Mount Pleasant Wines

Mount Pleasant is one of the Hunter's founding estates, established in 1880 on Marrowbone Road, and it is a rare Pokolbin cellar door in letting dogs come right inside the tasting room. That indoor welcome makes it the wet-weather pick for a dog day out when the lawn-only doors across the valley are a washout.

The dog setup

Well-behaved dogs are allowed inside the main cellar door tasting area, and there is also covered patio and outdoor seating when the weather is kinder. Keep your dog leashed and settled beside you; the room is shared with other tasters, so a calm dog is the price of the indoor seats. Water bowls are usually on hand. Tastings are seated and the staff are known for being generous with their time, which helps a fidgety dog relax.

Max: rain outside, shiraz inside, and my own spot at the tasting bench. Best bad-weather plan in Pokolbin.

Worth knowing

The cellar door opens daily from 10am to 5pm, and bookings are worth making on weekends. The history is the headline: the wines made in honour of legendary winemaker Maurice O'Shea anchor the range, and the shiraz and semillon flights show why the estate's reputation has lasted a century and a half. Ask staff about the museum and flagship pours if you want to go deeper than the standard tasting.

Getting there and parking

The estate sits at 401 Marrowbone Road, a few minutes off Broke Road, with free on-site parking beside the cellar door. The grounds are level and the walk in from the car park is short, which keeps the arrival easy with a dog.

Pair it with

Saddler's Creek Wines is around the corner on the same road with a pet-friendly picnic garden, and Meerea Park Wines is close by for a boutique second tasting.

More options are on the NSW wineries guide and the Pokolbin destinations page.