Pokolbin: Tulloch Hunter Heroes Wine Tasting & Cheese Board

At Tulloch Wines, you taste a piece of Hunter Valley history along with the wine: one of the six pours comes from the winery’s museum cellar, so you can compare an aged bottle with current releases. The Hunter has made wine since the 1820s, and the Tulloch family’s Pokolbin story began in 1895.

I like two things in particular: the private, seated format, which gives you a guided introduction rather than a quick stand-up pour, and the generous local cheese and charcuterie board, which makes this feel like a tasting with lunch-sized snacks, not just a flight of samples.

The main consideration is time. Six wines, food and a bit of winery history all fit into one hour, so this is a focused introduction, not a leisurely afternoon among vineyards. You’ll also need to arrange your own transport, and bottles cost extra.

Key things to know before you book

• The museum wine is the distinguishing pour: Taste one aged Tulloch wine alongside five current releases.
• Hunter varieties take the lead: The flight represents Semillon, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Verdelho.
• Your tasting comes with substantial food: A local cheese and charcuterie board is included.
• You sit down with a Wine Ambassador: An individual tasting mat and take-home guide help you follow the wines.
• Families have separate tasting options: Children aged 3 to 12 can have a junior tasting, while teens aged 13 to 17 can try kombucha.
• Plan for an hour at the winery: Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so make your own way to Tulloch Wines in Pokolbin.

A Hunter Valley tasting with a time capsule in the glass

The Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest producing wine region. Its first vines went into the ground in the 1820s, and more than 150 wineries now make wines shaped by the region. Tulloch Wines offers a compact way to get acquainted with that story while tasting some of the local grapes.

The Tulloch family’s connection to the area began in 1895, when John Younie Tulloch accepted a 43-acre property near Pokolbin as settlement for a debt. The land included five acres of neglected Shiraz vines. He took to the property and began his work in viticulture and winemaking. That modest beginning gives the tasting a useful local anchor: you’re not just sampling a lineup of wines, you’re hearing about a family that became part of the Hunter’s wine story.

The tasting’s theme is Hunter Heroes. It focuses on Semillon, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Verdelho, varieties closely associated with the region. Five wines are current releases, while the sixth comes from Tulloch’s museum cellar. That older bottle is the most distinctive part of the flight. It gives you a chance to compare age with youth and notice how a wine can change over time.

Settling in for six guided pours

The session takes place at Tulloch Wines in Pokolbin, where you enter through the main door and sit down for a private tasting. A Wine Ambassador introduces the wines, and you get an individual tasting mat to help guide your way through them. There is also a take-home wine experience guide with additional details, useful if you want to revisit the names and notes after the tasting.

The seated setup matters. You can give each wine a little attention rather than trying to keep track of several glasses while standing at a busy counter. It also makes the hour easier to share as a couple or small private group. The host is English-speaking, and the tasting is listed as wheelchair accessible.

The specific wines can change with current releases, so don’t expect a fixed set of labels. What remains consistent is the balance of five present-day wines and one aged museum wine, chosen to represent the Hunter varieties named in the tasting. If you’re used to wine flights that focus on a single grape or winery style, this selection offers a broader regional introduction.

Hosts Faith and Bobby have both led sessions, and the descriptions of their approach point to a friendly, personal welcome. Your own Wine Ambassador may be someone else, but the format is designed around an introduction and guided tasting, rather than leaving you alone with a row of glasses.

Tasting the Hunter’s familiar grapes

The four featured varieties provide a practical framework for the flight. Semillon is one of the Hunter’s best-known grapes, alongside Shiraz. Chardonnay and Verdelho round out the selection, offering a wider view of the area’s familiar styles.

You don’t need to arrive with a polished wine vocabulary. The tasting mat helps you follow along, and the host introduces the wines as you go. If you have a question about a grape, a vintage or how a current release compares with the older bottle, this seated format gives you a natural opportunity to ask.

The aged museum wine is especially useful for curious beginners and experienced wine drinkers alike. Rather than treating the older bottle as a separate display piece, you taste it as part of the same session as the current releases. The contrast can help you think about what age does to wine, although the exact comparison depends on the bottle selected for your tasting.

Keep your expectations in proportion: this is an hour-long introduction, not a full wine course. You’ll taste six wines and hear some context, but there isn’t time for a detailed tour of the winery or an in-depth study of every grape. If you want a relaxed first taste of Tulloch and the Hunter’s signature varieties, the pace makes sense. If you want to linger over each glass for a long time, an hour may feel brisk.

Cheese and charcuterie make this more than a flight

The generous local cheese and charcuterie board is a real part of the experience, not a token bite beside the wine. It gives you something to eat as you taste and helps turn the session into a relaxed stop in your day. The food is described as local, though specific cheeses and meats aren’t guaranteed, so don’t book expecting a particular producer or menu.

The board also makes the $37 price easier to assess. You’re paying for six wine pours, a guided private seated tasting, a tasting mat, a take-home guide and food, all within an hour. If you’d otherwise book a tasting and buy a substantial snack separately, this bundled format offers clear value. It is less compelling if you only want a quick sip or plan to spend most of your budget on bottles.

Wine purchases are not included. If you discover a favourite, you’ll need to pay separately for any bottles you choose to buy. There’s no hotel pickup or drop-off either, so include the cost and time of getting to Pokolbin in your plans.

Bringing children or teens along

Tulloch offers separate non-alcoholic tasting experiences for younger family members, but they must be paired with an adult wine tasting. Children aged 3 to 12 can have a junior tasting with four soft drinks and four matching snacks. The snacks are nut-free and gluten-free, a helpful detail for families managing those restrictions.

Teens aged 13 to 17 can choose a kombucha tasting featuring Mailer McGuire specialty kombucha paired with a local cheese box. Both options give younger family members something of their own to do while the adults taste wine. Select the child or youth pricing when booking, rather than assuming those tastings are included with an adult ticket.

Wine tasting is limited to people aged 18 and over. Infants aged 0 to 2 are free when seated on an adult’s lap or in a stroller. The tasting is suitable in all weather, so a rainy day need not spoil the plan, though the experience itself is centred on the seated tasting rather than an outdoor activity.

How to fit the tasting into a Hunter Valley day

Allow one hour for the tasting itself, then leave extra time for getting to and from Tulloch Wines and for any browsing or purchases you want to make. The tasting begins and ends at the winery, with no transport included. If you’re planning several winery stops, decide in advance how you’ll travel between them and keep your schedule realistic.

This works well as a focused stop within a wider day in Pokolbin. It gives you a guided introduction to four local grape varieties, a look at Tulloch’s family story and a taste of an older wine, without asking you to set aside half a day. The trade-off is that you won’t have much time to linger. Treat it as one well-defined tasting rather than a long, open-ended visit.

The price is $37 per person. For that, you get five current Tulloch wines, one aged museum wine, a local cheese and charcuterie board, a private seated format and printed tasting material. I’d call that good value for someone who wants both guidance and food, particularly if the older wine comparison appeals. If you’re looking primarily for a scenic vineyard outing or transportation from your hotel, this is not the right fit on its own.

Booking is flexible: you can reserve now and pay later, and cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Starting times depend on availability, so check the time that suits your day. These details are convenient, but the key planning point remains simple: make sure you can reach the winery and give the session a full hour.

Who should book this tasting?

I’d book it if you want a friendly, guided introduction to Tulloch Wines and the Hunter’s best-known grapes, with food included and an aged bottle to compare against current releases. The private seated format should suit couples, small groups and wine-curious visitors who prefer conversation to a rushed sample at a counter. The separate junior and teen options also make it more workable for families than an adults-only tasting.

I’d look elsewhere if you want a long cellar visit, transport included or a full meal. The hour is short, and the wine purchases are extra. But if you’re already in Pokolbin and want a compact, food-paired tasting with a genuine connection to the region’s wine story, Tulloch’s Hunter Heroes session is a sensible stop.

FAQ

How long does the Tulloch Hunter Heroes tasting take?

The tasting lasts one hour.

How many wines are included?

You taste six Tulloch wines: five current releases and one aged wine from the museum cellar.

What food is served with the wine?

A generous local cheese and charcuterie board is included.

Can children and teens take part?

Yes. Children aged 3 to 12 can have a junior tasting with four soft drinks and four matching snacks. Teens aged 13 to 17 can have a kombucha tasting with a local cheese box. Each option must be accompanied by an adult wine tasting.

Is transport to Tulloch Wines included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you’ll need to arrange your own transport to the winery in Pokolbin.

Can I taste wine if I am under 18?

No. Wine tasting is available only to people aged 18 and over.