Pepper's Creek on Broke Road is a village of small businesses - all excellent and worth visiting on their own. But nestled as they are conveniently around one central courtyard, you could definitely spend a whole day at Pepper's Creek and still experience a variety of the culinary and wine delights that make Hunter a must-visit destinations for food and wine enthusiasts.
This is definitely worth considering if you are not familiar with the Valley and are worried about getting lost, driving for hours between destinations, hitting roos, or drink driving. Pepper's Creek is 10km door-to-door from our property. You can book a taxi or private driver for a 10 minute trip at 10.30am and then another ten minute trip at 3.30pm, and have a whole day of the best of Hunter food and wine that might cost you in excess of $150 if you did it as a tour.
The businesses that make up the village include:
Cafe Enzo, serving up breakfast and lunch daily - 4998 7233
Pukara Estate, olive oil tastings and a variety of specialty condiments - 6547 1055
Australian Alpaca Barn, with a great selection of clothing, accessories and gifts - 4998 6669
Wine Country Catering, hosting wedding ceremonies, receptions and functions- 4998 7780
Comyns & Co. Cellar Door, offering wine tastings - 4998 7493
Fetch Gifts and Homewares, offering boutique and handmade homewares and gift ideas
Charteris Wines, offering wine tastings - 4044 8030
Wild Wren Wines, offering wine tastings - 4044 8050
Cafe Enzo: A true gem in the Hunter Valley, Cafe Enzo is a charming cafe and restaurant renowned for its delectable Italian-inspired cuisine. Step into this rustic yet elegant establishment and prepare to be greeted by the tantalizing aromas wafting from the open kitchen. With a focus on fresh, local produce, the menu at Cafe Enzo is a celebration of Italian classics with a modern twist. From wood-fired pizzas to handmade pasta dishes and succulent grilled meats, each bite is a burst of flavor that will transport you to the vibrant streets of Italy. Complement your meal with a selection from their impressive wine list, featuring a range of local and international wines.
Our firm favourite is the seafood linguine, but we have never had a disappointing meal here. Cafe Enzo is also dog friendly.
PJ Charteris: For wine enthusiasts, a visit to PJ Charteris is an absolute must. This boutique winery, led by renowned winemaker PJ Charteris, is dedicated to producing exceptional cool-climate wines. With a focus on single-vineyard wines, PJ Charteris showcases the unique terroir of the Hunter Valley through their elegant and expressive varietals. With his heritage in New Zealand, this winery also includes fruit from across the ditch - which is very unusual for the Hunter. Immerse yourself in a personalized wine-tasting experience, where you can explore their range of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz, among other varietals. The knowledgeable staff will guide you through the nuances of each wine, sharing insights into the winemaking process and the passion that goes into every bottle.
Established in 2016, Scott and Missy Comyns are the husband and wife team behind Comyns & Co.
Scott has worked 20 plus years for premium wine producers, working with premium fruit, and accepting a swag of accolades along the way. This has laid the foundations to create wines under his own family wine brand.
Scotty’s passion and focus for Comyns & Co. is to create exciting wines from small batch parcels of premium Hunter Valley fruit. His extensive range of wines include traditional Hunter Valley styles, alternate varieties, and unique blends.
Scotty & Missy have designed their Cellar Door space to feel warm and welcoming as if inviting you into their own home. It's worth visiting for the amazing artwork alone.
These are wines that keep surprising. We have often found that when we come home we wish we had bought more!
Wren Wines
Using over 20 years’ experience in the wine and tourism industry, previously owner and co-founder of Gundog Estate, Renee Burton now stands proudly up front and centre as the creator, Director and CEO of her own wine company.
Ren and her winemaking team work together to produce serious Hunter wines, but deliciousness is at the heart of every wine. Showcasing both traditional and modern styles from premium Hunter vineyards, all wines are distinctive, striking and inspiring.
We have enjoyed the rose and the sem/sauv blend from Wren and we are looking forward to trying their 2023 wines.
The labels are gorgeous - unique and pretty. These wines would make great gifts.
Our recommendation would be to do one wine tasting, enjoy lunch, and the other tastings after lunch. You could spend any extra time between or after bookings to browse the other stores onsite.
You will need to book brunch/lunch at Cafe Enzo as they frequently book out, but the cellar doors are usually happy to take walk-ins.
1st tasting 11 -12
Lunch 12 - 1.30
2nd tasting 1.30 - 2.30
3rd tasting 2.30 - 3.30
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