Wine Country Tours
Wine Country Tours
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About
Your host is Richard Everett, the only Oenologist (or winemaker) conducting a small group or private wine tour of the Hunter Valley Wine Country. His guests get a unique behind the scenes insight into how the best wines of the Hunter Valley are made, with private guided tastings of the top wines at the best & most interesting of the 140+ wineries. Richard conducts the wine tastings, not the sales staff at the wineries, so you are spared the heavy sales pitch of their commercial wines & get to experience many wines not offered to the general public. Morning tea is at the famous Peppers Guesthouse & lunch is at the award winning Muse Cafe. Tours are available ex Sydney or from within the Hunter Valley.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
528 reviews
Excellent
480
Very good
37
Average
6
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Travel82808
2 contributions
Dec 2019
Our Group of 4 had an amazing day out in December with Richard. We visited the Tyrell's and Hungerford Wineries for extensive and detailed walk through of some amazing wines.
For newbies like us, this trip was indeed an eye-opener into the world of wine. Richard is an inimitable host who can lead you on a sensory experience of appreciating wine and hopefully expanding our repetoire!
For newbies like us, this trip was indeed an eye-opener into the world of wine. Richard is an inimitable host who can lead you on a sensory experience of appreciating wine and hopefully expanding our repetoire!
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathan
1 contribution
Feb 2020
Not only was this undoubtedly the best wine tasting/tour I ever experienced, but it also was an occasion that will paradoxically make all future wine tastings more enjoyable yet pale in comparison.
This is due to Richard Everett, a 40+ year wine expert who was our personal guide (my parents and I happened to be the only people booked on his schedule for out particular day!) through the Hunter Valley wine country. He picked us up in Sydney at 7:30am, dropped us back off around 6pm, and in between provided a comprehensive lesson in wine making and wine appreciation from start to finish at several marque wineries.
He taught us in a manner that cut out all the jargon and stereotypical pretentiousness associated with wine snobs, helping us focus on what is really important: the occasions that inspire us to partake in wine. A true paradigm shift in wine appreciation which certainly bolsters one's ability to select the right wine for any occasion.
The only downside is that I doubt I'll ever find such expert guidance again at any future wine tasting!
This is due to Richard Everett, a 40+ year wine expert who was our personal guide (my parents and I happened to be the only people booked on his schedule for out particular day!) through the Hunter Valley wine country. He picked us up in Sydney at 7:30am, dropped us back off around 6pm, and in between provided a comprehensive lesson in wine making and wine appreciation from start to finish at several marque wineries.
He taught us in a manner that cut out all the jargon and stereotypical pretentiousness associated with wine snobs, helping us focus on what is really important: the occasions that inspire us to partake in wine. A true paradigm shift in wine appreciation which certainly bolsters one's ability to select the right wine for any occasion.
The only downside is that I doubt I'll ever find such expert guidance again at any future wine tasting!
Written February 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryan S
Honeoye Falls, NY5 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We found Richard's tour trying to sift through the seemingly generic Hunter Valley tours from Sydney. We were looking for a more personal day and that's exactly what we found. Richard is personable and extremely knowledgeable. He has a wonderful way of teaching you to really appreciate wine. We only went to two wineries but I think we got more out of those two than any of the ones we tried in the past. It was a wonderful, fulfilling day. If you are looking to go to as many wineries as possible this tour is not for you. If you are looking for a more personal tour which will really get you into the wines of the region then don't hesitate to contact Richard.
Written February 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Prayagha S
Cheam, UK33 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
This wine tour with Richard will give you a wealth of knowledge about the wine making process, factors that affect wine and ageing potential, how to taste wines to get the most out of them and give you some insight into how to pair wines with events and food. He is extremely knowledgable about the wine industry and gives us the time to really appreciate and think about each wine we are tasting.
It is not like your other commercial tours so if you’re wanting to go to as many Hunter valley wineries as you possibly can and get a feel for the area, this is not the tour for you.
The lunch spot was brilliant and Richard was also very accommodating by picking us up and dropping us off to our accommodation which was slightly outside the city.
It is not like your other commercial tours so if you’re wanting to go to as many Hunter valley wineries as you possibly can and get a feel for the area, this is not the tour for you.
The lunch spot was brilliant and Richard was also very accommodating by picking us up and dropping us off to our accommodation which was slightly outside the city.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
atdlscjt
North Sydney, Australia2 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Richard, who is very knowledgeable, gave us a very good introduction into the production of wines in the area. As inexperienced’tasters’ he guided us through the tastings of some excellent wine. Richard had also arranged a lunch booking at an excellent restaurant. A most enjoyable day.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
050317
Sheffield, UK4 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
Fantastic value for a very in-depth tour with a fantastic host and some great wines. Richard obviously knows his stuff and his passion for wine is infectious. He taught us a new approach to tasting and experiencing wines which I will always have in my mind when enjoying a glass or two of something new and his pleasant company kept us entertained throughout. I would heartily recommend for both novice and experienced wine drinkers alike.
Written April 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fran M
3 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
The best wine tour for wine lovers (my husband) and non wine lovers (me) alike. Educational for both. Richard is certainly wine knowledgeable but so much more - pleasant to spend the day with, and makes the day very easy. My husband and I have very different starting points and both learned a lot - and I didn't feel stupid. Wine knowledge, not wine snobbery. And we learned a lot about wine - and about Australia.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrookHouseBrook
Isle of Wight10 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
I was looking for a wine tour as an 80th birthday present for my father. Given that, and various mobility issues, I decided to book a private tour with Wine Country Tours - and it was a brilliant decision.
We were picked up by Richard and driven first to Tyrells. We had a tour around the winemaking facility and we all learned a lot about the skills, experience and dedication that goes into making the wonderful wines. Our tasting was of 13 different wines, and it was a real introduction to the proper experience of tasting and appreciating the wines. Again we all felt we learned a lot, as well as enjoying ourselves immensely.
Lunch was at Bimbadgen and was again excellent. Then we went to Hungerford Hill for yet more wines!!!
It was a long day but all in a wonderful experience that we would recommend highly.
We were picked up by Richard and driven first to Tyrells. We had a tour around the winemaking facility and we all learned a lot about the skills, experience and dedication that goes into making the wonderful wines. Our tasting was of 13 different wines, and it was a real introduction to the proper experience of tasting and appreciating the wines. Again we all felt we learned a lot, as well as enjoying ourselves immensely.
Lunch was at Bimbadgen and was again excellent. Then we went to Hungerford Hill for yet more wines!!!
It was a long day but all in a wonderful experience that we would recommend highly.
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hooklucye
Bromley, UK7 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
We had a memorable day out with Richard in which we learnt lots about the region and wine in general. We tasted a good range at two distinct wineries as well as stopping off at the gorgeous Muse Kitchen for lunch. They were accommodating of our vegan needs here. Would recommend having a decent breakfast before as we didn’t eat until quite late!
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shellbell_85
Sydney3 contributions
Jun 2012 • Friends
I was initially quite excited about this tour because I had spoken with Richard prior to booking and indicated to him that we had visited several wineries in the Hunter Region previously and hence we were hoping to draw on his extensive experience and gain a unique experience visiting some new and different establishments.
Richard kindly advised us that he would be happy to take us to some different wineries than what we had already visited.
Well we did receive a unique experience, and I certainly enjoyed learning a great deal about the wine making process and a strategic and methodical approach to tasting wines. That was a GREAT aspect to this tour and I took away some new tips.
However, I must say that I think where the issue lies is in branding. If this tour had been called something more like a "wine appreciation" tour or something of the like I think I would have had more appropriate expectations. If we had wanted to take a course to that affect we would be extremely happy with this service as I think Richards knowledge and approach in this field was unmatched.
Because it is called a wine tour that implies that you will be visiting more than two wineries throughout the day.
The day kicked off for us at around 10.30am when we had nibbles and coffee at the lovely Peppers Guest house which was a really nice start to the day.
From there we progressed to Tyrell’s Winery where we remained from 11.30am to around 3.30pm which included a full winery tour including the production of the wines and an extensive tasting.
I felt that although we learnt a great deal and enjoyed some fantastic wines it was not really what I had expected, and we were there for far far too long. Even if we had remained there for two hours which would be a long period by most tour standards that would have been ok.
But by the time two and then three o clock rolled around I was starving, and feeling very deflated about the experience. The hunter is such a gorgeous region I was disappointed at being kept in a room for hour after hour.
Lunch at Muse at Hungerford Hill Winery was amazing as always but we finished up there at about 4.30pm and then did a quick tasking at the attached Hungerford Hill Wines which felt a bit like an afterthought by that stage.
I realise that Wine Country Tours are not aiming to be “most wine tours” because of Richards unique level of expertise, however it think they could go a little further in explaining what to expect from the day so that customers can have the right idea of how the day will run and purchase a tour appropriately.
Richard kindly advised us that he would be happy to take us to some different wineries than what we had already visited.
Well we did receive a unique experience, and I certainly enjoyed learning a great deal about the wine making process and a strategic and methodical approach to tasting wines. That was a GREAT aspect to this tour and I took away some new tips.
However, I must say that I think where the issue lies is in branding. If this tour had been called something more like a "wine appreciation" tour or something of the like I think I would have had more appropriate expectations. If we had wanted to take a course to that affect we would be extremely happy with this service as I think Richards knowledge and approach in this field was unmatched.
Because it is called a wine tour that implies that you will be visiting more than two wineries throughout the day.
The day kicked off for us at around 10.30am when we had nibbles and coffee at the lovely Peppers Guest house which was a really nice start to the day.
From there we progressed to Tyrell’s Winery where we remained from 11.30am to around 3.30pm which included a full winery tour including the production of the wines and an extensive tasting.
I felt that although we learnt a great deal and enjoyed some fantastic wines it was not really what I had expected, and we were there for far far too long. Even if we had remained there for two hours which would be a long period by most tour standards that would have been ok.
But by the time two and then three o clock rolled around I was starving, and feeling very deflated about the experience. The hunter is such a gorgeous region I was disappointed at being kept in a room for hour after hour.
Lunch at Muse at Hungerford Hill Winery was amazing as always but we finished up there at about 4.30pm and then did a quick tasking at the attached Hungerford Hill Wines which felt a bit like an afterthought by that stage.
I realise that Wine Country Tours are not aiming to be “most wine tours” because of Richards unique level of expertise, however it think they could go a little further in explaining what to expect from the day so that customers can have the right idea of how the day will run and purchase a tour appropriately.
Written June 17, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You need to put this question to the tour operator. I am not the tour operator.
Written January 12, 2020
Do you have a pick up and drop at Travrlodge Airport
Written May 21, 2019
We were picked up and dropped off at our hotel.
Written July 7, 2019
How many vineyards are typically visited?
Written September 22, 2018
2 for a whole day but 12 wines tested per winery
Written October 8, 2019
How many vineyards are typically visited?
Written September 22, 2018
On this tour we visited two in depth with detailed tasting instruction & another for lunch.
Written September 23, 2018
Hi vy1320,
It seems that you have confused the tour operator that you had had a problem with & my business.
I am the sole employee of this 23 year old business & my name is not Jimmy.
Please take down this very negative posting from my Trip Advisor site.
Thanks,
Richard Everett
Wine Country Tours
Written June 26, 2018
Hi, we are visiting the hunter valley over Christmas 2017. We are looking for a private tour for 9 people ( or maybe 10 plus a one year old) is this a service you could provide, possibly on 24th afternoon? Thank you.
Written October 31, 2017
What dates do you have in mind?
Cheers,
Richard
Written November 1, 2017
Looking to know more about wine country tours in late January, 2017 - especially 30-31 January and 1 February.
We are busy in Melbourne 25-29 January and curious if wine country tours are logical from Melbourne or if we should transfer to Sydney 30 Jan - 2 Feb ??? As a committed TripAdvisor contributor, appreciate your insights! Many thanks!
Written April 5, 2016
The Hunter Valley Wine Country is about 200 kms (120+ miles) north of Sydney, so its not accessible from Melbourne, which is 800 kms (500+ miles) further south.
Please contact me via my website about what I can do for you in early 2017.
Cheers,
Richard
Wine Country Tours
Written May 30, 2016
Hello,
Me and my wife will visit Bali this May 23-26. Can we call you for tours arrangement after we arrived?
Written July 21, 2015
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