One of many smallest wineries within the Hunter Valley but with a snug cellar door and glorious wines, Emma’s Cottage in Lovedale is a must-visit for any wine-lover.
Absolutely, this street we’re on—the Wilderness Street—was named paradoxically. Chopping throughout Lovedale, the street exhibits us satisfyingly straight rows of vines, elegant marriage ceremony venues, well being retreats, boutique resorts, even the grand black fences and corrals of a horse stud.
However no wilderness.
Near the Pokolbin aspect of Lovedale, is Emma’s Cottage. This cellar door, set amongst its property grapevines and tree-scattered lawns, is house to one of many smallest wineries within the Hunter.
Fairly and cosy, Emma’s Cottage can also be at odds with the identify of its primary street, the curve of the little footbridge resulting in the cellar door is the completion to its welcoming entrance.
Try our fast 20-second video of Emma’s Cottage:
Wine-Tasting Expertise At Emma’s Cottage, Lovedale
Inside, we discover the warmly-lit cottage, which has been a vineyard because the Eighties, additionally has a variety of gorgeous homewares, books and hats. One even fits me!
We perch on the snug stools alongside the timber bar, lined with bottles and arrange for wine-tastings, and admire the color palate that’s been so fastidiously curated right here. All over the place you look is a reasonably vignette of heat timber and rattan, soft-finish ceramics and felt materials.
We may fortunately keep right here all day, however we will’t.
As Meg, the property’s beautiful coordinator, explains, our reserving is within the room subsequent door. In fact, she gives us to remain put, however every little thing’s arrange, so we dismount our stools and take up our new spot at a desk.
Don’t fear; we’re okay.
Together with the tasting notes and glasses, in entrance of us is a well-stocked charcuterie plate with domestically made produce. In actual fact, fast-forward to the top of our keep within the Hunter and we make our technique to Binnorie Dairy to choose up a few pots of Duetto—a scrumptious combo of mascarpone and gorgonzola.
Meg takes us by the wines on the listing.
Since 2022, Emma’s Cottage has been the house to Alter Wines—the ‘alter’ ego of Bimbadgen, who now owns the property.
Try our evaluate of Bimbadgen’s cellar door right here.
These wines—full of life, vibrant, fashionable and approachable—are in distinction to Bimbadgen’s extra conventional tackle Hunter varietals.
That’s to not say there’s nothing to those wines. There’s a complexity and cleverness to them that’s simple to understand. We begin with Alter’s Blanc de Blancs and are instantly impressed. Mild, balanced and endlessly satisfying, it’s a glowing that we’re eager to take house.
Together with the glowing, the Chardonnay, and Rarebirds Rosé actually stand out for us, although the Semillon and Shiraz additionally seize our consideration.
It is smart that we like these wines although. We’re followers of Bimbadgen’s head wine-maker, the proficient Richard Completed. And never solely is Wealthy killing it at Bimbadgen and right here at Emma’s Cottage with Alter Wines, his personal vineyard—John Wallace 5 minutes from right here—is one other must-visit cellar door.
The Relaxation Of Emma’s Cottage
As we sit again and calm down over the tasting (and what’s left of the cheese board), we absorb the remainder of the venue.
This room is ready out with different tables and chairs, and with a equally heat comforting color palette to the bar and store. A wall of home windows and a sliding door look out to the veranda and the 12 hectares the vineyard sits on.
Behind us is one other doorway that results in a operate room all arrange with lengthy tables prepared for celebrations. This might make a beautiful marriage ceremony or celebration venue.
What’s extra, there’s lodging right here; other than the primary constructing there are a number of others close by providing between two- and five-bedroom cottages.
We depart this sanctum of heat colors, smooth furnishings, scrumptious wine and opulent cheeses, and head again to the Wilderness (Street) to proceed our journey within the Hunter. It’s one which Emma’s Cottage and Alter Wines have simply made that a lot better. We’ll be again.
