Already a bumper two months of wine-related activities, the 2018 festival has added 15 new events to the program, including Viva Verdelho at Tulloch Wines, Magnum Madness at Hart & Hunter Cellar Door, Music in the Woods at Stonehurst Cedar Creek, Cheeses of the World at Two Fat Blokes and Picnic in the Park at Kirkton Park Hotel.

In total throughout May and June, visitors and Hunter locals can enjoy more than 40 events showcasing the best wine and food Australia’s oldest wine-growing region has to offer. Think gourmet dinners, wine and cocktail master classes, food and wine trails, hands-on cooking classes, long lunches and more.

As well as the new events, many festival favourites will return, such as the Hunter Valley Wine Festival, Tyrrell’s Winemaker’s Luncheon, Glandore Estate’s Burning of the Barrel and By the Fireside with Lisa McGuigan at Hunter Valley Resort.

A particular highlight for foodies will be ‘Meet the Farmer Dinner’ at Margan, which sees the hatted restaurant’s head chef, Hunter-born Thomas Boyd, collaborate with five leading Hunter Valley food producers for a dinner featuring the best regional produce and the people behind it.

Other highlights of this year’s program include daily vertical tastings of one of Australia’s most collected wines, the Maurice O’Shea shiraz, at Mount Pleasant Wines; Margan’s vermouth cocktail masterclass every Saturday in May and June; and Magnum Madness at Hart & Hunter Cellar Door on May 5, 6, 26 and 27.

Beyond drinks-focused elements, there are a series of cultural events, including the popular Music in the Woods on June 2 in the Wollombi Valley and the Hunter Valley Wine & Film Festival Around Hermitage on May 5 and 26.

For a family fun day out, head to Picnic in the Park at the Kirkton Park Hotel on June 16, where delicious regional produce and Hunter Valley wines will be on offer from a variety of market stalls and food trucks, accompanied by live entertainment.

To find out more about this year’s Hunter Valley Wine & Food Festival visit winecountry.com.au.