By now, you’ve probably flicked through this issue of Newcastle Weekly and read all about D’Vine Weekend. You may have also spotted the rather good-looking bunch smiling back at you from the front cover. That’s us. The owners, winemakers and assorted wine-industry characters from Around Hermitage. Now, if you happen to recognise us over the weekend, don’t be disappointed if we don’t look quite as polished in real life. That front cover took a surprising amount of effort.
The sun was directly in our eyes. There was plenty of squinting, blinking and laughing, and far more takes than any of us care to admit. At one point I’m fairly sure none of us could actually see the camera anymore.
See… you’ve already got your first behind-the-scenes story, and that’s exactly what D’Vine Weekend is really about. This magazine tells you where to go. I’m here to tell you what to ask.
Around Hermitage is one of the Hunter Valley’s most special little pockets because we’re proudly independent. These aren’t wineries run from a boardroom hundreds of kilometres away. The owners are still mowing the lawns, fixing the pumps, tasting every barrel, worrying about the weather, making the wine and then standing behind the cellar door to welcome you in. Sometimes all in the same day. That’s what makes D’Vine so much fun. You don’t just taste wine. You meet the people who risked everything to make it. So don’t waste the opportunity asking, “What’s your best seller?” sk the questions you’ve always wanted answered.
“How much beer do you really drink during vintage?”
“At what point during harvest do you start questioning your life choices?”
“Which wine nearly broke your heart?”
“Which vintage gave you the most grey hairs?”
“What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made?”
“Have you ever quietly tasted something from a barrel and thought, ‘Well… that’s not ideal.’”
“Which wine are you secretly most proud of?”
These are the stories you won’t find on the back label. And they’re usually far more entertaining. Fair warning though, if you ask a winemaker one question, there’s a reasonable chance you’ll still be there twenty minutes later!
Every winery around Hermitage has its own personality. Some are traditional. Some love pushing boundaries. Some have been here for generations. Others are writing the next chapter. But every single one has a story worth hearing. That’s the beauty of independent wineries. There’s no script. No marketing department telling us what to say. Just real people, real wines and the occasional confession that probably shouldn’t leave the tasting bench. This magazine gives you the program. D’Vine Weekend is where you meet the characters.
So… you’ve seen the cover. Now come and meet the cast. Come and explore Around Hermitage, discover a few hidden gems, meet the makers, ask the questions and stay a little longer than you planned. And when you find yourself at Latitude 32 Wines, I’d genuinely love you to pop in and say hello. Tell me you read this column in Newcastle Weekly and I’ll happily pour you a glass, introduce you to our little piece of the Hunter Valley and prove I really do look like the person on the front cover…
…on a good day.
One final tip, book ahead. D’Vine Weekend is one of the Hunter Valley’s favourite weekends and the best experiences fill quickly. We can’t wait to welcome you.