Jac & Jones Wines Hunter Valley

Jac & Jones is a small, off-grid farm winery at 769 Hermitage Road in Pokolbin, run by Jacqui and Jonesy with a relaxed rural-industrial cellar door built around outdoor space. It trades on being the opposite of a corporate tasting room, and dogs are genuinely part of that: they are welcome at the cellar door, which even has its own resident wine dog.

Dogs at the cellar door

Dogs settle on a lead in the outdoor lawns and courtyard while you taste, with water bowls usually provided. Indoor access is generally restricted, but the airy build and vine-side tables keep the outdoor areas comfortable in most weather. Bring your own treats, clean up after your dog, and keep them clear of other tables on busy afternoons.

The tasting

The wines are small-batch and made on site, spanning sparkling and Prosecco, Semillon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Italian varieties like Barbera, with low and zero-alcohol options alongside. Tastings look out over the vines, and food runs to cheese and charcuterie boards and woodfired pizzas when the kitchen is firing, which is enough to turn a tasting into an afternoon.

Getting there and parking

The property sits on the Hermitage Road wine route with on-site parking. Hours are the thing to check: the cellar door opens Friday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, with last tasting bookings around 4:30pm, and Monday to Thursday visits happen by appointment only. Book ahead for weekends, and arrange a time directly for a weekday call-in.

Pair it with

The lawns are exposed at midday in summer, so pick a shaded spot or come earlier in the day. Others along the same route include Iron Gate Estate, Glandore Estate Wines and Tintilla Estate Wines, all a short drive apart. The full set is on the NSW dog friendly wineries page, with local picks in the Pokolbin guide.