Lovedale, Hunter Region — New South Wales

Lovedale is a hamlet in Lovedale, a region in New South Wales popular for its wine-making industry. Compared to the bustling atmosphere of nearby Cessnock, the idyllic lifestyle offered in Lovedale is perfect for those seeking to escape the stress of city life.

The area prides itself in offering choices of both home-style and luxurious services in terms of accommodations, restaurants and other tourist-oriented establishments.

The wineries in the region are the main attractions of Lovedale. Most offer other activities aside from wine tasting and cellar tours, such as music festivals, cooking demonstrations, art exhibitions, and showcasing of other food products.

Allandale Winery, located along Lovedale Road, is a multi-awarded wine producer and is famous for its 1997 Chardonnay. Aside from wine-tasting, the area around the winery is perfect for picnic and sight-seeing.

At Emma’s Cottage Vineyard, different varieties of grapes are cultivated and handmade into different wine products. Found on Wilderness Road, the vineyard is set in a picturesque part of Lovedale and visitors enjoy both the scenery and tasteful wine offered when they drop by this winery.

Also on Lovedale Road, the Apthorpe Estate is a family-owned boutique vineyard that not only offer wine tasting but also tea tasting to visitors. Apart from the usual Chardonnay variety abundant in the area, this winery offers the Chambourcin and Cabernet Franc varieties.

The tea offered at the Apthorpe Estate came from the Corianders Tea House and Herb Gardens, located on Lovedale Road. Visitors can laze the day away sitting at the verandah of slab hut located within the property, sipping tea and enjoying the sweeping views of Lovedale and surrounding areas. Herbal products can also be purchased as souvenirs. Corianders offer a unique alternative to those who need a small break from all the wine tasting events common in the area.

The winery owned by Capercaillie Wine Co. is relatively new, but has gained solid reputation as producer of high-quality wine products. Their wine cellar, located on Londons Street, is worth anyone’s trip, not only for wine-tasting but also for their displays of paintings, jewelry, and other fine collectibles from all over the country.

Apart from wine tasting sessions, picnic and barbecue facilities are also offered at Cooper Wines, found along Lovedale Road.

And when visitors come in May, they get to experience the famous Lovedale Long Lunch, a festivity organized by local wineries and showcases the best wine and food products available in the area. Lasting for two whole days, tourists flock to Lovedale to sample the different offerings of vineyards and restaurants.

Because of the large number of tourists coming into Lovedale, a number of accommodations have been established in the area, ranging from luxury to comfortable home-style cottages. One notable establishment is the i villini, a Tuscany-style farmhouse with three huge bedroom suites. Located on Talga Road, this farmhouse also offers fine dining services, and while visitors get to enjoy good food and fine wine, they can also chance upon kangaroos living within the property. The aforementioned Emma’s Cottage Vineyard also offers country-style accommodations to visitors, who’ll surely enjoy the peaceful ambience of the property. And for those considering luxury as their foremost consideration, there’s the Lilies Cottage in Majors Lane. The proprietors of this property place emphasis on pampering their visitors, manifested in their spacious bedrooms and value-added services like spas and botanical bathroom products.