Wynwood Winery & Twine Restaurant

This weekend one of our many clients indulging in the best the Vineyards has to offer took in two of the Hunter Valleys best kept secrets - Wynwood Estate and the recently opened Twine Resataurant on their Vineyard Indulgence Package.

After arriving at Wynwood Estate, our happy couple tasted Wynwoods traditional, premium quality wines. In the 1970’s, the vineyard was one of the best in the valley, and has recenty been purchased by an accomplished award winning team who knowingly apply their years of experience to bring the wine quality back to that of the old Saxonvale days. Today, using local vineyard knowledge, they prepare and nurture the old vines to produce excellenct fruit, while the winemaker hand selects the grapes to create such elegant Hunter Valley drops.

Desly Harris, the Vineyards new General Manager has 24 years experience in the wine industry, learning and working with some of the best winemakers and marketers in the Australian industry. Excited by the opportunity to work on a new venture; Desly is looking forward to working closely with the new owners and the Wynwood Estate team to achieve the potential of this famous old vineyard site and the Wynwood wine brand. Its a great spot to stop in and taste their delicious wine portfolio, including some fortified wines.

Following their tasting at the Cellar Door, the next stop was Twine Restaurant for lunch. Having opened in September last year, Twine is treating locals and regulars of the Hunter wine region to a new and exciting restaurant, where Chef's Matt Dillow of The Verandah Restaurant and long time friend from the kitchen, Adam Ireland are the proud new owners.

Overlooking the picturesque vineyards, Twine spills out onto a rose-trimmed courtyard fit for lunch in the sunshine, or evening cocktails under the stars. This stunning location ensures Twine Restaurant at Wynwood Estate a special occasion destination for visitors and locals alike. Twine Restaurant will be open 7 days for lunch and Friday, Saturday and Sunday for dinner although group bookings and events will be welcome any time.

This festive season we have shuttled Santa's, and elf's and Elvis to boot. Dress up parties, themed events and all their Kris Kringle loot!

Santa may come but once a year, but here at Newcastle Limousines Christmas has been almost every day for the past month!

We have had a month of Corporate Christmas parties, shuttles, transfers and very merry guests, which makes us happiest of all to know they have been able to really relax and enjoy themselves without the worry of driving to or from their end of year cheer.

From the group of 40 enjoying lunch on the harbour, to family and friends catching up over dinner and arriving in limousine style, we have seen it all this Christmas and can't wait to do it all again next December. Our Staff particularly enjoy this time of year as everyone they chauffeur is in such a fun, relaxed and festive mood, it only makes us look forward to enjoying our own family Christmas experience, and one we hope all of you get to enjoy as much as we do.

From the team here, we want to say Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night (out with friends!)

Merry Christmas!

This September saw the Melbourne Ice win its third successive Australian Ice Hockey title as they skated in to Newcastle to win the Goodall Cup in the Australian Ice Hockey League.

Up against our hometown Newcastle North Stars – the top two teams fought it out, delivering a repeat of last year’s grand final. With the North Stars favourites to win having beaten the Melbourne Ice at both regular season clashes this year, the result came as an upset to the Novocastrians.

With a large fan base travelling from Melbourne to cheer on their team, the Ice won 5-4 in the thrilling match, which capped off their weekend having also defeated Adelaide Adrenaline and the Sydney Ice Dogs in the semi’s.

Newcastle Limousines was honoured to play a part in the Melbourne Ice’s triumphant weekend victory, being the designated Transport company for the team. Their team couldn’t be happier, and are looking forward to using our fleet again next year when they hopefully make the finals in 2013.

July was a busy month for us with winery tours, with one of our specialist Pokolbin drivers Reg taking a group around for the day which included a stop at Audrey Wikinson Winery.
Recently rated by Gourmet Traveller Wine as one of the Top 10 Cellar Doors in the country, and the only one in NSW, Audrey Wilkinson is perched atop a foot hill of the Brokenback Mountain Ranges, and is a true must see site of the Hunter Valley.

The group enjoyed a great tasting of Audrey’s best wines, including Audrey’s Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Chardonnay and Rosé and for the reds Audrey’s Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, finished off with a tasting of their delicious Tempranillo.

Audrey also recently opened a museum on site, housed in the original winery. The museum display includes original vats and wine and barrel making equipment.  The exhibition also includes audio visual commentary, with entry to the Museum free, open at the same times as the Cellar Door.

As Winter kicks in there really is no better time to enjoy the open log fires and delicious offerings the Hunter Valley serves up in terms of Winter Reds, with the local varieties of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot made to tempt you in the cooler months.

This weekend one of our groups did just that, visiting our friends at Vinden Estate on their day long wine tasting tour, where they enjoyed the glorious Winter sunshine dining on the glass enclosed terrace at Bistro Vinden.

The seasonally changing menu at Vinden, rich in Hunter Valley produce, most of which is from Vinden's own organic on site gardens, really delivers with dishes such as spicy Winter Prawns, Pokolbin Pie with melt-in-your-mouth lamb or a traditional Duck Confit. All of which were perfectly matched with Vinden's premium reds of Rose, Shiraz and Merlot, or for the white drinkers Vinden's robust Sauvignon Blanc, well balanced Chardonnay or floral Verdelho.

The Team

Newcastle Limousines