News, Specials and Local Events

Kurrajong Wine at the Beltree Winegrowers Centre

Kurrajong wines are available for tasting and sale at the Hunter Valley Winegrowers Centre in The Beltree, close to us on Hermitage Road. The Winegrowers Centre is a really good way to get a cross-section of authentic Hunter Valley wine without having to drive all day. They have tasting and sales for a dozen of the best small family/boutique vineyard/wineries. The Winegrowers Centre is located in the same building as the Beltree restaurant - another place we can recommend for great food at good prices. Check them out at www.beltree.com.au.

Events in the Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley hosts many events throughout the year, with a large number of music concerts. Among the annual favourites are Opera in the Vines, and Jazz in the Vines, as well as monthly showings in the Hunter Valley Gardens. There is a fine selection of local and international music artists who visit the Valley (for a summary of upcoming events see below).

We are often asked how close we are to the venues, and how to get there and back. Kurrajong Vineyard is within 15 minutes of virtually all the venues, and shuttle buses stop by our front gate to pick up and drop off guests attending the major events. Typical pick-up times are 4pm and 6pm, with a return bus after a concert. Call us if you need more information.

Accommodation for event weekends fill up fast, so please book early (yes we do mean early - we are normally booked within a few weeks of the tickets being released for sale).

Fruit Set in the Vineyard

As the vines flower the caps fall, and there are some important stages here, notably 50% and 80% capfall. These stages are important because we need to protect the emerging berries from botrytis even at this early stage. After flowering the fruit has to "set" on the vines. This is a crucial stage as it will determine the amount of crop we will have this vintage. If you look at the photo to the right you can see the tiny berries setting on the vine.

Flowering in the Vineyard

Infloresence After bud-burst the vines start to develop what will become the grape bunches, called inflorescence. Flowering As the weather warms a bit more the vines begin to flower. To someone who hasn't looked closely before, the tiny size of the flowers comes as quite a surprise.

Bud Burst in the Vines

 Recent heavy rains, along with the warming of spring has brought the vines out of their dormant winter state. Most of the vines are in bud-burst - you can see a bud just opening and another fully out in the picture to the left. The nice thing about bud- burst is that as you look up the slopes of the vineyard there is a green icing on what in winter are just rows of brown vines. This is a perfect time to see nature's wonders of spring, and visit the Hunter Valley Wine Country. Come and stay with us in one of our cottages, or in the suite.