Throughout your Hunter Valley vineyard-hopping tour, you will come across a variety of places known as either a Winery or a Cellar Door. Does this mean the same thing? As you will quickly find out through your time in the region — no! It doesn’t, and here’s why.
As you (a wine-tasting connoisseur, or simply an enthusiastic lover of wines) may know, a winery is the name for a facility that produces all the wine we know and love. A winery will have extensive wine making equipment, and may include warehouses and bottling lines. It’s often a place for large-scale wine making operations. Taste wine from Ironstone Estate while your staying on the vineyard.
A cellar door is different. The name, used much more often in Australia than around the world, has a fun historical significance.
In past years, before the age of large cooling rooms and modern facilities, wine was generally stored in underground cellars to maintain cool temperatures. When visitors would come to buy wine, they would have to knock on the cellar door for entry. These cellar door areas eventually became the designated locations for wine tastings and sales, evolving into the cellar doors we know today.
Today, a cellar door can be a completely standalone facility from its winery, or it can be attached but separate. They are generally set up for a lovely visitor experience, offering in-depth wine tastings and food options with knowledgeable staff eager to teach. Cellar doors are the best way to try new wines, learn about the region’s winemaking history, and find your new favourite.
We highly recommend touring around to many of the world famous cellar doors in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales. It’s a top-notch way to spend a day with loved ones, celebrate a milestone, or treat yourself to a fun-filled getaway, and the quality of the winemaking in the area is second to none.
Ironstone Estate, a beautiful private vineyard in Lovedale with large-group self-contained accommodations, is in close proximity to many exciting Hunter Valley vineyards and cellar doors. Local tour companies offer pick-up and drop-off tours from the estate, making it an excellent home base for your next wine tasting vacation. Check out Ironstone Estate’s website and Free Guide to the region for more information — we hope to see you soon!
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