The Hunter Blackboard December 2014

HUNTER The No.1 magazine for visitors to Hunter Valley Wine Country

D EC E M B E R 2 0 1 4 | I S S U E # 9 4

THE

BLACKBOARD

THE

Celebration ISSUE

With wines to pair

SPECTACULAR!

Christmas Lights 2014

FLYING HIGH

Vintage aviation

KABOOM!

Lighting up our sskies HunterValleyOnline.com.au

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UNTIL 26TH JANUARY | CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SPECTACULAR | Hunter Valley Gardens Every year Hunter Valley Gardens bring thousands of families together to celebrate the magic of Christmas at the Christmas Lights Spectacular. Open every night with over 1.5 million Christmas lights on show throughout designated areas of Hunter Valley Gardens. Special guest Santa Claus, live entertainment and food and beverages available for purchase on site. There’ll also be Santa photos (for kids of all sizes) taken by a professional photographer. Special night rates apply. This is an event the whole family will enjoy (closed Christmas Day). For more informa on visit www.hvg.com.au

SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER | JOHN LEGEND IN A DAY ON THE GREEN | Bimbadgen | The supremely talented, #1 char ng neo-soul singer John Legend is set to thrill his Australian fans this December. “An Evening With John Legend” teams the mul -award winning, pla numselling singer-songwriter with his super talented band plus a guest string sec on. This promises an in mate show not to be missed. Special guests Megan Washington and Dami Im. For more informa on visit www.adayonthegreen.com.au

SUNDAY 7TH DECEMBER | VARIETY SANTA FUN RUN| Star ng at Honeysuckle| 'Tis the season to paint the town red and white! It's me again for wannabe Santas young and old to get set for some seasonal an cs and dress as a Claus for a Cause for the 2014 annual Variety Santa Fun Run! Newcastle's bighearted Santas will hit the pavement star ng the 5km route from the fountain at Harbour Square Honeysuckle, going along the foreshore to Newcastle's iconic Nobbys Lighthouse and back. Everyone will nish right where they started, where there will be a fun lled fes ve event with plenty of lunch choices at Honeysuckles fabulous restaurants. For more info visit www.varietysantafunrun.com.au SUNDAY 14TH DECEMBER | FAMILY CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON| Wynwood Estate/ Twine Restaurant | Come and celebrate Christmas with Wynwood Estate and Twine Restaurant and enjoy the amazing views over the vines. There will be live music, $5 wines by the glass, $5 Coronas and Heinekens, a tasty BBQ by Twine Restaurant and for the kids, a jumping castle, face pain ng and Santa! Bring a rug and kick back, relax and enjoy a great Hunter a ernoon! For more informa on, contact the cellar door by phoning 02 4998 7885 or emailing cellar@wynwoodestate.com.au

15TH—17TH DECEMBER| JACK NEWTON CELEBRITY CLASSIC | Cypress Lakes | The Jack Newton pro-am 36 hole golf tournament combines 50 celebri es ranging from spor ng greats, comedians, entertainers, lm stars and television personali es with 50 professional golfers. The tournament o ers a unique opportunity for amateurs to play with their gol ng heroes and celebri es. Whilst the celebrity heavy tournament prides itself on promo ng a fun, relaxed vibe for its par cipants, there is a real purpose behind it - with all proceeds duly donated to the Jack Newton Junior Golf Founda on and Diabetes. For more informa on visit celebrityclassic.jacknewtongroup.com

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SPECIAL OFFERS AVAILABLE from 1st December 2014 until the 31st December 2014 inclusive or while stocks last.

THURSDAY 18TH DECEMBER | THE WIGGLES BIG SHOW! | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | Bigger, brighter and wigglier than ever, Australia’s favourite children’s entertainment group are gearing up to bring their new live performance, THE WIGGLES' BIG SHOW! to Newcastle. The na onal tour kicks o in December, and is their most exci ng live show yet. So get ready to sing, dance and laugh along with Emma (Yellow Wiggle), Lachy (Purple Wiggle), Simon (Red Wiggle) and Anthony (Blue Wiggle). For ckets visit www.premier. cketek.com.au

31ST DECEMBER | VIP PARTY | Harrigan’s Irish Pub | Harrigan’s is set to kick o 2015 with New Year’s fes vi es that will literally rock your world! With great live entertainment that includes KDL and GenR8, plus a DJ from 10pm, you can rock the night away in an atmosphere that will be perfect for seeing in the New Year. The sky will light up with an array of reworks at 12pm. VIP Tickets are $149 per person and numbers are strictly limited, but HURRY ckets will sell out! Bus pick up and drop o into Newcastle and surrounding areas. Bookings must be made prior to the event at www.rovercoaches.com.au For more informa on visit www.harrigans.com.au

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from the

EDITORS Yes Christmas is upon us once again and with it the return of the annual Christmas Lights Spectacular! Now in its eighth year, the lights will be on un l the 26th of January with each year seemingly outdoing the last with more lights and even more outstanding displays.

Great fun for the en re family! Also, make sure you do not miss the rework displays which will be on at 9pm on New Years Eve and Australia Day. Ka-boom! Talking of reworks - this month our team discovered the people behind the reworks that entertain and light up our skies each year with their brilliant displays.

Find out on page 12 how it all came about and just how far it has gone.

This months ''Celebratory Issue'' of the Hunter Blackboard magazine, is full of Christmas shopping des na ons, gi ideas and Christmas cheer. Learn what a typical Christmas in the Hunter Valley is all about on page 11 and nd out what some of our top chefs are serving up in their restaurants over the fes ve season and also in their homes.

We love wri ng about the people who make the Hunter Valley a great place to visit and with each issue we remain enthralled by the passion of so many of the people we come into contact with. Andrew Leembruggen is one of them and having worked for some of Australia's oldest and most pres gious wine labels and with 20 vintages under his belt,

Andrew tells us how he became a winemaker and why he decided to go out on his own to set up AndeVine Wines in Lovedale.

Another man on a mission and certainly not short on passion is Ben Merkenhof who has con nued with his late fathers passion and dreams. Read about Hunter Valley Vintage Wings on page 9 and visit the vintage avia on museum at Cessnock Airport where you will see a number of beau fully restored planes da ng back to 1940. While you are there take a joy ight on one of the classic war planes. Now that's one for the bucket list!

Finally, don't miss out on some great Christmas bargains on o er at the local markets being held throughout December with Handmade in the Hunter Markets being held on the 6th, 13th, 27th, 28th and 29th of December and Sacred Tree Markets being held on the 7th and 21st of December.

As always there is so much to do in the Hunter Valley at this me of the year - local markets, great restaurants at which to dine at, wine tours, beer tas ng, live entertainment, Christmas events, galleries and art exhibi ons, shopping, glass blowing and so much more and it can all be found in this issue of the Hunter Blackboard.

Merry Christmas from us all!

HIGHLIGHTS FLYING HIGH | Hunter Valley Vintage Wings | How one very determined aircra enthusiast has honoured his father’s legacy to bring beau ful vintage aircra to Hunter Valley skies...

‘TIS THE SEASON | Celebra ng Christmas in the Hunter Valley | When all the tradi onal sights and sounds of the fes ve season point to the Northern Hemisphere, how do we tackle the big day when it’s 40 degrees and sunny?

KA-BOOM! | By day Miller Forest’s Milton Skinner is the man ring up the engine under the hood of your car , but by night, Milton is responsible for ring up something altogether more exci ng ….

HUNTER BLACKBOARD MAP | A popular addi on to each and every issue. Use it to nd your way around Wine Country...

9 10 12 18

ANDEVINE WINES | For over 20 vintages Andrew Leembruggen has been making wine for some of Australia's oldest and most pres gious wineries that include Drayton's Family Wines and McWilliams Wines….

20

BRILLIANT BUBBLIES |Take a look at some of the Hunter’s best celebratory wines and nd out how sparkling wines came to be!

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T H I N G S TO D O

THE ROAD TO WOLLOMBI Travelling through me 27th November - 21st December From 27th November un l 21st December the Cessnock Regional Art Gallery will be presen ng The Road to Wollombi - travelling through me by ar sts Barbie Hooper and Julianne Ross Allcorn.

Julianne and Barbie are both ar sts and art teachers with many years experience whose work is represented in collec ons across the country and overseas.

While they both live in Sydney they have long associa ons with the Cessnock region and the road to Wollombi has fascinated them for many years. In 2013 they held their rst exhibi on together at the Old Fire Shed Gallery in Wollombi.

Through their selec on of pain ngs and photographs they take us on an in mate journey through the landscape, the history and the people who have helped shape our region.

This is an exhibi on which combines both contemporary and tradi onal approaches to art making with a very real historical subject.

This is a fresh and lively exhibi on which has at its core a very old and signi cant winding road.

Julianne may be familiar to many from her role as the squa er's wife in the ABC TV series 'Outback House' from 2005.

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Nothing says Christmas spirit quite like seeing 1.5 million fes ve lights showcased in the one spectacular place. Now in its eighth year, Christmas Lights Spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens is bigger and be er than ever. This year the event welcomes 5 brand new displays, including themes from Alice In Wonderland, Winnie The Pooh and Candy Land.

The extravaganza not only consists of a record number of lights, but also plays host to Santa un l 24th December, and a rework display on the event’s opening night, New Year’s Eve and Australia day. With so many a rac ons, this event is the ul mate way to kick-start your family’s fes ve season.

Kyle McKendry, General Manager of Hunter Valley Gardens says, “This spectacle grows each year and 2014 is set to be our most innova ve yet! It’s fantas c to see the excitement on a child’s face when they see the lights and meet Santa for the rst me. With so much to explore, the Christmas Lights Spectacular is the perfect family tradi on.”

This year, explore, eat, drink and be merry with a variety of food and beverage stalls. Experience Christmas carols un l the 24th December, performances from Li le Scallywagz, big ferris wheel or get your heartbeat racing on the bungee (rides from the 21st November 2014)!

Christmas Lights Spectacular will be dazzling every night un l Monday 26th January, 2015 (excluding Christmas Day and night). Gates will open at 6.30pm and will close at 10.00pm. Roaming entertainment and performances will be open for the dura on of the night.

To nd out more about the Christmas Lights Spectacular, please call 02 4998 4000. In the event of wet weather, please visit the Hunter Valley Gardens Facebook or Twi er page or contact Hunter Valley Gardens to nd out if the Christmas Lights Spectacular will be open.

Coming this January from 3rd-26th January 2015 – Mega Bugs – See the Christmas Lights Spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens plus the biggest display of animatronic bugs in Australia. Featuring Spider-saurus and a towering 8 metre high praying man s, plus a scorpion, wasp, ants, beetles, ladybird, giant snail, bees, bu er ies, cen pede, cicada, dragon ies and caterpillars and many more mega creatures from the underworld! This is a day and night event from 9am-4pm and with the Christmas Lights from 6.30pm to 10pm.

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Hope Estate has announced the Campfire Festival, with 3 days of top class Aussie artists headlined by John Butler Trio, Kasey Chambers and Lee Kernaghan, Ash Grunwald and many more!

Featuring enhanced staging, an amazing line-up of acts, an exciting range of camping options, and a variety of food and beverage options, it’s a great chance to spend 3 days with your friends enjoying all that Wine Country has to offer. Camping is available onsite from bring-your-own tent to 5-star glamping.

Tickets are on sale now for this all new annual event. For more information go to www.campfirefestival.com.au.

To book tickets call 1800 777 444 or go to ticketek.com.au

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The Star Studded Line-Up (so far) includes: John Butler Trio Lee Kernaghan | Kasey Chambers Shannon Noll | Ash Grunwald | Beccy Cole Mental as Anything The McClymonts | Wendy Matthews | We Two Thieves The Wolfe Brothers | The Wolverines | Amber Lawrence Kevin Bennett and The Flood | The Bob Corbett Band | Chelsea Basham Greg Champion | Christie Lamb And more to be announced ...

Flying

HIGH

By Michelle Meehan

When 59-year-old vintage aircra enthusiast Bob Merkenhof died suddenly from heart failure in 2009, his son Ben was devastated. But despite his grief, Ben knew there was just one thing to do – follow in his father’s ight path and nish the project he had unfortunately never had me to complete.

A er overseeing the restora on of a 1940 VH-EEI Tiger Moth in 2004 – but then being too tall to learn to y it, Bob had turned his a en on to another classic war me plane, a Stearman (Boeing) Model A75-L300 biplane, one of only 282 that were built for the US Navy in 1940. While Bob never got to see the World War II training plane take ight, Ben was determined to see the project through to the end and then use it to help raise awareness of the illness that claimed his father’s life.

On March 23, 2011 Ben took the restored plane – aptly named ‘Big Bob’ - on a 4000km ight across the country from Perth to Cessnock, to raise awareness for the Heart Research Ins tute and the devasta on heart disease can cause.

“S ll to this day I think about that and I think wow, it was something we did together, even though we were apart,” Ben said.

“I took it up towards the tail end of the project which took a year-and-a-bit to nish and then there was the ight across Australia, which was great. But then to land in Echuca on the Murray River on the border of Victoria and NSW for the Na onal An que Aeroplane Show and pick up the best award on o er in the Southern Hemisphere in the form of Grand Champion was the icing on the cake.”

But rather than merely let the journey end there, Ben grabbed an opportunity to buy the hanger at Cessnock Airport where his father had been storing the Tiger Moth and set up Hunter Valley Vintage Wings, an avia on museum designed to promote and share his father’s passion for vintage avia on. Alongside the 1940 Tiger Moth and the Stearman Ben added a third plane, and his rst solo restora on project to the fold.

This aircra was another Tiger Moth, with a “bit of a chequered history”, which had spent 66 years on the ground from 1947 un l March 2014 when the restora on was completed.

Like his father’s Tiger Moth before it, which was named the Best Tiger Moth in 2004 by the An que Aircra Associa on of Australia, Ben’s biplane also earned high praise from the na onal organisa on a er winning this year’s Best Tiger Moth Restora on Award. A fourth aircra has also taken residence at Hunter Valley Vintage Wings – a 1956 CAC Winjeel number 27 – which in its former life had been used by the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy for training pilots.

The war bird is now owned by Hunter residents Steve and Terissa Robinson, but operates as one of the vintage aircra sta oned at the museum and is used to take people on joy ights over the vineyards and across the region.

Educa on is a major feature of the museum – Ben hosts the 'Sights, Sounds and Stories' session every Saturday and Sunday from 10.40am to bring to life the history of the iconic planes used to train the pilots of the Bri sh Empire and Allied Forces during World War II. But he’s also driven by a desire to share the sheer thrill of ying through the skies in what he calls “golden era avia on”, via the joy ights o ered by Hunter Valley Vintage Wings.

“It’s real ying, it’s s ck and rudder, it’s wind in the wires and the hair, it’s a real aeroplane – all the others are just pretenders,” Ben said.

“I did my training in the (original) Tiger Moth and in ying these sorts of aircra , what I look forward to is nervous iers coming for a ight with us''.

“It’s all about smiles for me'', says Ben, ''the more people we can make smile, the be er. The more people we can get enthused about avia on and vintage avia on the be er.”

Hunter Valley Vintage Wings is located a Cessnock Airport, 3 DeHavilland Drive, Pokolbin and is open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

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‘TIS THE

By Michelle Meehan

Well, we certainly know how to be jolly in the Hunter, not to mention donning our finest apparel while we’re at it, but do we know just how to do Christmas?

in the Hunter Valley When all the tradi onal sights and sounds of the fes ve season point to the Northern Hemisphere – a winter wonderland lled with smiling snowmen, roaring res and tables laden with a Christmas feast including a succulent roast turkey centrepiece - how do we tackle the big day when it’s 40 degrees and sunny?

All three will o er Christmas-inspired menus during the silly season, as well as special events to give locals and visitors alike the chance to mingle and meet, including the tradi onal ‘local’s night’ at The Verandah on the rst three Sundays in December.

Harking back to his roots in the southern region of the United States, Roberts Circa 1876 execu ve chef George Francisco is among those who count the prize piece of poultry as one of his favourite fes ve dishes.

Family is also at the heart of how The Cellar Restaurant proprietors Andrew and Janet Wright celebrate Christmas. Hailing from the UK, they found Christmas in Australia's summer a very di erent a air. But the appeal of being able to sit outside on a warm sunny day and relax with friends and family soon won them over.

Looking for a reason to get together with friends and family in a relaxed Despite the heat, the turkey s ll dominates many Australian Christmas atmosphere before the ‘big day’ arrives? Twine is hos ng a free family fun tables, with our European ancestry ensuring a hot meal is s ll very much on day on December 14 with live entertainment, jumping castle, face pain ng, the menu. a barbecue and even a special visit from the man in the big red suit!

“Originally coming from the Northern Hemisphere, I nd Australian Christmas very di erent than the tradi onal Christmas there,” he said. ''It is hard to get my head around the heat at that me of the year compared with the snowy Christmas’s of my youth. But my favourite Christmas dish is s ll the roast turkey. I like to stu it with Southern-style cornbread, chorizo sausage and fresh oysters. The stu ng is a classic from my home in the U.S. South.”

Turkey will also feature prominently on the special degusta on menu available at Roberts Circa 1876 for Christmas Day lunch. It combines Christmas classics such as the slow roasted turkey breast with bread stu ng, green beans, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish and jus - as well as the much-loved Christmas pudding with brandy sauce – alongside some of George’s famous garden-driven speciali es that are drawn from his paddock to the plate philosophy.

“Coming from the UK, it took us a while to get our heads around Christmas in the sun but now we really embrace it,” Janet said. “It's a chance to catch up with family and friends, sit outside, relax and enjoy some of the amazing Hunter wines that we have stashed in our cellar"!

“This year, we have some family members coming to our place and Andy is cooking a glazed ham and a stu ed turkey leg and all the trimmings in our wood red oven. There’s oysters to start with a sherry vinegar and eshallot dressing. The oysters will no doubt be accompanied by a sensa onal Hunter Semillon and I'm thinking perhaps a nice Pinot Noir to accompany the turkey and ham.”

But it’s not just at home where Andrew will be serving up such tastysounding treats, with the chef preparing ve di erent group menus for Christmas par es at The Cellar Restaurant.

Another Hunter chef who savours the succulence of a Christmas turkey is Ka e Atkinson from Pokolbin Kitchen, located at Leisure Inn. When she’s at The restaurant will also be opening at 6pm daily from December 1 to allow home, Ka e combines the turkey with madeira-soaked gs, pance a and diners to enjoy a bite to eat before indulging in one of the most cherished Tuscan herbs, marinated with the skin on.

Christmas tradi ons we have in the Hunter – visi ng the Hunter Valley Served with tradi onal baked vegetables and cranberry, Ka e said it is best Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular. enjoyed with a glass or two of high acid, low tannin Pinot Noir with bright The largest Christmas lights display in the Southern Hemisphere, it features cherry and cranberry avours over rich spices. more than 1.5 million lights in total – imagine having to string those up But of course there’s more to Christmas in the Hunter than just a golden turkey.

each year! With new features every year it a racts visitors from across the Hunter and around the country and truly is a sight not to be missed.

Located a stone’s throw from the coast, there’s always plenty of mouthwatering seafood on o er in the region, fresh from the shermen’s boats to you. Our love a air with seafood certainly comes to the fore when planning a Christmas menu – Aussie style – with everything from sophis cated prawn starters to steaming salmon or Murray cod mains likely to pop up on the dinner table on the 25th.

The lights are open from 6.30pm to 10pm un l January 26, apart from Christmas Day, with a special reworks show at 9pm on New Year’s Eve and also Australia Day - adding some extra sparkle to an already dazzling display of lights.

The ul mate seafood bu et is also on the menu at Pokolbin Kitchen, the perfect place to hold your work Christmas party or family gathering. They o er selec ons to cater for every taste and budget, from small private plated par es to poolside themed beach barbecues.

Of course, a trip to see the lights could also give you the perfect excuse to get away this Christmas and leave all the stress of cooking and cleaning up to someone else.

The Mercure Resort at Hunter Valley Gardens is o ering the ul mate Christmas escape package, including two nights’ accommoda on, breakfast each morning, a Christmas bu et lunch at éléments restaurant, a Christmas If Christmas in Australian means anything, it’s a chance to get together and dinner hamper and entry into the Christmas lights for two adults. relax with family, friends and work mates. And while our Northern Leaving the lunch plans to someone else won’t mean you miss out though, Hemisphere friends may be shivering in front of their log res while they with execu ve chef Jean Marc Pollet designing an extensive and celebrate, our gorgeous summer climate means Christmas gatherings in sumptuous menu for those who dine at éléments on Christmas Day, the Hunter are o en done al fresco. including everything from Port Stephens oysters and duck salad with fresh Ma Dillow certainly understands the appeal of dining outdoors, with al fresco areas being the key feature of his three restaurants – Twine at Wynwood Estate, The Verandah Restaurant at Calais Estate and The Deck Café at Gartlemann Wines.

mango and lime chilli dressing to roasted pork belly with crackling, apple sauce and every Aussie’s favourite Christmas dessert – individual pavlova with passionfruit coulis and chan lly crème.

With all these op ons and more on o er, clearly Christmas in the Hunter Valley is an experience like no other!

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KA-BOOM!

By Michelle Meehan

For those of us over a certain age, the words ‘cracker night’ ignite a warm These days, Ka-Boom’s handiwork can be seen all year round at special glow of fond memories. events, on public holidays and even at weddings.

Standing in your own back yard, an cipa on building as your Dad brings out a box brimming with colourful packages and the promise of once-ayear excitement. The short, sharp thrill of the Throw-downs and the Jumping Jacks, the spinning, whizzing sparks of the Catherine Wheels – not to men on the Boomer, the Banger, and of course, the only one s ll legally available to all and sundry today – the classic Sparkler.

It’s been almost three decades since the annual tradi on, which coincided with the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, was banned in NSW.

For the past seven or eight years, this has also included the fantas c reworks displays set o in conjunc on with Hunter Valley Gardens’ Christmas Lights Spectacular - adding some extra razzle to the dazzle of the largest Christmas lights display in the Southern Hemisphere. Visitors to the Hunter Valley can next see these sensa onal eight-minute rework displays at Hunter Valley Gardens on New Year’s Eve and Australia Day on the 26th of January 2015.

But while he may have been inspired by the cracker night tradi on, Milton’s pyrotechnic displays these days are far more high-tech and But thankfully for those that live in the Hunter and beyond, those happy professional. A far cry from the me when every fuse had to be lit by hand, childhood memories never quite burned out for one local man, whose today modern reworks are carefully choreographed and then set o by desire to let his own children experience the thrills of cracker night inspired computer. It takes several weeks to plan a show such as the rework an unexpected and yet electrifying second career. displays held at Hunter Valley Gardens and hours to set up each me By day Miller Forest’s Milton Skinner is the man ring up the engine under involving anything between 1500 and 2000 individual reworks. the hood of your car at Skinner’s Mechanical Repairs. But by night, Milton Of course Milton has plenty of help on hand for the job, with his wife, his is responsible for ring up something altogether more exci ng – a sky full two sons Kane and Chad, his brothers Trevor and Neil and even his hard of fantas c, ashing reworks. working employees from the mechanics, Peter McDonald and Jake Fuller all of whom are involved in Ka-Boom.

Milton and his wife Deborah started the family-run Ka-Boom Fireworks in 1996 and since then have been se ng o breathtaking displays throughout Milton said he is proud of his family business and would love to one day the Hunter, around the country and even across the world. But the origins see the business develop to the point where it became his full- me career of this thriving business had its roots much closer to home – in the sizable and a company that he could hand down to his sons once the spark to carry back yard of their 100 acre property, in fact. on working nally goes out.

“My kids grew up and I thought they had missed out on cracker night, so But for now Milton is happy to revel in the buzz of seeing people enjoy his we got permits, invited some neighbours over and had an old-fashioned dazzling displays. cracker night,” said Milton.

“The thrill that I get personally is the audience applause at the end of it,” “Each year this annual event slowly grew un l we eventually ended up with he said. ''“Some people like the pre er reworks and others like the big thousands of people watching the reworks - to the point where it soon bangs - the bigger the e ects the more they respond''. became obvious to us that there was the poten al for larger and more frequent displays''.

“But most people are just happy to see reworks of any descrip on.”

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CHRISTMAS

in a bottle!

Christmas is a me to eat, drink, and be merry! You managed to get past the seafood entrees and the tradi onal turkey and ham, now its me for the Christmas pudding and meat pies - the last dish before that mandatory nap.

But what to drink it with?

Before deciding, it's important to think about the pudding itself - it's s cky and has the honey-sweet avours of dried fruits and may well have brandy sloshed all over it - so, clearly, the wine must be sweet. In fact it must be very sweet otherwise it will taste sharp by contrast. But the pudding is also a weighty dish so the wine must match that too if it isn’t to be completely overwhelmed.

There are many alterna ves here but for me the ideal match would be a sweet for ed - such as the just released DenMar Estate red and white for ed wines.

Aged in the barrel since 2007 the red for ed is made from the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon grape and the white for ed is made from the Double Trophy winning 2007 Chardonnay grape. Both have aged well and make an ideal end to the perfect Christmas dinner.

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They also make a great Christmas gi or addi on to your own cellar. You can buy a bo le of the 375ml red or white for ed at the DenMar Estate cellar door for $20 each or $36 for both.

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LIVING THE

Hunter Valley HIGH LIFE

“Radford Park is a meticulously planned estate, offering expansive spaces, mountain views and a sense of freedom'' Radford Park located in Branxton, in the Hunter Valley, has been designed to provide an exclusive private lifestyle. With the opening of the new Hunter Valley Expressway, Radford Park is only 45 minutes from Newcastle beaches.

Developed by Belford Land, Radford Park totals less than two hundred half acre and acre lots and is Na onal Broadband ready, with all lots providing underground power, sewer and town water.

The land release at Radford Park coincides with Huntlee, the newest town in the Hunter for over 50 years, with up to 7500 dwellings and 200ha Town Centre planned, only a short drive away.

With the Hunter Valley wine country at your nger ps, Branxton is perfectly posi oned to experience what the Hunter Valley has to o er.

Explore the countless vineyards, take scenic walks, wander through beau ful gardens or peruse the eclec c stores do ed throughout charming townships. To relax and unwind, pamper yourself at a luxurious spa in one the area’s many resorts or enjoy the extensive schedule of concerts, wine and food events and markets on o er throughout the year.

The stunning Sales and Informa on Centre constructed by local builder Golden Edge Homes is now open from 11am – 4pm Friday to Monday.

For more informa on about Radford Park please contact Andrew McAllister on 1300 782 885.

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ANDEVINE WINES

For over 20 vintages And rew Leem bruggen has been making wine for some of Australia s oldest and most prestigious wineries that include Drayton s Family Wines and McWilliams Wines.

Born in Sydney, Andrew was raised in the Hunter Valley when at the age of 4 his parents decided on a tree change and bought a chicken farm near Maitland.

A er going to school at All Saints College in Maitland, Andrew enrolled in a general science degree at Newcastle University where he openly admits his social life took precedence over his studies.

Preferring work to studying, Andrew took a job selling wine for Petersons through their cellar doors which at that me included Calais Estate, the Champagne House and their cellar door at Mt. View.

It was when Andrew was tasked with the role of helping to disgorge sparkling wine at the Calais Estate winery that he developed a fascina on and a passion for making wine. Realising he could get paid doing a job that he would love, Andrew immediately set about enrolling at University to study for a Bachelor of Applied Science in Wine Science.

Looking back, Andrew considers his career choice an obvious one for him. ''Growing up as the son of chicken farmers in the Hunter Valley I had three choices - shovel chook poo, work in a coal mine or make wine ... it was an easy decision''.

A er gradua ng from University, Andrew was o ered a cadetship with Mount Pleasant (McWilliams Wines) in 1998 and four years later was promoted to Senior Winemaker. Andrew remained in that role un l 2010. During this me Andrew also had the opportunity to work on a number of overseas vintages which included working as winemaker at Chateau Du Seuil - located southeast of Bordeaux in France, at Cote du Rousillon in South-Western France and also at Domaine Fran莽ois Villard where he had the opportunity to work with Fran莽ois Villard himself - the whiz kid of Condrieu and C么te R么 e. He also worked in the Napa Valley - California.

Returning to the Hunter Valley, Andrew took over winemaking at Draytons Family Wines un l his departure at the end of 2012 to establish Andevine Wines which has its cellar door on Wilderness Rd in Lovedale.

Firm in the belief and importance of giving customers what they want, for Andrew, it's also about connec ng with people and making wines people want and enjoy drinking - wines that are elegant and su ciently a ordable to be enjoyed everyday but yet sophis cated enough to be taken out to impress.

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CHRISTMAS JUST ISN’T WHAT’S NEW IN FOOD CHRISTMAS WITHOUT ...

From this small family owned vineyard and winery with a reputa on for producing “true to origin” premium quality wines, comes this fresh, fragrant and deliciously avorsome sparkling wine.

Located on Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin, Mistletoe makes one Mozcato each vintage, but bo le it under two labels. The “Christmas Cheer” version has been especially ''packaged'' to add a bit of fun to the Fes ve Season. All the grapes used in making this wine were grown on the Mistletoe Home Vineyard which was planted to this variety in 1998.

Made from what is perhaps the world's greatest Muscat grape cul var Muscat Blanc a Pe t Grains, this wine has a sparkling style that is fresh and oral with a well balanced, but not cloying, sweetness. It shows orange blossom, rosewater and musk aromas on the nose with a tropical fruit sherbet palate that is clean and crisp.

Low in alcohol at 5.8% , this is a great drink to share with Santa or kick o Christmas Day celebra ons.

An ideal Christmas gi ... so keep a few bo les on hand for that last minute present or unexpected invita on.

When it comes to food, serve well chilled as an aperi f or at the end of a meal with fresh fruit and cheese.

Cheers!

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? A ques on that comes up o en is - what is the di erence between ''Sparkling Wine” and ''Champagne'' ?

The short answer is that the sparkling wine that comes from the Champagne region of France is technically the only sparkling wine that may be referred to as "Champagne.''

Bubbly from all other regions in the world are simply referred to as "sparkling wine," although regional special es abound.

Sparkling wines from Italy - or more speci cally the Veneto region of Italy, are called Prosecco and have larger bubbles and more focus on the fruit.

Spain's sparkler is called Cava and those French sparkling wines from everywhere outside of Champagne are referred to as Cremant.

Sparkling wines and Champagnes are categorized as Extra Brut (extra dry), Brut (dry), Extra dry (middle of the road dry), Sec (sweet) and Demi-sec (semi sweet) depending on their sugar levels. Brut Champagne and sparkling wine is the most common style of bubbly o ering a typically crisp, dry palate appeal.

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Under the Table With December comes warmer Summer days and nights - ideal for a late morning breakfast, that long lazy lunch in the sun or dining outside under the stars at one of the many local restaurants and cafes.

Here are some of the latest happenings on the Local Food Scene.

Celebrate Christmas at Roberts Circa 1876 restaurant: Thursday, 25 December 2014 - Enjoy a 6-course fes ve banquet with all the trimmings, ar ully designed and prepared by Execu ve Chef George Francisco. $185 pp (adult) and $85 pp (child). Book Now - Ph: 4998 4998 or email roberts@circa1876.com RidgeView Restaurant in Season Dinner - 5 December. RidgeView goes Island Theme @ the RidgeView In Season Dinner - Friday 5th December at 6.30pm. Enjoy canapés with a glass of bubbles + 4 Paci c Island inspired courses. Cost $65 pp ($85 with matching wines) - free BYO for locals .

Dress code - Hawaiian / Island shirt/dress or Hunter Valley Lei. Bookings essen al 6574 7332 or email dine@ridgeview.com.au Locals Night at The Verandah Restaurant - Over 3 Nights in December: Sunday the 7th, 14th and 21st of December - with the theme being ''Christmas Treats''. Starts at 6:30pm with complimentary canapés and bubbles, followed by a 5 course Tapas Style degusta on. $50 per person BYO No corkage. Bookings essen al: Ph: 4998 7231. Ra es will be held on each of the nights to raise money for the Cessnock church for their Christmas Day luncheon.

Pokolbin Kitchen - long lazy Sunday lunch. Enjoy endless amounts of seafood and local wine every Sunday a ernoon from 12.00 throughout Summer with the new seafood and wine bu et at Pokolbin Kitchen. To book Ph: 4998 7000.

Harrigans Irish Pub - Book now for New Years Eve VIP Party: Celebrate in style with canapés and sparkling on arrival and a seafood bu et and 5 hour premium beverage package. Live entertainment with KDL and GenR8. Fireworks display at midnight. Tickets on sale for $149 per person.

Doors open at 7pm. Bookings essen al: Ph: 4998 4300. éléments - the new Restaurant for Mercure Hunter Valley Resort: Mercure Hunter Valley Resort unveils a brand new restaurant, éléments, in a drama c transforma on from the previous Hunter Valley Steakhouse... éléments is open seven nights for dinner, and for lunch on weekends. To book Ph: 4998 2000.

Sunday Tastes: Sundays night dining at Twine Restaurant is about crea ng a unique casual dining experience which starts with a house made mezze plate followed by their "Tastes from around the world" dinner (December is Christmas Flavours) - followed by a tantalizing dessert. Every Sunday at Twine Restaurant from 5:30pm last bookings 7:30pm. Cost: $49 pp. Kids under 12 eat FREE (1 kid per paying adult, Sunday kids menu applies). Bookings essen al: Ph: 4998 7449 Locals night at Roberts Circa 1876: Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays night.

For a comprehensive list of local restaurants, dining reviews and food and wine trail maps for each of the 5 key wine growing areas - see the latest issue of Wine & Dine in the Hunter and the Wine & Dine MAP.

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WINE

& Wings This me of year the ques on always comes up - what wine pairs well with Turkey?

Tradi onal Christmas meals go hand in hand with a good glass of wine!

And thankfully there are plenty of wine pairing op ons to suit virtually every palate when it comes to matching wines with turkey If you've been asked to bring the wine or have people coming to your house for Christmas lunch or dinner, there is no need to stress about what to serve. The good news is there is no correct answer. Turkey pairs well with red wine or white wine depending on what you and your guests like.

The art of pairing wines with food is largely a ma er of personal preference, however, some safe bets for Christmas meals are Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel for red wine lovers and Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Viognier for those who prefer white wines. With white wines, the trick is nding a wine with well-balanced acidity and for reds you are aiming for fairly tame tannins that will support the avours of the food.

For red wine enthusiasts Pinot Noir is one of the all me favourites and for good reason - it's low tannin content allows it to pair well with turkey meat mixed with seasonal sides without overpowering the meal.

Serve Pinot Noir very lightly chilled to bring out the fruit avours. You could also try a Zinfandel, which is a fuller bodied red wine that ups the intensity from a Pinot Noir, but s ll maintains a balancing e ect on many tradi onal Christmas side dishes. This would be a great wine pick for those looking for a hear er red wine with the capacity to accommodate those more spicy, bi er and sweet avour pro les.

A Shiraz can also bring a spicy edge or a meaty character to the abundant avours of a tradi onal Christmas meal and partners well with the herbinfused stu ng and both the white and dark turkey meat.

White wine lovers can't go wrong with either a Riesling or a Sauvignon Blanc. The herby, earthy quali es found in many Sauvignon Blanc's make a perfect complement to the herb- lled stu ng and seasoned potatoes.

Try also a Chardonnay or even a Pinot Gris. This is where the turkey is really adaptable. Almost any good white will work, but stay away from the sweet dessert style whites. If you want to be a li le more adventurous, include a Viognier with its oral, medium bodied, stone fruit avours.

Rosé and Sherry wines, are also worthy of considera on for Christmas wine pairing poten al. They all provide a compromise for those undecided between red and white wines. If you are considering a sparkling wine choose an “extra dry” – which will o er a touch more fruit avour than a "brut." As for rosé wines, a drier selec on will be the most versa le for pairing with virtually any part of the Christmas feast.

But is there truly a single wine that can take you seamlessly from start to nish - from appe zers, to turkey meat, baked potatoes, herb- lled stu ng, cranberry relish, pickled this and peppered that, all the way to Christmas pudding, mince pies or Christmas cake? Enter sparkling wines an increasingly popular pairing partner, and not just reserved for fes ve occasions. Sparkling wines bring both elegance and phenomenal foodpairing versa lity to virtually any meal, but with Christmas these wines really stand out. Merry Christmas!!

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Turkey breast stu ed with spinach, g, rico a cheese and pine nuts Serves 12 1 (about 2kg) turkey breast llet 2 Tbs olive oil 1 brown onion, nely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 cup (100g) chopped dried gs 2 Tbs brandy 2 cups (140g) rico a cheese 1/2 cup (70g) pine nuts, coarsely chopped 1 bunch English spinach blanched and chopped 1 cup (250ml) chicken stock 1/2 cup (125ml) dry white wine 10g bu er 2 Tbs plain our

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Jean Marc Pol et - é m s

n o p q

Preheat oven to 200°C. Heat half the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, s rring occasionally, for 5 minutes or un l onion so ens. Add gs and brandy, s rring, for 1 minute or un l gs so en. Transfer to a bowl.

Cool the mixture Add rico a cheese, spinach and pine nuts and s r to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Place turkey, skin-side down, on a clean work surface. Open the tenderloin so the breast lies at. Use a knife to slice from the centre of the breast outwards; don't cut all the way through. Repeat with opposite side. Open breast out so it lies at. Spoon stu ng down the centre of the turkey. Fold in sides to enclose lling. Use kitchen string to e at 2cm intervals to secure.

Place a wire rack in the bo om of a roas ng pan. Place turkey on the rack. Brush with remaining oil; season with salt and pepper. Pour ½ stock and wine in pan. Roast in oven, occasionally brushing with pan juices, for 1-1/2 hours, or un l juices run clear when turkey is pierced in the thickest part. Remove from oven. Cover with foil. Set aside for 15 minutes to rest.

Strain pan juices into a jug. Heat bu er in roas ng pan over medium heat un l foaming. Add our, s rring with a wooden spoon to dislodge baked-on juices, for 2 minutes or un l lightly golden. Add pan juices and remaining stock then cook, s rring, for 5 minutes or un l it boils and thickens. Remove from heat. Place turkey on a serving pla er and remove the kitchen string. Cut into slices and serve with the sauce.

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This famous quote was spoken by Dom Perignon’s a er his rst taste of Champagne, and a fairly accurate descrip on of what a good Champagne or sparkling wine experience should o er.

As we roll into the fes ve season, you can be sure we will soon all be hearing the ''popping'' of corks as bo les of sparkling wine are opened to celebrate Christmas and the coming of the new year.

Throughout history, sparkling wine and Champagne have punctuated events large and small, all signi cant in their own right. Whatever the occasion, we have adopted the habit of celebra ng with sparkling wine and are reaching for this ''bubbly wine'' like never before. So brace yourself for the sound of enthusias c cork popping as we get down to the business end of the bubbles this fes ve season.

Sparkling wine is simply wine with signi cant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it zzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermenta on either in a bo le, as with the Tradi onal Method (Méthode Tradi onelle), in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved (as in the Charmat Process), or as a result of carbon dioxide injec on.

Sparkling wine is usually white or rosé but there are many examples of red sparkling wines as well. In Australia, most sparkling wine is produced from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but an Australian specialty is Sparkling Shiraz - a red sparkling wine produced from Shiraz grapes. The sweetness of sparkling wine can range from very dry "brut" styles to sweeter "doux" varie es.

A li le known fact, and something most appreciators of sparkling wine would not be aware of, is that sparkling wines were originally winemaking accidents probably made over me by monks in the Champagne region of France.

It would occur when the winemaker, whilst in the process of making wine, would bo le and seal the wine thinking the fermenta on process was complete. But, when sugar was s ll present in the bo le, along with a few living yeast cells, a second fermenta on would occur and because the bo le was sealed, the carbon dioxide gas would be trapped and when the bo le was opened the wine would be e ervescent (bubbling) as well as cloudy from the yeast residue. While drinkers came to love the gassy wine, they were less happy with the cloudiness. Fortunately modern winemakers are able to manage the process and you can be con dent in the quality of modern sparkling wines.

The best, and most expensive wines are made by the Méthode Tradi onelle, which is how all French Champagne is made.

With the Méthode Tradi onelle, the secondary fermenta on occurs in the bo le. The wine is matured on yeast lees before riddling (hand-turning the bo les sequen ally in order to encourage the lees to se le in the neck), removal of lees, disgorgement, dosage and sealing the bo le. The aromas and avours of true Méthode Tradi onelle wines come not only from the variety of grapes used, but also from the yeast in the bo le.

The longer the yeast are in contact with the wine, the more intense and complex these yeasty characters will become.

Sparkling white wine can be enjoyed with just about any meal, although pairing it with seafood, tapas or other hors d'oeuvres is the perfect way to get a party started.

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Pierre's Wines 2012 Chardonnay/ Pinot Noir Méthode Traditionelle ZD 12/23 Pierre's Wines is a family owned and operated business producing handmade quality wines that display true varietal flavour and regionality using a mixture of modern and traditional techniques.

Tasting: The 2012 Chardonnay/ Pinot Noir is an excellent aperitif style made from 65% Chardonnay and 35% Pinot noir grapes using the Méthode Traditionelle. This traditional blend is clean, complex and refreshing. The current release is from the excellent 2012 vintage with an additional 23 months maturing on yeast lees in the bottle. The “ZD” stands for Zero Dosage. The 2012 vintage produced wine with excellent natural balance. We believe this wine is so fine it needs no addition of sugar at disgorging.

Food Match: Ideal with freshly shucked rock oysters with a squeeze of fresh lime, smoked salmon and fresh goat’s curd.

SHOP NOW

14 Cherry Wynwood Estate 2014 Blossom Moscato

Sandalyn FUCHS Sparkling Cuveé

Producing traditional, award ard winning, premium quality wines, Wynwood Estate has some of the oldest vineyards in the Hunter Valley.

Sandalyn Wilderness Estate, is a boutique vineyard, situated in a garden setting and vineyards and olive groves. surrounded by vineya has been associated The FUCHS name ha Wines since 1626. In the with Premium Wine Hunter Region the tradition continues with their range oof family-produced sparkling wines aand olive oil and products. Sandalyn offers gourmet products sparkling Méthode Traditionelle Traditio Chardonnay, Semillon wines, Chardonn Verdelho, Shiraz and Fuchs Sparkling Shiraz - available at the Tuscan designed and inspired cellar door.

Tasting: The 2014 Cherry Blossom Moscato, hass been made from fruit grown on thee Wynwood Estate Muscat vineyards. ards. This expressive fruit forward rd wine has lifted honey, floral andd perfumed aromas. A moderate amount of natural residual sugarr and a slight spritzy taste accompany any these flavours on the palate. e. Every sip tells a story of the environment, vironment, of the variety and the craftsmanship. aftsmanship.

Food Match: A versatile wine to matchh with many food styles and occasions. Serve chilled as an aperitif or with fruit based desserts, this sparkling wine is just perfect with Thai and spicy foods.

Méthode Traditionelle Tasting: This M Chardonnay and Semillon has bottle fermented blend of Chardonn finish. It is ideal as a gi gift or refreshing a crisp fruity finish celebratory wine and accompaniment to any meal.

Food Match: The ideal wine for any occasion and perfect when served with fish and veal dishes.

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Ascella Pure Wines Pure Vescence 2013

Adina 2011 Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir

Peterson House 2010 Brut Rosé

Located on Thompsons road in Milbrodale, Ascella Wines is the largest organic vineyard in the Hunter Valley and produces highly awarded premium Hunter Valley Semillon, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Shiraz, Merlot, as well as a Rosé and Pure Vescence (sparkling rosé). All Ascella Pure Wines are carefully made using only organic grapes by multiple award winning winemaker Liz Jackson.

Adina Vineyard is a family owned vineyard in the Lovedale area of the Hunter Valley.

Made from the classic sparkling varieties, Adina Vineyard's 2011 Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir was matured in the bottle following the traditional method. The wine was kept on lees for 3 years before disgorging and released in August 2014.

Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, this lively and bright wine has a light Salmon hue from the addition of a red wine liqueur. The aroma blends the fresh berry fruits and yeasty characters from the bottle ageing. The nose is bright with a hint of sweet boiled lollies.

Tasting: Ascella's Pure Vescence 2013 is a sparkling Rosé, with notes of Turkish delight coupled with a tropical fruit nose and layers of citrus blossom making it a truly refreshing and zesty wine. A wonderful and versatile wine to be enjoyed in the afternoon or for evening pleasure.

Food Match: Ideal for any party or event - but perfect when served with soft and hard cheeses, savouries, sliced fruits and most desserts served cold or at room temperature.

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Tasting: Straw gold in colour, this wine has a developed bouquet nose with strawberry, caramel and green apple flavours that are elegantly balanced with toasty notes. Good length with a rich creamy mouth feel interrupted with fine bubbles. Beautiful flavour and finesse - an outstanding example of the winemakers craft. Drink now for 7 years.

Food Match: Great anytime but perfect as an aperitif, with hors d'oeuvres, desserts or... anything!

Tasting: This is a crisp and dry style Rosé, with berry flavours filling the front palate whilst citrus acid zing lifts the mid palate. The palate is filled out by a creamy mouth-feel from the yeast autolysis. The hint of sweetness in your mouth gives a lovely lingering strawberry note whilst the high natural acidity cuts through to leave the palate fresh and clean.

Serve cold at less than 4°C. Food Match: This is a great aperitif style. Great with canapés and seafood -oysters smoked salmon or fresh peeled prawns.

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Purchase any of your favourite bubblies online. Simply scan the QR code, visit the page and click on the SHOP NOW link

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BEHIND THE

December is the perfect me of the year to be in the vineyards. With the start of Summer, the bunches of grapes are now very obvious on the vines - although green and hard with very li le sugar and high in organic acids.

Here are some of the latest happenings on the local Wine & Beer Scene.

Wine Industry Welcomes Free Trade Deal (FTA) with China: News of the free trade deal with China has been welcomed across the wine industry.

The deal means that tari s on Australian wine exports would be reduced from 14% for bo led wine and 20% for bulk wine to zero within four years - allowing Australia to be more compe ve in the fast growing Chinese wine market. Chile and New Zealand already have reduced or zero tari s as a result of their own FTAs with China.

Hunter Valley Medal Haul - NSW Wine Awards: The annual awards, judged by a panel headed by Hunter Valley winemaker PJ Charteris, a racted a record 828 entries from throughout NSW. The Hunter Valley's winemakers took home 4 trophies from this years awards in November.

Golden Debut: Shaun Silkman and wife Liz Jackson made a brilliant debut at the 2014 NSW Wine Awards with their Silkman 2014 Reserve Semillon winning Gold and Trophy for the best young Semillon, while the Silkman 2013 Semillon won a gold medal.

Best Organic Wine of Show: Tamburlaine Wines were awarded Gold and Trophy for Best Organic Wine of Show at the 2014 NSW Wine Awards for their Tamburlaine Organic Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2014 . Tamburlaine are also celebra ng retaining their 5 red star ra ng with James Halliday.

Chris Barnes Recognised: Hunter Valley Living Legend of Wine - Chris Barnes, was presented with the Graham Gregory Award for his outstanding commitment and contribu on to the NSW wine industry. The award is given annually at the NSW Wine Awards dinner Tamburlaine Wines - Best Wedding Venue: Tamburlaine Wines is in the top 10 of the Na onal Designer of Dreams Awards for Best Recep on Venue in Australia…..only 4 of the venues are from NSW, and Tamburlaine are the only Hunter venue. The Na onal awards are worked out by votes from the last 4 years…you have to be top ranked for 4 years in a row!!

Free Jazz Piano Concert at Gartelmann Wines - Lovedale on 13th December: Come and hear award winning and highly sought a er Australian jazz musician Terence Koo perform at Gartelmann Wines on 13 December. Cheese plates and other meals also available through the Deck Cafe - but need to be booked in advance. Ph: 4930 9007.

Appointment for Neil McGuigan: Now in its 46th year, the Interna onal Wine and Spirit Compe on (IWSC) has appointed Neil McGuigan, chief winemaker for McGuigan Wines, as its 2015 president at the compe on's banquet and awards night in London.

McWilliam’s Wines returns to being 100 per cent family-owned: McWilliam’s Wines - the 140 year old Australian mul genera onal wine company, announced in October that the company had returned to being 100 per cent family-owned a move that will posi on McWilliam’s to take advantage of new opportuni es in both the domes c and export markets.

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COMING UP

in the Hunter

7TH NOVEMBER—26TH JANUARY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SPECTACULAR Hunter Valley Gardens Every year Hunter Valley Gardens bring thousands of families together to celebrate the magic of Christmas at the Christmas Lights Spectacular.

Open every night with over 1.5 million Christmas lights on show throughout designated areas of Hunter Valley Gardens. Special guest Santa Claus, live entertainment and food and beverages available for purchase on site. There’ll also be Santa photos (for kids of all sizes) taken by a professional photographer. Special night rates apply. This is an event the whole family will enjoy. For ckets visit www.hvg.com.au

10TH—31ST JANUARY AFC ASIAN CUP Hunter Stadium The 16 best Football teams in Asia will meet in Sydney and Newcastle in January 2015 to compete for the AFC Asian Cup, the most sought-a er trophy in Asian football. Be part of the biggest football tournament to take place in Australia as the region's dynamos ba le it out.

Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium is host to four games including current champions Japan on January 12th, Oman v Kuwait on the 17th, semi nal playo on the 27th and the 3rd v 4th play-o on the 30th.

This is your chance to see worldclass football right here in Australia.

With cket prices from $5 for kids and $40 for families, it's an a ordable op on for all football fans and a real highlight of the school holidays over summer. For more informa on visit www.afcasiancup.com/host-ci es/ en/newcastle

SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY HUNTER VALLEY GARLIC & CHILLI FESTIVAL at Kevin Sobels Wines If you’re looking for a day of spice, heat, sweetness or mild nu ness or if you just love garlic and chilli then circle Sunday, 25th January 2015 in your diary for our rst-ever Hunter Valley Garlic and Chilli Fes val.

The grounds of Kevin Sobel Wines will come alive with the fragrant essence of these two culinary stars as three local fresh garlic growers – Pokolbin Purple; Moore Wollombi Garlic and Macquariedale Organic Farm – join other local producers of garlic and chilli value-added products for the inaugural Hunter Valley Garlic and Chilli Fes val.

MONDAY 26TH JANUARY AUSTRALIA DAY 2015 Singleton Civic Green Celebrate Australia Day 2015 in Singleton with markets and entertainment on the Civic Centre Green. Come down to the Civic Centre from 8.30am for the Australia Day Ci zenship Ceremony and to get your obligatory Aussie barbecue breakfast.

Get up close and personal with some of Australia’s favourite (and most dangerous) rep les, with a special visit from Hunter Valley Zoo. There will be a variety of market stalls and food stalls opera ng throughout the a ernoon, these will include cra and jewellery stalls, clothing and a variety of other interes ng wares. Food stalls will o er a delicious choice of healthy food op ons.

In addi on to the fes val ac vi es, Paul and Jane from the Lovedale Store For more informa on visit will be o ering garlic and chilli infused www.singleton.nsw.gov.au lunch selec ons on that weekend and Ma Dillow of Twine Restaurant, has declared all of January's Sunday night Fireside Menus be garlic and chilli inspired.

For more informa on visit handmadeinthehuntermarkets.com.au

3RD—26TH JANUARY MEGABUGS Hunter Valley Gardens WEDNESDAY 28TH JANUARY KENNY ROGERS FAREWELL DOWN UNDER TOUR Newcastle Entertainment Centre

The BIGGEST display of animatronic bugs in Australia coming this January.

Featuring Spider-saurus and a towering 8 metre Praying Man s, plus many more mega creatures from the underworld!

SUNDAY 18TH JANUARY SACRED TREE MARKETS at Branxton MONDAY 26TH JANUARY WOLLOMBI MARKETS Wollombi Sale Yards

• Scorpion, wasp, grasshopper, ants and beetles

• Ladybird, giant snail, bees and bu er ies

• Cen pede, cicada, dragon ies

Visit Wollombi Markets on Australia Day for this great market of over 100 stalls, including local produce and cra s, plants, clothes, tools, bric -a-brac and much more.

and caterpillars

• Discover mega creatures from the underworld as you explore the gardens For ckets visit www.hvg.com.au

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SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY

HANDMADE IN THE HUNTER MARKETS at Kevin Sobels Wines

For more informa on visit www.wollombimarkets.com

Grammy Award-winning country superstar and contemporary music icon, Kenny Rogers returns in January and February for his nal performances ever in Australia, on the Farewell Down Under Tour.

This year, Kenny has earned a Grammy Award nomina on and CMA Award nomina on, along with long me friend and collaborator Dolly Parton, for their duet, “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” which is the tle track of Rogers’ current cri cally acclaimed 32nd studio album. The magical Kenny & Dolly reunion was only their 3rd me in the studio together since their Real Love hit in 1985. For more informa on and cket sales visit www.nec.net.au

It’s ’ neever been easier... r

and the only Includes Inc c handy Wine & Food Trail Maps for each wine producing area as well as dining reviews and wine tasting notes.

Look for the gold sticker at featured restaurants and wineries.

Read it online at HunterValleyOnline.com.au

New issue out this month!

EEN IN AS S

LLEY ER VA

HUNT

M AG Z I N E A

HunterValleyShopping.com.au

Shop AUSTRALIAN ALPACA BARN specialises in quality Australian Alpaca fashion, homewares and accessories. Alpaca coats, sweaters, shawls, scarves, gloves, socks, beanies, throw rugs, bedding, yarn and alpaca toys.

BEAUTIFUL

THINGS An exquisite array of spectacular jewellery, stylish watches, amazing giftware and home wares. Gifts for all ages and occasions collected from all corners of the world.

CANDELABRA One of Australia's most famous boutique candle stores—the stunning fragrances, colour and endless variety of product is truly amazing.

HUNTER VALLEY CHRISTMAS SHOP Nestled in the heart of the Hunter Valley, is a magic land where it is Christmas every day of the year!

PULP ADDICTION Satisfy your paper cravings with our delightful range of designer stationery which is guaranteed to intrigue and delight.

THE TWIG A gorgeous selection of home furnishings and personal giftware unlike anything else on offer in the valley.

THE WAITERS FRIEND A great selection of quality kitchenware and barware and some of the best prices anywhere in Australia.

VILLAGE BOOKS A fantastic range of fiction, non-

Dine

Savour

AND THE WINNER IS OSCARS Serving tasty HUNTER VALLEY CHOCOLATE COMPANY

gourmet picnics, fish, sandwiches, our famous gourmet Established more than ten years ago the ORIGINAL pies, pizza and pasta, there is truly something for all Hunter Valley Chocolate Company & Fudge Factory tastes and pockets! Phone 4998-7355. is one of the premier attractions in the area.

HUNTER VALLEY CUPCAKES & CAFÉ Relax & HUNTER VALLEY COOKIES Hand-made enjoy a light breakfast, a tasty lunch or just premium cookies in designer gourmet flavours. indulge with the delicious gourmet cakes & speciality Cookie tastings daily, delicious coffee and gluten cupcakes plus a great coffee or tea! free cookies.

TASTE OF THE COUNTRY Experience a Taste of HUNTER VALLEY LIQUEURS & BAERAMI the Country in this award winning café and retail outlet.

This popular café is like walking into an old fashioned, OLIVES Extra virgin olive oils, infused olive oils, vinegars and a large range of specialty liqueurs and an country kitchen. Phone 4998-6605. impressive array of bottles to customize your selection.

THE CELLAR RESTAURANT Rustic Mediterranean cuisine in a relaxed, friendly THE BRITISH LOLLY SHOP The largest range environment. Open for lunch and dinner Monday to of imported English Confectionary. All your old Saturday. Bookings recommended. Phone 4998 7584. favourites, humbugs, sherbet lemon, come in and sample our hospitality.

THE GARDEN CELLARS Mount Eyre/Three Ponds Cellar Door. See the Tunnel Of Beer or taste 17 flavoured organic vodkas.

ZEN HAIR SKIN BODY A full Hairdressing Salon and Beauty Spa in one location, innovative & deluxe treatments in an environmentally friendly setting, the salon can cater to any need. Phone 4998-6844.

Pamper

Play

Essentials

fiction, and children’s books and a unique collection of POKOLBIN CONVENIENCE STORE In the heart quality toys, games, souvenirs and gifts. of the village is a genuine general store servicing the WILSON & HUNTER All the latest fashion from Pokolbin area with everything you might need while Camilla, Mela Purdie, Verge, Katherine, Samantha Wills, visiting the Wine Country.

Metalicus, Bleu Blanc Rouge,Tilly Rose,Tolani and more…

POKOLBIN VILLAGE PHARMACY Offering you WINE GLASS GALLERY An extraordinary gift friendly, professional service as well as a wide range of gallery… colourful, handmade and crystal wine glasses, original artworks, homewares, new season scarves & products: full PBS prescription service, medicines, handbags, jewellery, shot glasses, magnets, souvenirs & vitamins, skin care, cosmetics, hair care, fragrances, sunglasses and much more. Phone 4998 6677 much more.

AQUA GOLF & PUTT PUTT If you fancy a bit of action then visit our Aqua Golf and Putt Putt Golf Course—fun for the whole family!

Win cash & prizes! Phone 4998-7896.

BROKE ROAD, POKOLBIN OPEN 7 DAYS FROM 10AM