A new chapter begins for this Hunter Valley wine institution

If you’ve ever tried to properly explore the Hunter Valley’s smaller wine producers, you’ll know it can become something of a logistical exercise.

One cellar door here, another 20 minutes down the road, and another winery that doesn’t have a cellar door at all. By the time you’ve tasted your way through a handful, half the day has disappeared.

Now, there’s a new reason to make Wine House Hunter Valley your first stop.

The Pokolbin institution has just entered a new chapter under the ownership of Hunter Valley wine industry duo Matthew and Kylie White, bringing more than 20 independent producers together under one roof – from some of the region’s most recognisable names to tiny emerging labels that don’t have a cellar door of their own.

And if the name Wine House sounds familiar, that’s because it’s been part of the Hunter wine scene for almost 40 years.

Originally established as the Small Winemakers Centre in 1987, the space has long been a launchpad for the region’s boutique producers. Thomas Wines, Margan, Keith Tulloch, The Little Wine Company, Hart & Hunter, Silkman, and Mercer are just some of the names that have passed through its doors over the years.

Now, it’s getting a fresh lease on life.

Meet the new Wine House

For Matthew White, taking over Wine House feels like a natural continuation of a career spent tasting, buying, and championing good wine.

His career has included senior buying roles with Oddbins in the UK, the Wine Society, and Woolworths Liquor, before almost a decade overseeing buying at Wine Selectors. Kylie, meanwhile, has spent decades working in Hunter Valley wine marketing, including a long-standing relationship with Silkman Wines.

Together, they’re bringing those two sides of the industry into one very wine-filled room.

“Every wine on our tasting list is here because I’ve personally tasted it and rate it,” Matthew says.

That approach is central to the new Wine House. Rather than simply stocking whatever happens to be available, the range has been curated around producers Matthew and Kylie think are worth knowing.

You’ll find Hunter icons including Brokenwood, Tyrrell’s, Thomas, Margan, De Iuliis, and Mount Pleasant alongside smaller independent producers such as Riggs & Wiggs, Aeon, Thea, Pokolbin Vintners, Glover Wines, and Gun Powder.

Then there’s Silkman.

A home for the wines without a home

Silkman Wines is the label of Liz Silkman – the only Hunter Valley winemaker to have been named Halliday Winemaker of the Year, as well as a four-time Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year.

Despite all that recognition, Silkman has never had its own cellar door.

Until now.

Kylie has worked with the Silkman team for years and says Wine House fills a gap she’s seen first-hand.

“I've spent years telling people how good these small producer Hunter wines are and often having to explain there's nowhere to actually taste them,” she says.

“That’s the piece that’s been missing for brands like Silkman and many of the newer emerging wine brands who are making some of the region’s most awesome wines. Wine House closes that loop.”

It’s not just Silkman, either. Wine House is also home to the Hunter’s emerging Valley Rising producers – a group of young, independent winemakers working on a deliberately small scale.

For visitors, it means you can discover wines from producers you might otherwise have to track down individually, all in one place.

Choose your own Hunter adventure

Of course, you don’t have to be a wine obsessive to make the most of it.

Wine House has built its new offering around a handful of different tasting experiences, depending on how deep you want to go.

The Discover The Hunter flight is the easy starting point, with six wines selected from a rotating list of stand-outs that showcase what the region is doing right now. At $15pp, it’s a relaxed 45-minute introduction that can be enjoyed at the tasting bar or out on the terrace.

For something a little more serious, the Icons Experience lets you taste up to 16 of the Hunter’s most sought-after wines through a self-guided Enomatic tasting system. Think Thomas Kiss, Brokenwood Graveyard, Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon and Silk Chardonnay, all available to taste under one roof.

There’s also a dedicated Silkman Experience, offering an exclusive tasting of the award-winning label’s range, while groups looking to make an occasion of it can book a private tasting in the lounge or Barrel Room, complete with premium wines, Riedel glassware and a cheese and charcuterie plate.

And if you’d rather skip the formal tasting altogether, there are more than 35 wines available by the glass and over 100 by the bottle, alongside food and coffee from local sustainable roaster Sprocket.

The space is deliberately relaxed and family-friendly, with lawn space for kids and an outdoor terrace where dogs are welcome, too.

Almost 40 years in the Hunter

When the Small Winemakers Centre opened in 1987, it promised visitors “one of the most extensive ranges of small and emerging wineries in the Hunter Valley”.

Almost 40 years later, the names have changed, but the idea remains much the same.

With Wine House set to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2027, this new chapter brings some of the Hunter’s established icons together with the producers who could become its next big names.

For anyone wanting to taste their way through the Hunter without spending the entire day behind the wheel, it might just be the place to start.

Photo credit: Dom Cherry