Saddler's Creek Wines

Saddler's Creek at 15 Marrowbone Road is the picnic-garden end of Pokolbin: a family-owned winery built around a spacious outdoor garden, casual Italian food from Mangia at Saddler's, and live acoustic music from Friday twilight through weekends. Friendly dogs on a lead are warmly welcomed across the garden, lawn and picnic grounds, which makes this one of the easier wineries to spend a whole afternoon at with a dog.

The dog setup

Dogs join you on the open grass and picnic benches that look out to the vines and the Brokenback Range, with room to sprawl rather than being tucked under a tiny table. The house etiquette is straightforward: leash on at all times, clean up after your dog, and make sure they are comfortable around other pets, children and live music. Staff often have water out but bring your own bowl rather than relying on it.

Max: Reserve a free Wine and Chill spot in the garden before you go. It is lawn seating with a glass or bottle instead of a formal tasting, and it is the best seat in the valley for a dog.

The vibe

The wines run small-batch semillon, chardonnay and bold reds, and the cellar door experience leans family-friendly, with kids' tastings and wine pairings on offer. Mangia serves casual Italian through the peak weekend windows, and the garden is set up for lingering rather than a quick tasting. Doors open 10am to 5pm daily, with a late close to 8:30pm on Fridays.

Getting there and parking

The address is 15 Marrowbone Road in central Pokolbin, with free on-site parking.

When to go

Weekends bring the music and the Mangia menu but also the crowds, so a noise-sensitive dog will do better earlier in the day or mid-week.

Make a day of it

Audrey Wilkinson, Hunter Valley up the hill pairs its picnic lawns with the region's best view, Bimbadgen Cellar Door adds its own amphitheatre hilltop, and De Iuliis Wines sits on the same eastern stretch of Pokolbin.

Plan the rest with wineries in NSW or around Pokolbin.