Hunter Valley Tour

Members and friends were up bright and early meeting at McDonalds, Thornleigh. All in anticipation to get on the road and make our way toward the Hunter valley wine region. The morning started with a big breakfast and a large cappuccino. The drive to the Hunter valley was a dream as the new and classics powered up the F3 highway and into wine growing country.

The usual waves of appreciation were received from passing motorists along the way. We arrived at our hotel the Comfort Inn where we met up with other members of car clubs in the Hunter region; we unloaded our vehicles and made ready to commence our tour. Our first stop was Tyrells winery where we were given a tour of their wine making facility and then onto a private wine tasting.

We had a picnic lunch on the grounds at Tyrells where everyone contributed to the table and what a feed followed! Lunch took a little longer than anticipated, just highlighting not complaining. We next moved onto the Hunter valley gardens, the chocolate and lolly shop proved to be very popular!

Onto McGuigans for more wine tasting according to some members by this time it all tasted the same, the Semillon botrytis was a huge hit with many.

Onto our next stop “HOPE”, upstairs and through the Great Cask hall and into a specially prepared private area where a very well presented and professional wine tasting experience followed. Smelly cheese anyone?

At this stage it was time to return to our rooms to freshen up and make ready for dinner. The scotch fillet was exceptional and cooked to perfection the chefs at Pedens. Dinner was followed by coffee and desert. At dinner we were joined by very good friends of IMSMC Warren and Laurel Buckingham from CIAO (Classic Italian Automobile Organization) we are sure to share in events with this enthusiastic club!

Sunday morning started with a home-style country cooked breakfast and then members made their way onto the Chocolate factory. Upon arrival and entering the factory we could feel the kilos piling on just by breathing. Onto First Creek our first winery for the day, here we enjoyed some good local wines even a desert wine made from raspberries. You have to watch these vignerons they will start making wine from rapene seeds…

Many after First creek decided it was time to depart and return to Sydney, while others decided to visit The Blue Tongue brewery where we had lunch washed down with a handcrafted refreshing ale.

What a great weekend!

See you next year.