Done and dusted: all change in the Hunter Valley

There has been a changing of the guard in the Hunter Valley with Bimbadgen Estate chief winemaker Richard Done (above) resigning to concentrate on his own brand: John Wallace Wines.

Done, who learned his trade at Hunter icons Scarborough and Thomas Wines, has been chief winemaker and head of production, sales and distribution at Bimbadgen and Night Merchant Distillery for almost eight years.

John Wallace Wines has its own cellar door in Pokolbin.   

"I will be going full steam ahead with my side hustle now to be the big hustle," Done said.

"I will also be offering consulting for any wine or spirits brands that need the extra love."

Done's replacement at Bimbidgen will be familiar Hunter face Michael Hatcher,

Hatcher was the long-time general manager and winemaker at another leading Hunter producer, Hungerford Hill, when it was very high profile.

He was most recently manager and winemaker at Bunnamagoo in Mudgee.

Bimbadgen, in a prime location in Pokolbin, is one of the leading wine producers in the Hunter. 

The estate comprises two vineyards, a popular cellar door, award-winning Esca Bimbadgen restaurant, a café, an an outdoor amphitheatre. The estate hosts A Day On The Green concerts each year.

New wine tastes for cottagers

Emma's Cottage is a much-loved gourmet destination in the Hunter Valley - and a popular spot for wine lovers to spend a weekend away.

Emma's Cottage changed hands recently and is now part of the fast-growing Mulpha Group, which also owns nearby Bimbadgen Estate.

The Emmas's Cottage cellar door has just started selling a new range of wines under the Alter label, made by Bimbadgen winemaker Richard Done, but crafted in some different styles.

The two wines I have tried were a savoury 2021 shiraz-pinot blend - a combo once hugely popular in the Hunter - solid value at $28 - and a 2019 semillon, just starting to show some mature characters but also with some bright acidity ($38). 

The Emma's Cottage vineyard wine under the Alter label are described as "contemporary Hunter wines".

Done said the Alter range has been in the planning for some time. 

“We have been wanting to diversify our wine offering to enable us to showcase a modern interpretation of popular Hunter Valley grapes, with the range including a non-vintage sparkling, vintage Blanc de blancs, semillon, chardonnay, rosé and shiraz.”

To celebrate the new brand, the labels (above) have been created by Australian fabric and wallpaper designer Annie Coop.

Emma’s Cottage, which has been in operation for over 40 years and was a regional tourism pioneer, continues to offer five accommodation options.

“The new range of Alter wines will complement our accommodation, newly refurbished cellar door and gift store," says estate co-ordinator Meg Adams.

"We also have plans underway to expand our cellar door to include a function space catering for up to 80 people, so it will be the perfect venue for intimate weddings, casual celebrations or larger events.”

For more details see https://emmascottage.com.au/

A new Hunter Valley wine range makes its debut

Meet John Wallace Wines - the newest wine brand to emerge from the Hunter Valley. 

John Wallace does not actually exist, but the man behind the brand is one of the Hunter's leading winemakers; Richard Done, who has worked at Scarborough Wines, Thomas Wines, Hunter’s Dream Estate and Bimbadgen Estate, where he is currently chief winemaker. 

Done has a Master’s degree in Wine Science and Viticulture but having spent a lifetime of correcting others mispronouncing his surname (think Ken Done, not Dunn), he decided to honour his grandfathers, John and Wallace, when it came to naming his winemaking business.

The first two wines released under the John Wallace Wines label are a tribute to the winemaker's grandmothers, Margaret and Judith. 

The 2021 Maggie white and the 2021 Juju red (both $25) will soon be followed by a chardonnay and reserve shiraz. 

The white is an energetic, high-spirited and fun blend of semillon, vermentino, chardonnay and pinot gris that I can highly recommend, while the red is !00% shiraz made in "nouveau" style, not your usual Hunter style. 

"My wines offer a relaxed yet upbeat flow of freshness," Done says. "They are wines for enjoying and having fun with." 

See www.johnwallacewines.com.au.