Bimbadgen Cellar Door

Bimbadgen at 790 McDonalds Road in Pokolbin is one of the Hunter Valley's bigger estates, with a Tuscan-inspired courtyard, a wood-fired pizzeria and vineyard views from an elevated site. It is also one of the more genuinely set-up-for-dogs venues in the valley: dogs are welcome in the outdoor courtyard and pergola, and the kitchen even runs a pawcuterie board of dog treats.

Where the dog goes

Dogs belong outside here. The Tuscan courtyard and pergola are where the pizza and wine get served anyway, with the vineyard views, while the indoor tasting room and restaurant stay people-only, assistance animals aside. Lead on at all times and keep your dog settled around other diners. Bring a bowl as backup, though water is usually around.

The vibe

Estate-grown wines span semillon, chardonnay and shiraz, tasted at the cellar door or over a long lunch from the pizzeria. The wood-fired pizza-for-you, pawcuterie-board-for-the-dog combination is the reason dog owners put this one on the list. Bimbadgen is also a major live-music venue and home to A Day on the Green concerts, which changes the feel of the whole estate on event days.

Getting there

The estate sits on McDonalds Road in the middle of Pokolbin's winery strip, about two hours from Sydney and ten minutes from Cessnock. A large free car park sits at the estate entrance and handles the concert crowds, so arriving on a normal weekend is easy.

Pair it with

McDonalds Road makes cellar-door hopping simple: Brokenwood Wines and De Iuliis Wines are both close by, and Tulloch Wines is a short drive on. More options sit on the New South Wales winery guide and the Pokolbin destination page.

Pepsi: wood-fired pizza for me, a pawcuterie board for the dog, vines as far as you can see. Hard to top for a long lunch.

A sunny afternoon in the courtyard is the brief. Check the events calendar and skip concert days if you want a calm visit; a regular Saturday or Sunday with a table outside suits a dog far better.