Oakvale Wines

Oakvale Wines sits at 1596 Broke Road at the base of the Brokenback Range, one of the oldest working wineries in the Hunter with more than 120 years of history, and one of the most genuinely dog-friendly cellar doors in the valley. The venue's own visit page announces it plainly: the doors are open to pets, and the staff mean it.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome inside the cellar door for tastings as well as on the outdoor lawns, so hot days and wet days are both workable. Staff are known for making a fuss of visiting dogs: pats, water bowls and the occasional treat appear without being asked. Book a tasting ahead, especially on weekends and holidays when the door fills, and mention you are bringing the dog so you are seated somewhere with room.

Pepsi: pats before the first pour, a water bowl at my feet, and my humans got the organic range. This place gets it.

Worth knowing

The cellar door runs daily from 10am to 5pm, closing only for Christmas Day (and opening late on Anzac Day). The range is hand-crafted and minimal intervention, with organic and vegan-friendly wines a big part of the story, and the General and Premium tasting experiences are worth the upgrade if you are settling in. There is also a cafe on site, open from 8am for coffee and breakfast and running through to lunch and afternoon charcuterie with vine views, which turns a tasting stop into a full morning with the dog.

Getting there and parking

Oakvale is on Broke Road in the Deasys Road end of Pokolbin, about two hours north of Sydney, with free on-site parking. The grounds are flat around the cellar door and cafe, so getting from car to table is easy even for older dogs.

Pair it with

Gundog Estate and St Clair Wines are both short drives in the same pocket of Pokolbin, and the NSW wineries guide covers the wider region.

Directions and nearby stops are collected on the Pokolbin destinations page.