The growth of the region has been proportional with the success of the Australian wine industry. Grapes were planted in the Hunter Valley the 1820s, with wine produced since the mid-1800s, though for a long time wine was the sleeper of the local alcohol market. As Australians began to drink more wine in the 1970s, and as our wine reached a wider market overseas, areas such as the Hunter Valley have undergone remarkable growth.

The explosion of interest and growth of Pokolbin has resulted in a number of Lower Hunter Valley sub-districts, one of which is Lovedale.Lovedale where you'll find vineyards, restaurants and accommodation. A highlight of the Lovedale year is the Lovedale Long Lunch, a two-day feast organised and operated by a consortium of wineries, held annually in May