De Bortoli Wines, Hunter Valley

De Bortoli's Hunter Valley cellar door at 582 Hermitage Road is a relaxed, family-run pour covering Hunter classics from semillon and shiraz through to fortifieds and the famous Noble One. Dogs are welcome across the outdoor courtyard and lawns, which makes it a comfortable stop on a Hermitage Road run with the dog aboard.

The dog setup

Settle in the shaded courtyard or on the lawns around the cellar door; the indoor tasting room is generally not for pets, but the outdoor tasting setup works year-round. Water bowls are often out and the staff are openly fond of dogs, though the lead stays on at all times out of respect for other guests and the wildlife around the vines.

Bring your own bowl as backup, since supply depends on how busy the day has been.

The vibe

The easy win beyond the wines is the cheese and salami pairing box, which doubles as a simple courtyard lunch while you taste through the range. The setting looks over the vineyards and stays unhurried even when the main Pokolbin spines are packed.

Pepsi: grab a cheese and salami box, claim a courtyard table, and let the dog settle in the shade. Simple and good.

Getting there and parking

The cellar door sits on Hermitage Road, reached off Broke Road or Wine Country Drive, with ample free parking right in front. Doors run 10am to 5pm daily, and groups are best booked ahead by phone.

Pair it with

Hermitage Road packs in cellar doors: Brokenwood Wines and Audrey Wilkinson are both close by, and First Creek Wines adds another option, so check each door's pet rules as you go.

Earlier in the day gets you the best shade on the courtyard for a warm afternoon. More pours are on the New South Wales wineries guide and the Pokolbin destination page.