CHARTERIS WINES

Charteris Wines is a boutique cellar door inside Peppers Creek Village at 1946 Broke Road, Pokolbin, pouring high-end wines from winemaker PJ Charteris in a rustic, antique-timbered room. It is one of the more genuinely dog-friendly stops in the Hunter: friendly, well-behaved dogs are welcome inside the tasting space as well as around the village grounds.

The dog setup

The house rule is simple: your dog needs to be sociable with staff and other guests, on a lead, and settled in what is an intimate room. Because the tasting space is small, book ahead and mention the dog so you are not squeezed in. Water bowls are often available, though packing your own treats is wise. The village itself is shared with other visitors and dogs, so keep yours close as you move between stops.

Worth knowing

The range is polished and boutique, with the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling the ones to seek out, served in a cosy room built from antique materials. Cafe Enzo in the same village offers dog-friendly outdoor seating, so a tasting followed by lunch with the dog is an easy same-address plan. The cellar door trades seven days, generally 10am to 4pm with a later close on Saturdays.

Getting there and parking

Peppers Creek Village sits at 1946 Broke Road in the heart of Pokolbin, with ample on-site parking a short, flat walk from the tasting room door.

Close by with the dogs

Broke Road carries a solid run of dog-friendly cellar doors: Pepper Tree Wines, Saddler's Creek Wines and Tulloch Wines all work for a tasting with the dog in their outdoor areas. The NSW wineries list and Pokolbin guide cover the rest of the valley.

Max: Small room, so book the tasting and say the dog is coming. Mid-week keeps the shared village calm.