The 2026 Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival will bring the A-list of the Hunter Valley’s best wineries, distillers and brewers to Lovedale on 11 July.

The festival will be hosted by Rydges Resort Hunter Valley and will feature 35 local wine producers, including Allandale Winery, Brokenwood Wines,  First Creek Wines, Hungerford Hill Wines, Margan Wines, Petersons Family Wines, Bimbadgen, Gartelmann Wines and Gundog Estate.

Brewers and distillers including Steinbok, Pants Off, Phoenix Distillery, Wooden Axe, Kissofire Hunter Valley Liqueurs, CInCin Beverages, and Sydney Brewery will also be exhibiting.

Accompanying the drink options is a wide range of cuisines, including pizza, paella, burgers and artisan foods from local providers including Goose on the Loose and Hunter Belle Dairy Co.

Masterclasses will be available as add-ons to general tickets. These will include Dumplings and Wine Pairing hosted by Latitude 32 Wines, Beer & Cider pairing with cheese & crackers hosted by Sydney Brewery & Hunter Belle and a high-energy, interactive cocktail masterclass showcasing Pants Off Distillery’s spirits, bold botanicals, and flavour‑first philosophy.

All masterclasses are strictly limited in numbers and require pre-booking.

Live entertainment will be provided throughout the day on the festival stage.

General admission tickets are available for $30pp ($40pp on the day), which include entry into the festival, first drink up to the value of $8, a memorabilia wine glass, access to more than 60 local wineries, distilleries & craft breweries, gourmet food vendors, live music and other festival activities.  

Pre-festival dinner celebrating local food & wine

This year, three of the Hunter Valley’s premier chefs will partner with local wineries to present the Beyond the Pour Dinner on 10 July. 

Yarra Valley wine influencer The Wine Animal, Brenden Robnik, will MC the dinner, with Matt Dillow from Gartelmann Wines’ Deck Café, Gather Executive Chef, Ran Kimelfeld, and Frank Fawkner of EXP (recently crowned Australia’s Regional Restaurant of the Year) creating a four-course meal with canapes celebrating the best local produce and wines.

Priced $149 per person, the dinner will also include sparkling wine and canapés on arrival. The menu and further details are available here.

Rydges Resort Hunter Valley has special Festival accommodation packages available for the Friday and Saturday nights.

The Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival is presented by the owners of GABS (Greatest Australian Beer Spectapular), Schwartz Events,

All bookings and further information: www.huntervalleywinefestival.com