Where there's wine...there's Hope!

I was fortunate to be invited up to do a long lunch in the Hunter last Sunday, to welcome in Spring, by the good folks at Hope Estate in their Great Cask Hall.

I first came across Hope Estate at the Good Food & Wine Show at Darling Harbour earlier this year, where the lovely Kerriann persuaded me to join their wine club.

Anyway, a fantastic afternoon featuring a 4 course plus luncheon catered by Chez Pok, a vertical tasting of their Virgin Hills "THE RED" from 1997 to 2003, samples of their 2008 Margaret River Ripper Shiraz & Hunter Chardonnay vintages straight from the oak barrels, great company from folks all around the Central Coast, Newcastle & Sydney regions, and a cosy night afterwards at Pokolbin Village Resort right across the road.

Hosts Michael and Karen Hope are producing magnificent wines....none more so in my humble opinion than their Margaret River "The Ripper" Shiraz and "The Cracker" Cabernet Merlots.

These wines travel across the Nullabor in tankers at around 6 degrees for 4 days till they arrive in the Hunter for filtering and processing, and I think its that extra contact time that gives them unbelievable character..especially tasting them straight from the barrel...absolutely alive and full of sugars.

Hope Estate are also putting the finishing touches on their new 19,000 capacity amphitheatre, and their new restaurant and new balconies overlooking their magnificent front lawns...stand by for some more great international concerts and events in the Hunter.

Thank you Michael & Karen for being absolutely perfect hosts for a very enthusiastic and friendly crowd of Hope devotees!

Cheers!