Emma's Cottage

Emma's Cottage Vineyard is a rustic boutique vineyard on Wilderness Road in Lovedale, going since 1985, with a cellar door plus dog-friendly cottage accommodation. Well-behaved dogs are welcome across the grounds, and two of the cottages take dogs, so it works as both a tasting stop and an overnight base for a Hunter Valley trip that does not leave anyone in a kennel.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome across the outdoor grounds and outdoor tasting areas. For staying over, dogs are allowed specifically in Cottage 1 and Cottage 2, both with private BBQ areas and outdoor settings that suit meals with a dog along. There are resident dogs on site and guests are asked not to feed them, and you should confirm current pet fees and conditions directly when booking, as these change.

Worth knowing

The draw is small-batch wine and a low-key, home-away-from-home feel rather than a large function operation, and semillon is a local strength worth asking about. A cottage stay midweek is quieter for a settling-in dog, and a cooler morning keeps the grounds comfortable on a day visit before the afternoon warms up.

Pepsi: book the cottage that faces the vines and you get a fenced patch of lawn and a barbecue ten steps away. That is dinner sorted every night.

Getting there and parking

Find it at 405 Wilderness Road, Lovedale, with on-site parking close to the cottages and a short walk from the cellar door. You will need a car out here, so plan a driver if everyone is tasting.

The Wilderness Road strip is easy to string together: Capercaillie Wines has dog-friendly outdoor areas and a dam, and Tatler Wines offers dog-friendly outdoor dining. More options are on the NSW stays guide and the Lovedale destination page.