At a glance
- What
- Weekly and one-off Hunter Valley weekend events with official dates on the Hunter Valley Wine Country calendar: Friday sundowners, two weekly markets, a tribute gig, a golf day and a winery picking day
- When
- Fridays 13, 20 and 27 Nov (sundowners 4pm to 8pm); Saturday markets 9am to 2pm; Sunday markets 8am to 2pm; Sat 14 Nov (CCR tribute, 9pm); Mon 16 Nov (golf day); Sat 5 Dec (Winmark lunch); Sat 23 Jan 2027 (Picking Day)
- Where
- Rothbury, Pokolbin, North Rothbury and Broke
- Cost
- Sundowners and markets show no entry price on the listings; the CCR tribute is $39.55; the golf day is $149 for visitors; Picking Day is $90 to $220 (as of 9 November 2026)
- Who it’s for
- Hunter and Newcastle locals and visitors planning a relaxed weekend in wine country
- What to do now
- Book the CCR tribute through Oztix, the golf day through The Vintage and Picking Day through Glandore; sundowners need no booking, according to the listing
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against the Hunter Valley Wine Country event listings
- Not yet confirmed
- Entry prices for the markets, the sundowners line-ups after 27 November, and seat or ticket availability for the ticketed events
If you want a Hunter Valley weekend that needs no big ticket, three things run on repeat: Friday sundowners at John Wallace Wines in Rothbury on 13, 20 and 27 November, a Saturday market at Sobels Wines and a Sunday market on Hermitage Road. On top of those, the official calendar has a Creedence Clearwater tribute night on 14 November, a championship-course golf day on 16 November, a monthly winery lunch on 5 December and Glandore Picking Day on 23 January 2027.
Everything below comes from Hunter Valley Wine Country event listings read on Monday 9 November 2026. Times are New South Wales local time (AEDT, UTC+11).
What is on, day by day?
| When | Event | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 13 Nov, 4pm to 8pm | Friday Sundowners (Pat McMahon, Sando Man) | John Wallace Wines, 168 Palmers Lane, Rothbury | No booking needed |
| Fridays, 4:30pm to 8pm | Friday Night Wine & Chill | Saddler’s Creek Wines, 15 Marrowbone Road, Pokolbin | Booking link on listing |
| Sat 14 Nov, 9pm | The Creedence Clearwater Experience | The Huntlee Tavern, 3 Empire St, North Rothbury | $39.55 |
| Every Saturday, 9am to 2pm | Handmade in the Hunter Markets | Sobels Wines, 5 Halls Road, Pokolbin | Not stated |
| Every Sunday, 8am to 2pm | Pokolbin Market | 691 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin | Not stated |
| Mon 16 Nov, all day | The Vintage Black Tee Challenge | Vintage Drive, Pokolbin | Visitors $149 |
| Fri 20 Nov, 4pm to 8pm | Friday Sundowners (Kylie Jane, Japanese Soul Table) | John Wallace Wines | No booking needed |
| Fri 27 Nov, 4pm to 8pm | Friday Sundowners (Isabella McGavin, Soph’s Dumplings) | John Wallace Wines | No booking needed |
| Sat 5 Dec, 12pm to 3pm | Winmark First Saturday Lunch | Winmark Wines, 229 Wollombi Road, Broke | Bookings recommended |
| Sat 23 Jan 2027 | Glandore Picking Day | Glandore Estate Wines, 1595 Broke Road, Pokolbin | $90 to $220 |
What are the Friday sundowners?
Friday Sundowners at John Wallace Wines run from 4pm to 8pm on 13, 20 and 27 November. The listings describe live music, local food and cold beers from Good Folk Brewery, with vineyard views.
| Date | Live music | Food |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 13 Nov | Pat McMahon | Sando Man |
| Fri 20 Nov | Kylie Jane | Japanese Soul Table |
| Fri 27 Nov | Isabella McGavin | Soph’s Dumplings |
The 13 November listing says “No bookings, no fuss”: you rock up, grab a seat and stay as long as you like. The venue’s email address is hello@johnwallacewines.com.au and its website is johnwallacewines.com.au.
If you would rather book, Saddler’s Creek Wines in Pokolbin lists a Friday Night Wine & Chill from 4:30pm to 8pm with wine, food and music. The listing says its cellar door is open until 8:30pm each Friday and gives 02 4991 1770 for same-day bookings.
Where are the weekend markets?
Saturday: the Handmade in the Hunter Markets run every Saturday from 9am to 2pm at Sobels Wines, 5 Halls Road, Pokolbin, with a listing period to 27 March 2027. The listing says the aim is to showcase makers and creators and that no two stalls are the same. The organiser’s email is admin@handmadehuntermarkets.com.au.
Sunday: the Pokolbin Market runs every Sunday from 8am to 2pm at 691 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin, and the listing period runs to 20 June 2027. The listing describes stalls with candles, jewellery, woodwork and art, fresh produce, jams and baked goods, coffee and street food, live acoustic music, and children’s entertainment such as face painting and jumping castles. Its phone number is (02) 9999 2226.
Neither listing states an entry price. If you want a Maitland-side market, see our Maitland and Morpeth guide for the Homegrown Markets on 13 December.
What is the CCR tribute night on 14 November?
The Creedence Clearwater Experience plays The Huntlee Tavern, 3 Empire Street, North Rothbury, on Saturday 14 November at 9pm. Tickets are $39.55 through Oztix. The listing describes a high-energy tribute to the songs of Creedence Clearwater Revival, naming “Proud Mary”, “Bad Moon Rising”, “Fortunate Son” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”. The venue’s email address is info@huntleetavern.com.au.
Can I play the NSW Open course?
On Monday 16 November, following the 2026 Ford NSW Open, The Vintage in Pokolbin runs the Black Tee Challenge. The listing says the course stays tournament-ready, so you play the same tees, pin positions and conditions the professionals faced in the final round, and a golfer who plays to their official handicap from the back tees wins a dozen golf balls. Entry is $149 for visitors, $49 for members and $109 for a member’s guest. Bookings go through The Vintage’s online times page, and the phone number is (02) 4998 2610. For the tournament itself, see our NSW Golf Open guide.
What about the monthly lunch and Picking Day?
Winmark Wines in Broke hosts a First Saturday Lunch, a pop-up restaurant catered by Sea Salt & Sage that celebrates Chardonnay with live music. Bookings run from 12pm to 3pm, and the listing says tastings and the gallery are open 10am to 5pm. The listing period ends on Saturday 5 December, the first Saturday of December, and says bookings are highly recommended. The event email is events@winmarkwines.com.au.
Glandore Picking Day is on Saturday 23 January 2027 at Glandore Estate Wines, 1595 Broke Road, Pokolbin. The listing calls it a day of picking, stomping, sipping and eating, and a highlight for the winery’s Cellarhand members. Tickets are listed from $90 to $220 through a Rezdy booking page. The winery’s phone number is 02 4998 7140 and its email address is info@glandorewines.com.
How could I fit it into one weekend?
The listed times line up into a simple plan for the weekend of 13 to 15 November. On Friday 13 November, John Wallace Wines at Rothbury opens its sundowners from 4pm to 8pm, and Saddler’s Creek in Pokolbin runs its Friday night from 4:30pm. On Saturday 14 November the Handmade in the Hunter Markets run from 9am to 2pm at Sobels Wines, and the Creedence tribute starts at 9pm at The Huntlee Tavern in North Rothbury. On Sunday 15 November the Pokolbin Market on Hermitage Road runs from 8am to 2pm. On Monday 16 November, golfers can take the Black Tee Challenge.
The listings do not give driving times between venues or say whether parking is free, so check with each venue. For Maitland-side plans on the same weekend, our Maitland weekend guide covers Street Eats, the True Crime Tour and the Morpeth cruise.
Sources
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Friday Sundowners @ John Wallace Wines, 13 November (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Friday Sundowners, 20 November (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Friday Sundowners, 27 November (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Friday Night Wine & Chill @ Saddlers Creek (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Handmade in the Hunter Markets (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Pokolbin Market (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — The Creedence Clearwater Experience (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — The Vintage Black Tee Challenge (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Winmark First Saturday Lunch (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — 2027 Glandore Picking Day (read 9 November 2026)
Photos: Hunter Valley scenery by Batsv, SirDublin and thinkrorbot, and the sign at Hunter Valley Gardens by CassieShepherd, all on Wikimedia Commons. The photos show the region in general, not the events (text added).
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Hunter Valley Wine Country or the event organisers. Dates and details can change; check with the organiser before you go.