Hunter Valley BBQ Cooking Classes, November 2026 to April 2027: All 15 Saturday Sessions in Pokolbin With Dates, Times and $170 to $190 Prices (NSW)

Hunter Valley Wine Country lists 15 BBQ cooking classes at 532 Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin, on seven Saturdays from 21 November 2026 to 10 April 2027. Seats cost $170 or $190 per person depending on the class, and every listing points to bbqschool.com.au for bookings.

This guide pulls the dates, times and prices from all 15 listings, which were read on Monday 9 November 2026. All times are New South Wales local time (AEDT until early April 2027, then AEST). The 10 April class falls after daylight saving ends, so check the time on your booking.

Which Saturdays have a class, and what does each cost?

Date	10:30am to 1:30pm	2pm to 5pm
Sat 21 Nov 2026	Beer & BBQ, $190	Southern BBQ Low & Slow Masterclass, $190
Sat 5 Dec 2026	BBQ Christmas Cooking Class, $170	Beer and Smoke BBQ, $190
Sat 12 Dec 2026	Beer & BBQ, $190	American Smoking BBQ, $190
Sat 23 Jan 2027	Seafood BBQ, $170	American Smoking BBQ, $190
Sat 27 Feb 2027	Middle Eastern BBQ, $170	American Smoking BBQ, $190
Sat 13 Mar 2027	Beer & BBQ, $190	Southern BBQ Low & Slow Masterclass ($190) and Beer and Smoke BBQ ($190)
Sat 10 Apr 2027	Middle Eastern BBQ, $170	Southern BBQ Low & Slow Masterclass, $190

The 13 March row lists two afternoon classes, both from 2pm to 5pm, as shown on the listings. Ask the school whether they run side by side.

Which class suits a Christmas host?

The BBQ Christmas Cooking Class on Saturday 5 December, 10:30am to 1:30pm, is the only festive class. The listing describes how to prepare and cook a three-course Christmas BBQ dinner party at home, including a glazed Christmas ham and a turkey roast with trimmings, seafood appetisers, salads and a fig and brandy Christmas pudding, all cooked on the BBQ. It adds that you get a Christmas drink on arrival and learn to set a cook plan. At $170 per person it is one of the cheaper classes, and it falls three weeks before Christmas Day.

If you would rather be served on the day, see our guide to the Christmas Lights Spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens.

What is on the menu in the smoking classes?

The American Smoking BBQ Cooking Class runs on 12 December, 23 January and 27 February, 2pm to 5pm, for $190. The listing says it covers the four main US barbecue regions (Texas, Memphis, the Carolinas and Kansas), rubs, timing and temperatures. The chef demonstrates charcoal smoking, the low-and-slow method and the Texas crutch method, and some meat is pre-smoked so you can taste the finished result.

American Smoking menu
Bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers
Smoked baby back ribs with apple bourbon BBQ sauce
Memphis-style smoked pulled pork with mop sauce and cabbage and apple slaw
Texas-style low-and-slow Bass Strait brisket
Smoked corn with jalapeno and lime butter
Spicy cinnamon and chilli chocolate brownie

The Beer and Smoke BBQ Cooking Class (5 December and 13 March, 2pm to 5pm, $190) pairs smoked meats with craft beer. The menu lists pulled hickory chicken tacos with corn and avocado salsa, smoked Bass Strait beef short ribs with bourbon porter glaze, reverse-seared beef rump with chilli salt, rocket and herb oil, and smoked potatoes with garlic, rosemary and sour cream.

What do the Middle Eastern and seafood classes cover?

The Middle Eastern BBQ Cooking Class (27 February and 10 April, 10:30am to 1:30pm, $170) teaches Lebanese, Turkish, Greek and Arab barbecue techniques, including charcoal and the shish method. The menu lists lamb and pistachio kofta with fattoush salad, buttermilk chicken shish kebab, cauliflower shawarma with tahini sauce, Greek-style butterflied lamb shoulder, baked fetta, hummus and baba ghanoush, and tabbouleh with Turkish bread.

The Seafood BBQ Cooking Class (23 January, 10:30am to 1:30pm, $170) covers preparing, marinating, cooking and serving seafood, and using a BBQ as an oven for a whole fish. Its menu lists tandoori yoghurt BBQ king prawns with banana sambal, BBQ spice-crusted squid with a citrus and fennel salad, BBQ hot-smoked salmon with honey Dijon potatoes, and BBQ whole snapper with soy, ginger and a Thai salad.

What is the Southern Low & Slow Masterclass?

The Southern BBQ Low & Slow Masterclass runs on 21 November, 13 March and 10 April, 2pm to 5pm, for $190. The listing describes it as a hands-on class about authentic Southern barbecue and the “low and slow” smoking method, with mouthwatering meats, appetisers and the classic sides. You get a cold beer and an apron on arrival, then learn rubs, sauces, temperatures, timing and troubleshooting. Along the way you graze on what you cook before sitting down to a Low & Slow BBQ feast at the end.

The listing says the chef covers equipment set-up, charcoal use and the Texas crutch method, which is the same technique the American Smoking class teaches. Both listings name that technique, so compare the two menus before you choose.

Which class should I pick?

If you want to	Class on the listings	Price
Host Christmas lunch or dinner on the BBQ	BBQ Christmas Cooking Class (5 Dec)	$170
Pair a three-course BBQ dinner with craft beer	Beer & BBQ (21 Nov, 12 Dec, 13 Mar)	$190
Learn brisket, ribs and pulled pork	American Smoking BBQ (12 Dec, 23 Jan, 27 Feb)	$190
Cook prawns, squid, salmon and whole fish	Seafood BBQ (23 Jan)	$170
Try kofta, shish kebab and shawarma	Middle Eastern BBQ (27 Feb, 10 Apr)	$170

What happens when I arrive?

For the smoking, Southern and Middle Eastern classes, the listings say you are given a cold beer and an apron on arrival and welcomed by the chefs, who explain the format and menu. In the Beer & BBQ class the focus is a three-course BBQ dinner party served with three matched tastings of premium Australian craft beer. The Southern Low & Slow Masterclass is described as hands-on, with some meats pre-smoked and others prepared from start to finish, ending in a shared feast.

After class you can browse a range of BBQ accessories, such as rubs, knives, sharpeners and hot plate liners. The listing says every BBQ or smoker bought through the school’s partners earns 50 per cent off your next cooking class, naming Oklahoma Joes, Broil King, Masterbuilt, Gasmate and Komodo Joe.

How do I book, and how do I get there?

Every listing gives the same contact details: the website bbqschool.com.au, the email address info@bbqschool.com.au and the phone number 1300227745. The venue address is 532 Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin NSW 2320. The listings do not describe parking or public transport, so this guide does not either. The listings also say places fill quickly.

Sources

• Hunter Valley Wine Country — Beer & BBQ Cooking Class, 21 November (read 9 November 2026)
• Hunter Valley Wine Country — Southern BBQ Low & Slow Masterclass, 21 November (read 9 November 2026)
• Hunter Valley Wine Country — BBQ Christmas Cooking Class, 5 December (read 9 November 2026)
• Hunter Valley Wine Country — Beer and Smoke BBQ Cooking Class, 5 December (read 9 November 2026)
• Hunter Valley Wine Country — American Smoking BBQ Cooking Class, 12 December (read 9 November 2026)
• Hunter Valley Wine Country — Seafood BBQ Cooking Class, 23 January (read 9 November 2026)
• Hunter Valley Wine Country — Middle Eastern BBQ Cooking Class, 27 February (read 9 November 2026)
• Hunter Valley Wine Country — Upcoming Events (all 15 dates; read 9 November 2026)

Photos: Hunter Valley vineyards and wineries by Batsv, SirDublin, Mike Weber and thinkrorbot, all on Wikimedia Commons. The photos show Hunter Valley scenery, not the cooking school (text added).

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Hunter Valley Wine Country or the BBQ cooking school. Dates, prices and details can change; check with the organiser before you go.