, content and definitely in love.  

James Halliday Wine Companion recently dubbed Ballabourneen a “Dark Horse” Winery to watch, and I have to say, I agree. Keep your eyes on this one – and don’t forget to leave some space in the boot of your car to take some home with you when you visit. We left with more cases than anywhere else in the Hunter and it was worth having to re-organise luggage in order to fit it in.  After a hard day, relive the moment and create some more memories thanks to the romance of these lovely wines.

1039 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin &
515 McDonald’s Road, Pokolbin
NSW 2320
(02) 4998 6505
www.ballabourneen.com.au
[email protected]