Discover Belford

Belford is located on the New England Highway, ten minutes south of Singleton, in the Hunter Valley. Vineyards, wineries and experiences involving wine and animals shape the travel options. If you’re looking for a hotel for a trip to Belford, your preferred activity can guide your plans: a tour through the vine rows and winery, a wine tasting or an experience with Highland Cows. The offerings differ in their format and conditions; take these differences into account when choosing your travel dates and deciding what to focus on during your stay.

Vineyard tours and grape varieties

At Ziliotto Wines, a tour takes visitors through the vineyards and winery. Visitors can walk through the vine rows, learn about Italian grape varieties such as Nero d’Avola, Negroamaro and Pecorino, and taste wines. The tour is offered on Saturdays and Sundays. For a weekend stay, this schedule is relevant: if you want to focus on winemaking and grape varieties, you can plan a possible visit for one of these days. Here, the vine rows, winery and tasting are combined in a guided experience.

Highland Cow Experience at Squire’s Vineyard

Squire’s Vineyard offers the Highland Cow Experience in Belford. With advance booking, visitors can feed and brush Pablo and Donnie; the experience also includes a guided wine tasting and a platter of light bites. The visit is weather-dependent. You’ll need closed-toe shoes or boots to access the paddock. The two offerings therefore differ in focus, too: Ziliotto centres on vineyards and grape varieties, while Squire’s focuses on meeting the animals, complemented by wine and light bites.

Squire’s Vineyard is a private 100-acre estate with gently rolling fields, vineyards and ponds. It also serves as a wedding venue. If you’re considering an event there, confirm availability directly. A wedding stay offers a different connection to the estate than a visit for the Highland Cow Experience, so you should plan for these options separately.

Vineyards and wine production in Belford

The vineyard formerly known as Belford vineyard is located on Ridgeview Estate in Belford, at the end of Sweetwater Road. It was planted in 1998; according to the operator’s assessment, almost certainly with the same Shiraz clone (1654) as the original Sweetwater vineyard. The original vineyard is no longer accessible. The information about the clone links the planting history of the Ridgeview site with that of the original Sweetwater vineyard, while remaining the operator’s assessment.

David Hook Wines produces single-vineyard wines in Belford from Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz, the traditional grape varieties of the Hunter Valley, as well as emerging Italian varieties such as Pinot Grigio and Barbera. The selection places traditional Hunter Valley varieties alongside Italian ones. This offers a different perspective on Belford’s wine production than a guided tour: David Hook focuses on single-vineyard wines and grape varieties, while Ziliotto offers a guided tour with a tasting.

When choosing dates, you can compare the two visitor experiences based on their conditions: Ziliotto offers tours on Saturdays and Sundays; the Highland Cow Experience requires advance booking and is weather-dependent. If you’re considering both experiences, check which one suits your travel dates and take the respective conditions into account when planning.

Discover more destinations: Soldiers Point, Nelson Bay, Charlestown, Adamstown, Nulkaba, Jesmond, Warners Bay, Fishing Point.

For the broader travel overview: Newcastle.