Local Pickup, Gin And Lunch

Dave's small-group tour picks up from Hunter Valley accommodation and spends six to seven hours on cellar door tastings, a gin stop, cheese and chocolate, plus a one-course lunch with a drink included. It rates 4.8 from 116 reviews, from $285 per person.

Overview

Daves Tours runs this day out from selected Hunter Valley hotels, collecting guests in an air-conditioned minivan and dropping them back at the end. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours and carries a maximum of 20 travellers. It is built around boutique wineries, with tastings of their wines included along the way.

The day is not only wine. There is a behind the scenes look at how a local winery makes its product, a gin tasting, and a relaxed one course lunch served with wine or beer. Several stops also bring cheese and chocolate into the tastings, and reviewers often mention how pairing food with wine changed how they tasted it.

Guides get consistent praise in the reviews, with travellers describing them as knowledgeable, friendly and full of stories. It suits adults who want a fully organised day of tasting without driving, and who are happy in a mixed group with visitors from around the world. Closed toe shoes are required for the production tour, and the minimum drinking age is 18.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupPickup and drop off at selected Hunter Valley hotels is included, as detailed at booking. The transport is an air-conditioned minivan.
2. Boutique winery tastingsThe day is based in the Hunter Valley (6 hours, admission free), visiting boutique wineries for tastings of their wines.
3. Winery production tourA behind the scenes tour of a local winery shows how the wine is made. Closed toe shoes are required for this part.
4. Gin tastingA local gin tasting is included.
5. LunchA relaxed one course lunch is served with wine or beer. Reviewers have described the lunch as very good.
6. Hotel drop offThe minivan returns guests to the selected Hunter Valley hotels at the end of the 6 to 7 hour day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing and from repeated comments in traveller reviews will help set expectations before booking.

• What to wear. Closed toe shoes are required for the behind the scenes production tour, so leave the sandals at home. Comfortable clothes for a day on and off a minivan are the sensible choice.
• Group feel. The tour takes a maximum of 20 travellers, and several reviewers mention meeting people from around the world and enjoying the mixed company. A relaxed, friendly group atmosphere comes up often in the reviews.
• Pace of the day. Reviewers describe the pacing as relaxed and not rushed, with the bus never on the road for long between stops. Treat the timing as flexible.
• Food and drink. Wine at the boutique wineries, the gin tasting, and a one course lunch with wine or beer are all included. Cheese and chocolate tastings feature at some stops, though one reviewer noted these are stand alone tastings rather than structured pairing workshops.
• Dietary needs. The listing asks travellers to advise any specific dietary requirements at the time of booking. Doing this early gives the operator the best chance to cater for them at lunch.
• Buying wine. There is room to buy at the wineries, so budget for it if that tempts you.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for pregnant travellers. It also requires a minimum number of travellers to run, and if that minimum is not met it may be cancelled, with the offer of a different date or a full refund. One reviewer was disappointed that the specific wineries are not named before booking and that an enquiry about this went unanswered.

Choosing Your Tour