Established in 1967, Hungerford Hill is a boutique estate in the Hunter Valley, in Australia’s oldest wine region. The winery has built a proud reputation for producing distinguished wines and delivering a memorable cellar door experience.

The team at Hungerford Hill crafts authentic wines with character and depth, with a strong focus on New South Wales’ premier cool-climate regions.

In December 2016, Sam Arnaout acquired Hungerford Hill, continuing its commitment to sourcing fruit from the Hunter Valley, Hilltops, and Tumbarumba. With a clear vision to further strengthen its Hunter Valley presence, Sam expanded the estate in 2016 with the purchase of the renowned Sweetwater vineyard near Belford, as well as the historic former Wyndham Estate property at Dalwood, including its vineyard and winery facilities. The heritage-listed Dalwood House, located on the property, is owned by the National Trust.

Today, Hungerford Hill’s winery stands as a landmark of the Hunter Valley, featuring its distinctive barrel-shaped tasting room and underground working cellar. The acclaimed Muse Restaurant completes the experience, offering exceptional dining alongside sweeping views across the vineyards to the Brokenback Ranges.

Located 160km north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley sits beneath the dramatic Brokenback Ranges. Its warm, humid climate is moderated by cooling afternoon sea breezes, creating ideal conditions for viticulture.

The region’s soils are highly diverse, ranging from friable red volcanic loams—responsible for some of Australia’s most long-lived Shiraz—to sandy alluvial riverbeds that yield equally age-worthy Semillon.

Wine varieties grown: Semillon & Shiraz
Harvest period: Late January to early March
Heat degree days: 2070–2170
Mean January temperature: 22.7–23.3°C

The Hilltops region lies 150km west of Canberra, Australia’s capital, surrounding the township of Young—renowned for its cherry production. Vines were first established here in the 1970s, at elevations ranging from 450 to 600 metres, across a mix of deep, gravelly red soils, basalt, and sandy decomposed granite.

This cool, dry continental climate, with occasional winter snow, is well suited to producing rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz wines.

Major varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz
Harvest period: Late March to May
Heat degree days: 1880
Mean January temperature: 22.5°C