Venue Tower Estate
Region Pokolbin, Hunter Valley
Address 6 Halls Road, Pokolbin
Open: 7 days
Signature Wines:
2005 Hunter Valley Chardonnay
2009 Hunter Valley Semillon and
2004 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.
Food Style: 9 course degustation menu at Nine
Atmosphere: 5/5 (Hunter Valley royalty)
Photo Locations: 5/5
Disabled Access: Yes
URL: www.towerestate.com.au
Contact Ph: (02) 4998 7022
Features:
Spanish hacienda style.
5 star lodge.
Member of the exclusive Relais Chateaux, an exclusive collection of 475 of the finest hotels and gourmet restaurants in 55 countries.
Ten lodge rooms have king size beds, other two have queen beds.
Max 12 couples catered for with accommodation.
Max 45 guests for 5 course degustation in their ‘elegant dining room’.
Max 100 for cocktail reception in lounge or courtyard.
Larger groups accommodated at Roberts Restaurant (see our review)
Wet weather option available
Exclusivity of lodge when you hire all rooms
Swimming pool, sauna, gym and massage room
Some rooms have: Burning fireplaces (May to Sept), outdoor plunge tubs, private courtyards, balconies or fountains.
Nine restaurant – 9 course degustation menu
Hall of Fame – Luxury Accommodation winner, 3 years in a row for the Hunter Valley
Extra accommodation nearby at Peppers Convent which is also owned by Tower Estate along with Roberts Restaurant.
History:
Tower Estate Winery was established in 1998.
The vision of Len Evans AO OBE – Wine entrepreneur and statesman.
A little about their wine making process for the wine buffs out there.
Tower Estate make very labour intensive, very exclusive wines. With winemaker Sam Connew aiming to make no more than 1000 cases of each chosen wine.
Sourcing fruit from their pick of vineyards from the best wine making regions in Australia.
Their vintage starts in late January with the Hunter Valley Semillon and lasts till early May with Tasmanian Pinot Noir arrivals.
Following traditional wine-making techniques. The whites are hand-picked before being cooled to around 5°C and then sorted on a conveyor belt.
The bunches are whole cluster pressed with only the free run juice being used in the premium Tower Estate products.
The reds are treated in the same fashion, however, prior to pressing the crushed grapes (with some whole bunch inclusion) are placed in open fermenters and cold soaked for 7 days.
Once fermentation initiates the caps are hand plunged 3 to 4 times daily.
The Barrel Room is atmospherically controlled at 13ºC, year round to maintain the quality maturation of barrelled wine. Using only premium French oak barriques (225 litres) as well as a unique sized oak vat called Brian.
If you got through all of that than well done. Now onto to lighter stuff.
We loved:
1895 French coach house doors – A charming entrance.
Wonderfully rich collection of real antiques – Where did they find them all?
Individually styled rooms throughout the lodge, provide interest and intrigue with every turn.
Attention to detail. Eg. its different bath robes for summer and winter.
Luxurious feel – Intimate setting combined with five star service equals luxury
300 year old Rajasthani king bed in Chairmans Suite – Sounds impressive, looks impressive.
Nine restaurant – Timber & Sandstone synergistic design, 9ft underground – Cloud nine for food lovers (like that one?)
Keep in mind:
Intimate – This venue is for small guest numbers. If your guests numbers get too big, it might take Tower Estate off the menu.
Conclusion:
Tower Estate, this venue is without doubt one of the most intimate, luxurious locations in Australia.
If you are planning a small wedding with a very lucky group of family and friends, then this would be an incredible setting for a stunningly luxurious wedding.
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