There's a version of the Hunter Valley that most people never see — and it happens in winter.

By June, the tourist buses have thinned. The cellar doors are quieter. The winemakers have time to sit with you, pour a little extra, and actually talk. There's a fire going at almost every stop, and the kind of unhurried pace that is genuinely hard to find in a wine region that draws the crowds it does in spring and autumn.

I visit the Hunter Valley year-round — it's part of what I do. And if you asked me to choose a favourite season? Honestly, winter would be a serious contender.

Here's what you can actually expect.