Hunter Valley

This is wine country that takes its buildings almost as seriously as its bottles, cellar doors dotted through valley terraced with vines since the 1860s, some of them genuine architectural statements in their own right. Tour a handful, tasting flights included, and you'll start to see why locals argue as much about the buildings as the drops in the glass. Between stops, wander Hunter Valley Gardens' themed acres, or watch the whole valley turn gold from a balloon at first light. Bring a designated driver, and a decent camera