On Saturday, we had the special opportunity to visit two Hunter Valley wineries (special thanks to Mr. Kiken!). We got down to the lobby at 8:15 am to get to Hunter Valley. Hunter Valley was a three-hour bus ride up to just west of Newcastle in NSW. There, we visited Brokenwood and Scarborough.
At Brokenwood, we were first welcomed with a glass of white wine. We then got to see the removal of grape skins and the end of the fermentation process in a tour led by Senior Winemaker Stuart Hordern. Afterward, we had a group lunch consisting of fresh bread, charcuterie board, and other light fare.
After lunch, we went for a short ride to Scarborough. At the gates, we were met by viticultural consultant Liz Riley. On the bus, she introduced to us the vineyard, the history of Scarborough, and its collection of vineyards. We then went for an exclusive tour of Scarborough’s winemaking facilities and had the opportunity to drink a variety of red and white wines.
After Scarborough we went on a three hour bus ride back to Sydney, exhausted but very satisfied with our winery experience. I am very thankful for Bucknell to offer such a unique experience for study abroad.