How to get there: Head to Cessnock and follow the many signs that lead you straight to the vineyards.
What to take: The family, picnic basket, camera, good walking shoes, a hearty appetite and a good thirst.
Who should go: Anyone. Pokolbin isn't just for wine lovers.
What to see: Hunter Valley Gardens, Harrigan's Irish Pub, Peterson's Champagne House, Broken Back Range, the cricket oval and pavillion at Wandin Valley Estate.
Where to eat: Oscars at Hunter Valley Gardens, Harrigan's Irish Pub, The Verandah Restaurant at Calais Estate.
Best kept secret: Blue Tongue Brewery (pictured above).
MENTION Pokolbin and most people know it for its world-class wineries, five-star accommodation and great food, but that's not all the area has to offer.
Pokolbin has something for everyone, ranging from the most avid beer enthusiast to golf lovers and keen shoppers looking for something a little bit different.
I recently did the rounds at Pokolbin with a group of friends on a minibus booked through Newcastle Limousines.
It was a fantastic day, starting with a champagne breakfast at Peterson's Champagne House. In the cellar we were treated to champagne tasting and cheese platters. Upstairs near the restaurant there are some wonderful gifts, including umbrellas, wine bottle coolers and champagne gift packs. The adjacent chocolate shop is a must for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Our next port of call was The Blue Tongue Brewery on Hermitage Road at Hunter Resort. This is indeed the area's best kept secret and appealed to everyone on our bus, from grandmothers to teenagers 18-year-olds, of course.
The unique beer tasting paddle comes with accompanying notes for each of the brews. You can spend the day there lazing away listening to great music, maybe a quick game of pool, or trying something delicious off the blackboard menu.
Nowhere in the Hunter can you try so many wines under the one roof, with an exclusive range of premium wines from small Hunter Valley winemakers, including Andrew Thomas, David Hook, Andrew Margan, Ian Little, Polin & Polin, Stormy Ridge, San Martino, Wombat Crossing, Crisford Family, Gartelmann and Macquariedale Estate.
The Smelly Cheese Shop, at Pokolbin Village, may not sound too appealing but the cheese there is to die for.
We had a cheese tasting organised and, while it may not be everyone's favourite, the Luigi Guffanti Gorgonzola Piccante just melts in your mouth.
Hunter Valley Cellars at Hunter Valley Gardens has a great selection of wines and staff are very accommodating with their wine tasting.
We purchased a few bottles and took them to lunch with us at nearby Oscars.
Oscars offers great food at an affordable price and if you're lucky enough you could hear some free entertainment in the nearby rotunda.
Young Maitland group New Release entertained us on the day and had everyone toe-tapping and dancing.
Oscars has an extensive menu and their pasta dishes are sensational.
Another great dining experience is The Verandah Restaurant, at Calais Estate on Palmers Road.
The restaurant has sweeping views over the vineyards, Brokenback Range and manicured estate. With all-weather dining on the veranda, the restaurant provides a memorable dining experience, with a modern tapas style menu showcasing local produce.
Also at Pokolbin are art galleries, gardens, bicycle tours and hot-air ballooning. There are many things to do.
One of the more novel ways to do a vineyard tour is by horse and carriage along quiet country lanes and through private property, to sample some fantastic Hunter wines and other produce.
But if you're after something a little more extreme and would rather a bird's eye view of the vineyards, the hot air ballooning is an aerial adventure you must experience at least once in your lifetime.
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