Pokolbin Hotels

Pokolbin is the centre of the famous Lower Hunter Valley wine region in New South Wales, Australia. It is a rural locality rather than a town or village. It is located between the towns of Cessnock and Branxton. The Darkinjung people (specifically the Wonarua tribe) originally inhabited the Pokolbin area for more than 3,000 years. They were the major inhabitants at the time of European contact. This contact was disastrous for the Darkinjung people. Many were murdered or died as a result of European diseases. Others were forced onto neighbouring tribal territory and killed. Many lost the will to live and occupied shanty ghettos on the edge of white settlements. Settler pressure on land also constricted traditional tribal and clannish domains, often leading to tribal fighting. In 1828 the first vineyard was established by the Wilkinsons at Oakdale, in the growing Pokolbin area. Then in the 1860’s, land settlement became extensive between Nulkaba and Pokolbin, with wheat, tobacco and grapes being the principal crops. There are dozens of wineries, ranging from large multi-nationals to small family run operations. In addition to the long-established names like Drayton's, Lindemans, McWilliams Mount Pleasant, Tulloch, Lake's Folly and Tyrrell's, newer plantings from the likes of Brokenwood, Don Francois, Allandale, Petersons and Bimbadgen only add to the quality of wine coming out of the area. Much of the rolling countryside around Pokolbin is under vine with the traditional varieties Shiraz and Semillion still dominating but extensive plantings of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and the occasional plot of Pinot Noir can be seen.