The Hunter Valley’s dining game just stepped up with the arrival of a major new development for the district. No longer relegated to the liquid lunch alone, the Hunter will shortly become home to a new restaurant and casual eatery courtesy of Brokenwood Wines.

Managing Director and Chief Winemaker, Iain Riggs of Brokenwood Wines has confirmed that hospitality heavyweights Andrew and Janet Wright will take charge of two new dining offerings for the vineyard. The duo will introduce The Wood Restaurant and Cru Bar + Pantry this December.

If you are not familiar with the Wrights, they are a UK-born husband and wife team familiar with the ins-and-outs of running a restaurant having run The Cellar Restaurant in the Hunter for the past 18 years. Remaining within the district, Andrew will now take on the role of head chef and Janet front of house at Brokenwood.

“We have an amazing relationship with Iain and the Brokenwood team,” says Andrew Wright. “The Cellar has been our home for the last 18 years, but we’re ready for a new and exciting adventure and couldn’t think of a better place to do that than at Brokenwood.”

Let’s start with the casual; Cru Bar + Pantry will be a cellar door of sorts that will include circular tasting bars known as ‘pods’, an outdoor terrace, two private tasting rooms, two private dining rooms and (excitingly for the wine lover) a dedicated wine museum. Cheese plates, wood-fired pizza, homemade pies, toasties, cakes, and coffees will be available to nibble on through breakfast and lunch, as will picnic packs that you can buy to enjoy out of doors in the sunshine.

Joining Cru will be fine dining offering The Wood Restaurant. Fare will be focused on contemporary Australian dishes cooked in the restaurant’s wood-fired oven and with local produce where possible. The restaurant will be open for lunch daily, and dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings, catering to up to 90 guests.

Brokenwood Wines will unveil its new offering on December 7.

Brokenwood Wines
401-427 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin
brokenwood.com.au