D'Vine Food and Wine Festival
Pokolbin, Hunter Valley
September 11, 12 & 13, 2026
Great food and exceptional wine are just the beginning at the D’Vine Festival — a weekend packed with flavour, flair, and a whole lot of fun in the heart of the Hunter Valley.
Picture vibrant cellar doors, unforgettable food and wine experiences, live music, sweeping vineyard views, and a buzzing festival vibe. The Festival is full of experiences ONLY available one weekend a year! 2026 will be bringing you a theme of 'Meet your Makers' where we'll bring you closer to the stories behind the food and wine you love.
What is the D’Vine Festival?
Our street-long food festival will have you experiencing the best Pokolbin has to offer!
Start your weekend in style on Friday, September 11, with a casual start to the Festival. On Saturday night you'll have a chance to rub shoulders with some of the region’s best winemakers in our Winemaker Showcase.
While we're still putting together the 2026 program, you can expect winery and vineyard tours, cultural experiences, paired tastings, casual street food, live music & fun activities.
There will be plenty of opportunities to purchase local produce and handmade gourmet delights that you can take home and recreate amazing gastronomical experiences with.
Friends, family and fur babies are welcome and encouraged!
Tickets are set to be released March or April 2026.
*Select events are over 18 only, but most welcome families. Please check each event for suitability for children and pets.
Festival Registration
Your Ticket to a Great Weekend!
We're still putting together ticket inclusions and pricing for the 2026 Festival. Ensure you sign up to our emails and we'll be in touch with updated information.
Where's it all Happening?
The D’Vine Festival is happening across the ‘Around Hermitage Wine and Food Trail' centering around Hermitage Road. Often considered the centre of the oldest wine region in Australia, Pokolbin is rich with wine making history, stunning views of the Brokenback ranges and is home to a community of passionate small artisans.
The D’Vine Festival gives you an opportunity to discover more of these hidden gems than on any other weekend of the year.
Head to Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley for this amazing event!
Plan your Festival Weekend
There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in some immersive gourmet experiences with add-ons to your Festival Registration.
No two days are the same, so make sure you book a few nights' accommodation so that you don't miss any of the excitement!
Here's a sample of what we did in 2025
Stay in the Thick of It
Free Pick up and drop off
Stay with an Around Hermitage accommodation provider and pickup/ drop off to your accommodation is included in your Transport Ticket! No need to drive. Find somewhere to stay
Free Shopping Concierge Service
No need to worry about carting your purchases around or doubling back later! The shopping concierge service, as well as the accommodation pick up and drop off is included free if you’re staying with any participating ‘Around Hermitage’ venues! This includes lots of venues located on Hermitage Road, Deasy’s Road, Old North Road, Sweetwater Road and Mistletoe Lane. Find Accommodation here
Accommodation for everyone's tastes
Special Offers for D'Vine Guests
There are some great accommodation specials on offer only for D'Vine Festival guests. Find them HERE
FAQs
Should I stay a day or the whole weekend?
Venues will be showcasing the best wine, food and fun the Hunter has to offer across Saturday, & Sunday. With so many venues to explore, we suggest that grabbing one of our early release weekend passes is a great way to go! Book in for an extra night or two and make sure you make the most of all the special offers that come with your D'vine Registration!
With so much on offer over the weekend we recommend staying at least 2 nights.
Stay longer and save. There's so much to do, why not stay 3 days or more and get discounts at participating Around Hermitage accommodation providers.
Is every day the same?
The D’Vine program is being developed so that each day will have some different and exciting events on. There will be some events that will repeat over the weekend so that you won’t miss out on them.
The shuttle buses will be available on Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday.
Is there anything to do at night?
Choose from the opening night event Friday night or interactive theatre at 4Pines, watch the sun set at the Italian Festival or enjoy a sumptuous Kings Table feast at Yellow Billy Saturday night.
Is this really a family friendly event?
We get it - plenty of events say they're family friendly, but the kids are miserable with nothing to do! We have venues that have specifically planned events that kids will love, while parents can relax and really enjoy their experiences! There's even venues offering parallel experiences for children with their parents.
Thanks to the great big paddocks, other venues will have outdoor games, craft and entertainment.
There are a handful of venues that are designated adult only spaces, so we ask you to check the program before planning your itinerary and respect the venues that have opted to be adult only.
Where is the D’Vine Festival Hub and what will be there?
Our 2026 Festival Hubs are yet to be announced. Our friendly customer service staff will be on hand to answer any questions on the day. There is car parking available for those traveling in from outside of the Around Hermitage area.
Is my dog welcome at all venues?
The majority of venues are dog friendly, so long as your dog is vaccinated, well behaved, and kept on a lead they are welcome. Some of our venues are working vineyards with dams, wildlife, working dogs and machinery, so it is not safe to let your dogs off lead to explore on their own. Due to health and safety regulations dogs will not be allowed indoors in restaurants and some other venues but are welcome outside. Please double check with the venue if unsure.
Where can I stay with my dog?
Many accommodation providers in the Around Hermitage area have Pet friendly accommodation
Can we buy tickets on the day?
Last minute tickets may be available, but venues will have capped numbers, so there are no guarantees. Activities with extensive preparation, such as cooking classes require pre purchasing. Ticket sales for these events will close earlier, so book soon to avoid disappointment.
We recommend booking your accommodation and grabbing your Festival Passport nice and early to avoid disappointment.
When can we buy tickets?
Our program will be confirmed in May. Early bird promotions will be available until the end of June, so register for event updates below to get a reminder!
What should I wear?
The dress code is generally smart casual, however please dress appropriately for the activities and weather. Footwear for walking around vineyards and some other activities must be closed in shoes and no high heels, sandals or thongs. This is for your safety and comfort.
How does the shopping concierge service work?
Concierge service is for users of the bus who have purchased wine and produce at D’Vine venues and staying at accommodation within the Around Hermitage Wine and Food Trail. Purchases will need to be clearly labelled with your name, mobile phone number and where you are staying or you can elect to collect from the D’Vine Festival Hub. At the end of each day the concierge will collect purchases from each of the venues and delivered to your accommodation or collected from the D’Vine Festival Hub.
Can I bring my own food and drink?
Sorry no, apart from drinking water or food for babies and snacks for small children.
How do I use the shuttle bus?
Shuttle bus tickets are very affordable at just $35 each. This will cover you for the whole weekend and even Friday night if you have tickets to the opening night event.
The buses will initially pick up from accommodation in the Around Hermitage area – show the driver your printed ticket, you will then be taken to the Festival Hub to collect your wrist band and festival kit containing lots of goodies. The buses will then take you on to your first event. At the end of the day, hop on a bus to take you back to your accommodation or the Festival Hub if your car is parked there.
When using the busses please follow the instructions given by the driver, remain seated whilst the bus is in motion, use seatbelts where provided, no eating or drinking on the bus. Abusive, drunk and disorderly conduct may result in removal from the bus.
Children under 5 years are Free but must still be ticketed so that we can calculate numbers.
If you need a lift to the event hub, transfers are available by Lucky's Hunter Valley Transfers. Please buy them directly HERE
I plan to use the shuttle bus, how to I time plan which events to go to?
The bus timetable will be designed to endeavour to get guests to the various events in good time. When planning which events you want to attend please allow enough time between them for a relaxed, stress free transfer. Our handy D’Vine event map will give you an idea of how far the venues are from each other. Although some venues may be only a few minutes from each other, we recommend allowing 30 minutes to an hour between events. You may actually be able to walk between some venues.
Bus timetables will be published in July 2025
I plan to self-drive
Self driving is an option, but please be responsible with your consumption of alcohol or better yet, appoint a designated driver.
The very affordable shuttle busses have been provided to ensure that people can travel safely from venue to venue without needing to worry about parking.
What happens in the event of Inclement weather?
Each event / venue will have an inclement weather policy. In most cases the events will go ahead whatever the weather, please check with the venue should you have concerns. (Venue details are on each ticket)
The D’Vine Festival organisers will endeavour to keep you updated via its socials and D’Vine website and by email to Registered guests.
Stay tasteful while tasting
We ask that all guests drink responsibly!
All staff at venues serving or selling alcohol, and the bus drivers are trained in the Responsible Service of Alcohol.
The liquor laws require patrons of licensed premises to behave responsibly. Penalties apply where intoxicated or violent persons fail to leave licensed premises when requested, or where they attempt to re-enter licensed premises after being ejected.
As part of the D’Vine event Responsible Service of Alcohol policy shuttle buses are available and guests must behave responsibly on the buses.
If you are self-driving don’t forget to have a designated driver. A quick guide : 6 x 15ml tastings at 13% alcohol is equivalent to 1 standard drink.
Who is the event organiser?
The Around Hermitage Wine and Food Trail (Around Hermitage Association Inc) is the overall event promoter and is organising the event hub and shuttle buses. Each individual event is organised and run by the specific venue.
Can I get a refund or exchange?
Unless the D’Vine event has been cancelled or rescheduled, or there are legal requirements that provide otherwise (including those of the Australian Consumer Law), tickets will not be refunded. In the event of cancellation or reschedule all refund details will be clearly posted on our website.
Each individual event / venue has a cancellation policy these are stated in the booking area, please check with the venue should you have any queries.
Register for D'Vine Festival Event Updates
Want to stay in the loop about all things D'Vine? Simply enter your email and we will send you important updates.
Your information is only utilised by D'Vine Wine & Food Festival. For more information see our privacy policy.
D'Vine Sponsorship
We have some exciting sponsorship opportunities available for this growing event!
If you’re in the business of selling to cellar doors, accommodation providers and agribusiness, sponsoring D'Vine is a great way to build profitable relationships. Not only will you benefit from recognition print and digitally, you’ll also gain networking opportunities with AHA members and the opportunity to represent your business at our event hub! We’re looking to partner with businesses and organisations with values like our own. We value locally sourced, Australian products, and ethical dealings.
For more information on Around Hermitage sponsorships please download our prospectus or reach out to marketing@aroundhermitage.com.au
Download Prospectus
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D'Vine is broughT to you by the Around Hermitage Wine and Food Trail
proudly sponsored by:
© 2026 D'Vine Wine & Food Festival. All Rights Reserved.