Travel the Art & Wine trail in Wine Country

There’s something romantic about browsing works of art, glass of wine in hand. Maybe it’s that the wine loosens our minds a little to enable us to see the meaning behind the art – or perhaps it’s the beauty of the vines that forges the visual connection of a shared environment.

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Whatever it is, there are plenty of places around Wine Country that let you appreciate and experience all things art and wine together.

The latest offering is the addition of a gallery to the sculpture gardens at Winmark Wines. The Winmark Art Gallery is placed alongside the new Cellar Door, connecting art, nature and wine when visiting the vineyard.

Owner and vigneron Karin Adcock has always been a passionate art collector and has now been able to realise a long-held dream of curating a gallery introducing some of the renowned artists and sculptors that she has discovered through her travels.

The Gallery proudly represents Rebecca Pierce, Felicia Aroney, James Ainslie, Erik Flygenring and Sculptors David Ball, Michael Purdy, Ulan & Rachel and Katarina Wells, to name but a few. Karin said that the sales of pieces just on the opening day were outstanding.

“We were so happy with how visitors have embraced the new gallery,” she said.

“Ongoing sales allow us to consistently add new pieces to the gallery from our existing artists and others that I hope to discover on my journeys and share with visitors – so the walls are always changing.”

Top: Winmark Wines Art Gallery

Above: Art at Emmas Cottage – 'Tall Timbers' by Annie Palmer. Mixed Media on Canvas

Over in Lovedale, the Gallery at Emmas Cottage Vineyard has been delighting guests for some years. Owner, Therese Kramer, says that it’s difficult for most people to know why art and wine fit together so beautifully.

“We know the what, but for many, the why is a little more to difficult discern, and the knowledge of this takes time to develop. Art and wine, to most people, are abstract concepts. When you think about it, the making of wine or a work of art is an art in itself. Knowing how to manipulate the components into a final form that tells a story is masterful,” said Therese.

“Why do we love something or not? What is it that evokes the OMG moment with either wine or artwork? What is it that causes us, at times, to have a visceral response to a taste, an observation or a feeling?”

Therese says that choosing artists to invite to hang work in the Emmas Cottage Gallery is complex.

“There is no real process for choosing. We tend towards the same group of artists as they are familiar with the space, the distance constraints of some display walls and the level of light,” she said.

“What I have to avoid is choosing work which reflects my own personal style. I can’t move in any one direction as much as I would sometimes like to, and it often surprises me which art piece from a new exhibition sells first.”

Taking the art into the vines is something that wineries like Winmark, Mistletoe Wines (Pokolbin Fine Art Gallery) and Constable Estate have invested in – adding Sculpture Gardens to their properties. The beauty of art in the vines has long been recognised and was the impetus behind the annual Sculpture in the Vineyards event held throughout Wollombi each year (11–26 September, 2021).

The magnificent sculpture created by David Bell for Winmark has become somewhat of a landmark in the area, welcoming visitors to the iconic location.

“There is just something special about placing pieces into the natural environment, making the vineyard vistas just that little bit more spectacular. Tasting wine and appreciating art is a sensory experience that resonates with so many people,” said Karin.

TRAVEL THE ART & WINE TRAIL

The Hunter Valley is renowned for its thriving art scene. The fully interactive Art & Wine Trail at www.wineanddinehuntervalley.com.au/tasting-trails takes you on a journey to a selection of galleries showcasing local and visiting artists as well as outdoor sculpture gardens in stunning vineyard locations where you can savour art and wine at the same time! Get it on your phone today and take to the road this weekend!