Sharing the Love IN THE HUNTER VALLEY BEST WINES
For Summer BBQ’S..
IT’S VINTAGE
In Wine Country... Love in the Air
High Al tude Proposals!
Just a Splash
Cooking with Wine...
FO R YO U R
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EVERY WEEKEND THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY—WINEMAKERS TABLE at First Creek Wines Enjoy a guided tour of Vintage 2014 with winemaker and Managing Director Greg Silkman to learn about the processes involved in ge ng the wine from vine into bo le. Start at the crusher, see the fruit as it is processed and learn about the fermenta on choices, and taste fermen ng wines direct from the tank before visi ng the bo ling line. Then, join Greg at the Winemaker’s Table and enjoy a selec on of First Creek’s best wines expertly matched with some seriously good food from The Verandah Restaurant. Visit www.firstcreekwines.com.au
SATURDAY 1ST FEBRUARY —HUNTERS & COLLECTORS at Bimbadgen From their beginnings back in 1981, Hunters & Collectors were always something of an anomaly. This powerhouse Australian ou it is once again set to enthral and thrill not only devotees from the past, but also a whole new genera on of music lovers. Hunters & Collectors will be joined at Bimbadgen Winery by You Am I, Something For Kate and Bri sh India. For more informa on and cket sales visit www.adayonthegreen.com.au
SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY—DOLLY PARTON at Hope Estate Iconic singer, songwriter, musician, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton returns to Australia a er a widely successful 2011 tour. "Australia, here I come again. We have a lot of new and exci ng things for the show and can't wait to share it with you. I love my fans in that part of the world. You've been so very good to me for so many years and I know that we're gonna have a wonderful me. It's a long way from home in your part of the world, but I always feel like I'm right at home. So Australia, I'm coming home. Wait up!" .For more informa on and cket sales visit Ticketek.
SATURDAY 15TH & SAT/SUN 22ND/23RD—HAND MADE IN THE HUNTER MARKETS at Kevin Sobels Wines These local markets have the reputa on for being the longest running, 100 per cent handmade market in the winery area. In fact, it is one that tour buses regularly plan into their i neraries. Every item in every stall is handmade by the person selling it to you and they love to talk about their work and ideas. They take great pride in the fact that when you buy something from here, you are taking a li le bit of the Hunter home with you. For more informa on visit www.handmadeinthehuntermarket.com.au.
18TH TO 23RD FEBRUARY—SURFEST 2014 Merewether Beach Newcastle Reigning ASP World Champion surfer Joel Parkinson will compete in the 2014 Surfest program for the much coveted Mark Richards trophy as well as a share of the $US155,000 prize pool. Also confirmed for the 2014 Surfest program is elite women’s surfer, Dimity Stoyle, who will defend her 2013 crown in the $40,000 Hunter Ports Women’s Classic. This is great news not only for Newcastle but also for our surfing community. For more informa on visit www.surfest.com.
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ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: PH +61 2 4967 3200 HunterValleyOnline.com.au enquiries@wcpmedia.com.au WCP MEDIA 12 Hanbury St, Mayfield NSW 2304 February 2014. Copyright © 2014 WCP Media. Published monthly by WCP Media. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint or quote excerpt granted by wri en request only. While every a empt has been made, WCP Media cannot guarantee the legality, completeness or accuracy of the informa on presented and accepts no warranty or responsibility for such.
SPECIAL OFFERS AVAILABLE from 1st February 2014 until the 28th February 2014 inclusive or while stocks last.
Photocredit: RedMonkey Photography Newcastle
20TH FEBRUARY TO 2ND MARCH ‐ NEWCASTLE CRAFT BEER WEEK at various loca ons throughout Newcastle Now in its third year, Newcastle Cra Beer Week is back! Running from 20 February to 2 March 2014, Newcastle Cra Beer Week is a celebra on of all things cra beer. Like a lot of good ideas, this one came together over one or two good beers. Commencing in 2011, Newcastle Cra Beer Week (NCBW) has posi oned itself as one of the key events in the Australian Cra Beer diary, with events happening in a range of venues throughout Newcastle and the Hunter and including our very own Hunter Beer Co. For more informa on visit www.newcastlecra beerweek.com.
SATURDAY 22ND & SUNDAY 23RD FEBRUARY ‐ BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN at Hope Estate A er delivering in March 2013 what many cri cs and fans declared the ‘greatest rock and roll show on earth,’ Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are headed back to Australia in February for their most extensive tour of our shores to date. Springsteen and the E Street Band’s marathon performances, infec ous energy and ability to cap vate audiences did not go unno ced with the Wrecking Ball tour being awarded the 2013 Helpmann Award for ‘Best Interna onal Contemporary Concert’ and both fans and cri cs heralding it as the tour of the year. For more informa on and cket sales visit Ticketek.
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2 | FEBRUARY 2014
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from the
EDITORS February...the month of Romance….and also our first ever “Romance” issue of The Hunter Blackboard!
If popping the ques on is on your mind, check out our great ar cle on page 10 about high al tude proposals for some inspira on.
The Hunter Valley is one of this state’s favourite roman c des na ons, with couples making up almost a third of holiday makers to the area.
Of course we are also right in the middle of Vintage 2014 and there’s some serious business happening in our vineyards. Find out what’s happening in the vineyards with our focus on this year’s vintage on page 14.
THE romance ISSUE
Favourite ac vi es include enjoying restaurant meals and wine tas ng, visi ng our local a rac ons as well as taking tours and enjoying roman c ac vi es such as balloon flights, picnicking and horseriding. We’re also told that the Hunter Valley is one of the best (and most successful!) places to propose!
In another first, this issue of The Hunter Blackboard sees the inclusion of a great new map of the area— making it easier than ever for visitors to navigate the mul tude of wineries, restaurants, a rac ons and ac vi es available to them—we are sure you will find the map an extremely useful addi on to your stay in the area.
With this in mind, this month we look at sharing the love in Wine Country… If you love your wine, this issue also has some really useful ps about There’s a plethora of terrific things to drinking wine at your summer BBQ as do in the area as a couple. From well as using wine to cook with. discovering the area on a bicycle for the more ac ve to relaxing and being And like all good roman c meals, we pampered, there’s plenty of ways to end with a look at our Dessert discover the area and spend precious wines...or S ckies. Enjoy! me together.
AUSTRALIAS’s MUST VISIT WINE REGION Now has a must-visit website! For all your visitor informa on needs including the handy on‐line visitor informa on library visit….
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