More Than a Cellar Door... Latitude 32 Wines: Rewriting the Wine Experience
- Di von Essen
- 47 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Hunter Valley has never been short on cellar doors. But Latitude 32 Wines understands that today's visitors want more than a tasting bench and six wines poured in a row. They want a story, an experience, a reason to linger. That's exactly what the Pokolbin winery has set out to build.
“We asked ourselves, what would make us stay for another glass,” says owner Emma White, who runs Latitude 32 alongside partner David White.
“For us, that's great wine, amazing experiences, beautiful scenery and spending quality time with the people you're with. We wanted wine to be part of an unforgettable day out, not just a tasting at a bench.”
That philosophy is behind Latitude 32's now-famous Wine & Dumplings Pairing, an unlikely combination that has become one of the Hunter's most talked-about food and wine matches, and the new Chocolate & Wine Experience, an interactive fondue where each ingredient echoes flavours found in wine, from citrus and berries to spice and cocoa.
For dessert lovers, the new Sweet & Sparkling Experience pairs four indulgent desserts with four contrasting sparkling wines, while a self-guided vineyard walk uses QR technology to explore the property's story from ground to glass. Breakfasts among the vines, curated tastings, private picnics and seasonal events round out the offering, all in a dog- and family-friendly setting.
Adding fresh energy is new Head Winemaker Amy Blackburn, who joins Latitude 32 from some of Australia's leading wineries.
“Her passion for alternative varietals and the emerging low and no-alcohol category opens up exciting opportunities, but she's equally respectful of the classics that made this region famous,” says Emma.
Combined with estate-grown vineyards and award-winning wines, including one of Australia's leading Semillons, Latitude 32 is proving a cellar door can be a place to learn, laugh and linger. As Emma puts it, “If someone gets back in the car and says, ‘That was the highlight of our day in the Hunter,’ that's success for us.”
Visit Latitude 32 and experience it for yourself at 771 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin. For more information, visit latitude32wines.com.
Source: intouch Magazine, Issue #122, Spring 2026, p. 30.
