Brokenwood Wines is one of the Hunter Valley's best-loved and most awarded producers, established in 1970 on McDonalds Road in Pokolbin. Its cellar door is a relaxed, well-run operation that manages to feel welcoming rather than intimidating, with knowledgeable staff and a good range of wines across price points. The flagship Cricket Pitch Semillon and the Graveyard Shiraz are the bottles to know, but the everyday range holds up well too.
The winery also has a restaurant, The Wood at Brokenwood, which serves food designed to pair with the wines — a better option than most of the resort dining in the valley. Tastings at the cellar door are paid but the fee is reasonable and offset against any purchase. Book ahead if you are visiting on a weekend; it fills up.