Stretching from Broke Road to Hermitage Road and Old North Road, Pokolbin North is the heartland of the Around Hermitage group and one of the most celebrated food and wine precincts in the country. With the Brokenback Mountains as a backdrop and some of the Hunter's most storied vineyards at every turn, this is a trail that rewards those who take their time.

The soils here tell a long story. Shaped by Rothbury Creek, Jump Up Creek and their tributaries, this is the terroir that gave rise to some of the Hunter's most famous Semillon vineyards, with certain estates producing continuous vintages for well over 120 years. Semillon and Shiraz are the headliners, but look closer, and you'll find Verdelho, Chambourcin, Riesling and Pinot Noir from producers who love to surprise.

Many cellar doors here are family-ownedand operated, with the winemaker often pouring your tasting - that kind of personal connection is genuinely rare. Beyond the glass, the trail delivers art galleries, sculpture gardens, a cheese room, boutique breweries, cooking and wine schools, day spas and guided tours, all in one compact and beautiful corner of the valley.