Long known for its sprawling vineyards slinging out sharp semillon and bold shiraz, the Hunter Valley is upping its game yet again in the food and experience stakes giving those in search of the good life even more reason to make this their next weekend-away destination. The Hunter Valley Food & Wine Festival touts long lunches, immersive tastings, producer-focused dinners and even a burning barrel celebration, so we took the opportunity to visit during the festivities, slotting in a few of our favourite stops along the way.

Stalwarts such as the Crowne Plaza and Mercure are sprawling properties with everything at your fingertips, but new kid on the block IronBark Hill Villas by Hunter Valley Stays, on the Peter Drayton estate, is a great addition. The modern apartments are equipped with kitchens, spacious bathrooms and comfortable beds, plus private decks (with barbecues) overlooking the picturesque lake and grounds.

Frank Fawkner and his team are well settled in three-year-old EXP, with their signature EXPosure and EXPerience menus giving diners the opportunity to choose a la carte or the full degustation respectively. Dishes such as quail, leek and miso porridge, and Wagyu brisket, celeriac, muntries and cavalo nero bring big yet balanced flavour. Always inventive, EXP’s native-heavy take on a Magnum Ego – eucalyptus chocolate from the Daintree, lemon myrtle, wattleseed ice-cream and caramel – is the perfect playful finish.

It’s well known to Hunter aficionados, but Audrey’s will forever be on our list for the beautiful views across the valley. Sunset up here on the deck is truly special. Work your way through the guided tasting or grab a glass of their chardonnay, sit on the deck and soak it all in.

Troy Rhodes-Brown shows no signs of resting on his laurels at special-occasion must Muse. Whipped brown butter with a macadamia crumb makes it hard to say no to multiple rounds of house-baked sourdough, and snacks like sushi-style wombok with koshihikari rice and crunchy Mexican cucumbers get your palate prepared for the feast ahead. Sommelier Stephane expertly guides wine matches for the delicious journey ahead.

Steeped in history and on a beautiful property, the vertical tasting of O’Shea at Mount Pleasant winery is one of our new favourites. Working through vintages from 1999 to 2014 – the latter being that year of greatness in the Hunter – wonderfully paired with nibbles from newly opened Red Apron deli on site, you’ll learn about the life of O’Shea while drinking his wines.

A festival favourite, the long lunch among the olive groves at Whispering Brook gives you the opportunity to mingle with other revellers as you learn about the property’s production before sitting down to eat. Share plates of Mediterranean-inspired fare arrive seamlessly paired with the estate’s varieties of Portuguese-leaning wines. With gorgeous grounds and rustic cellar door, Whispering Brook is a lovely spot to visit on your next Hunter trip.

Lisa and Andrew Margan are a duo to be reckoned with. Lisa’s keen eye over the incredible kitchen garden and restaurant ensure produce-heavy dishes and seamless service. Andrew’s dedication to the Negroni has seen him develop his own Margan Estate vermouth after never being able to find one he thought perfect. These two make things happen, and good times ensue. We visited for the producers’ dinner, where the menu is made up of locally sourced meat, vegies and dairy, and the producers themselves are there to talk about their livelihood. It’s a beautiful dinner filled with emotion and connection, and gives a great insight into the food that arrives on your plate.

Possibly the biggest development happening in the Hunter at the moment is at Brokenwood. Well known for their Cricket Pitch drops, the estate is building its own micro food and wine destination. With a larger cellar door in the works, plus a warehouse allowing tasters to drive up and collect their orders, and a restaurant due to be manned by Andy Wright (previously of The Cellar) with luxurious outdoor dining, Brokenwood will be pulling in even more of a crowd from later this year. A tour and tasting takes you through elegant chardonnays and fruity shiraz, and if you’re anything like me you’ll leave with at least a bottle in each hand.

A Hunter community favourite with a much-debated pronunciation, Bistro Molines (Molin-ez – I think…) pitches a menu of classic French specials and hearty portions. With a prime position and eye-watering views, this is a comfortable destination for a special Sunday lunch. White bean cassoulet with chorizo, and orange-glazed duck with peas a la Francaise are just two of the numerous options. Settle in for a generous feed.

The drive to the Hunter from Sydney is a pleasant experience, and we were lucky enough to try out the new Toyota C-HR for the weekend. A compact, sporty SUV, the car is spacious and comfortable while retaining a sleek and stylish look. With only a 1.2L engine, it’s surprisingly nippy and doesn’t struggle at all on the Hunter hills. Our favourite feature was the warning light on the wing mirrors that helps you see when the other lanes’ traffic is too close to pull out; that and the hidden lighted logo you’ll see on the ground when you unlock the car at night. Visit toyota.com.au

The Hunter Valley Food Festival runs from May to June each year. For more information, visit winecountry.com.au/events.