The ultimate Hunter Valley checklist for your next wine country trip

The Lane Retreat: Want to truly immerse yourself in wine country? It's hard to look past The Lane Retreat, set on 15 hectares of rolling vineyards with sweeping views of the Broken Back Range. As we arrive at the property - where 60 sleek studios are scattered among the vines - the heavens open, with lightning and thunder adding to the drama of the landscape. But the storm passes as quickly as it arrives, sunlight soon spilling through the dark clouds - the perfect cue to settle onto our private deck with the complimentary bottle of red wine. Inside, a king-sized bed, a generous breakfast hamper stocked with local produce, a stylish ensuite with rainshower and floor-to-ceiling windows framing idyllic vineyard views make this an easy weekend escape. thelaneretreat.com.au

Voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley: If the Lane Retreat is perfect for couples, the 70-key Voco is ideal for families, with nightly rates starting from a pocket-friendly $173, without the need to spend a minimum of two nights, which is often the case in this wine region. Even the smallest rooms with just 24 square metres of real estate have private balconies, but if you want more space book one of the Manor Suite with a separate living room, or the standard room with two queen beds if you're travelling with kids. There are three drinking and dining establishments at the property, catering to everything from casual bites to fine dining, and for anything else Cessnock is just a 10-minute drive away. ihg.com

Bimbadgen Woodfire Pizzeria: The Lane Retreat offers complimentary transfers to the Bimbadgen Woodfire Pizzeria, where you can taste the estate's wines before a meal. There's a beautiful courtyard with a vine-draped pergola. During our Friday-night visit it's absolutely going off with big groups of weekenders, so we choose to grab a table inside and dig into baked camembert and pepperoni pizza with lashings of mozzarella. bimbadgen.com.au/dine/pizzeria

Esca: If you're in the mood for fine dining, Bimbadgen's elegant Esca is located one floor above the boisterous pizzeria. Same location, same view, but a totally different vibe and stellar food. Starters range from braised octopus skewers to Coffin Bay oysters. For mains, it's a tough choice between squid ink tagliatelle and marinated spatchcock with eggplant salad. But it's the pistachio tiramisu for dessert that brings the house down. Take your appetite and credit card. bimbadgen.com.au/esca

Fusion Restaurant: The Hunter Valley is not just about wines. Wellness is on the cards, too, here, thanks to the renowned Elysia Wellness Retreat, which has just opened its Fusion Restaurant to the general public. This means, for the first time in Elysia's history, anyone can get a taste of Fusion's delicious, nourishing food - even if you're not staying there. Crisp kataifi-wrapped lamb puttanesca, baked potato gnocchi, and an avocado and dark chocolate mousse are just some of the dishes non-guests can enjoy at the retreat during lunch hours. elysiaretreat.com.au/restaurant

Taste: Wine and chocolate may not be obvious bedfellows, but Emma's Cottage, which is primarily an events venue, is out to prove you wrong. Because here you can book in for a wine tasting with locally produced artisan chocolate from Cocoa Nib. There are five drops from Alter Wines and five matching chocolates - a 2022 shiraz pinot noir is paired with dark chocolate with coffee notes, while a fortified verdelho is matched to white chocolate with creme brulee ganache. And every sip and bite is outright delicious. emmascottage.com.au

Taste some more: Of course, if you're a connoisseur and just want to stick to wines, there's no dearth of tour companies that'll take you for a spin and sips around the wine region. Hunter Valley Tours offers a range of experiences - from a full-day tour in bus that takes you to some of the valley's best producers ($195 per person) to a private six-hour tour for couples ($695). huntervalleytours.com.au