Alessandro Wine and Food Pairing
The Alessandro Wine and Food Pairing is a leisurely seated food and wine experience at Saddlers Creek Wines in Pokolbin. Six Alessandro Reserve wines, each matched to a plate from our Venetian-trained chef, served in the warm of the Barrel Room. It is the Laureti family way of eating, good food and good wine together, made into an afternoon.
Wed to Sat from Wednesday 8 July 2026, 12:00pm
Barrel Room, Saddlers Creek Wines, Pokolbin
Six-course wine and food pairing, six Alessandro Reserve wines matched plate by plate
What's included
Saddler's Creek top tier wines.
Six small plates, each built for the wine beside it.
Seated, atmospheric, unhurried.
Who this is for
- Wine lovers who want a sit-down pairing, not a quick flight
- Anyone curious about the Alessandro Reserve range and what Italian heritage brings to a Hunter Valley wine
- Couples, friends, and small groups looking for a slow winter afternoon in Pokolbin
- No wine knowledge needed. Come curious.
A winter afternoon at the cellar door in Pokolbin
Winter is the season for this. Smaller crowds, a warm room, and time to actually sit with what is in the glass. The Alessandro Wine and Food Pairing gives you a reason to slow down, the kind of long, easy afternoon the Laureti family built this place for.
Six Alessandro wines, six plates from Chef Chiero
You move through six courses, white to red. Each wine is poured beside a dish designed for it, and your host walks you through why the match works. Chef Chiero is Venetian-trained, and the menu is Italian at its core, the same kitchen behind Mangia at Saddler's.
What is the Alessandro wine and food pairing?
It is a guided six-course experience where each Alessandro Reserve wine is served with a small plate built to match it. You taste the wine, then the food, then the two together, and feel how each one lifts the other.
The menu
Menu subject to seasonal changes.
What is on at the Hunter Valley this winter
The Alessandro Wine and Food Pairing runs Wednesday to Saturday from 8 July through August, so it sits right in the middle of a Hunter Valley winter weekend. Pair it with a fireside afternoon, a walk through Pokolbin, and the quiet that the cold season brings to wine country.
Getting to Saddlers Creek in Pokolbin
Saddlers Creek Wines is in Pokolbin, in the heart of the Hunter Valley, about two hours from Sydney and forty minutes from Newcastle Airport. There is parking on site, and taxis and Ubers are available locally if you would rather not drive. The pairing is held in the Barrel Room, so it runs warm and dry whatever the weather.
Booking closes the day before. Secure your spot early.
Alessandro Wine and Food Pairing FAQs
How long does the wine and food pairing go for?
About 90 minutes. You are guided through six wines and six plates at an easy pace, with time to talk between courses. It is a sit-down leisurely experience, full of story telling, so give yourself the afternoon.
How far is Saddlers Creek from Sydney?
About two hours by car from Sydney, and forty minutes from Newcastle Airport. We are in Pokolbin, in the heart of the Hunter Valley. There is parking on site, and taxis and Ubers run locally.
Do I need to book ahead?
Yes, please book ahead. Each session holds up to 20 guests and the Barrel Room fills, especially on weekends in winter. Booking closes the day before, so secure your spot early rather than risk a sold-out session.
What is on at the Hunter Valley this winter?
Plenty. Winter is one of the best times to visit, with smaller crowds and fireside afternoons. The Alessandro Wine and Food Pairing runs Wednesday to Saturday through July and August, an easy centrepiece for a winter weekend in Pokolbin.
Make a weekend of it at Saddlers Creek. On Friday evenings, Friday Wine and Chill brings live music to the cellar door — grab a glass, find a spot, and let the valley do the rest. On Sunday mornings, our vineyard walks take you through the vines with stories straight from the source.
And when hunger calls, Mangia is open and ready — fabulous Italian-inspired food, lovingly prepared by our own Chef Chiero. Think rustic, honest, delicious.
Three days. Three very good reasons not to rush home.
Is there a Club Equus member price?
Yes. Tickets are $75, or $65 for Club Equus members. Membership is free to join and you will receive member pricing on experiences like this one throughout the year. You can join at the cellar door or online before you book.
Is it indoors if it rains?
Yes. The pairing is held in the Barrel Room, which is indoors and warm, so the event will run whatever the weather. July and August are cold in the Hunter Valley, so bring extra layers of clothing.
Planning your visit
| Days | Wednesday to Saturday |
| Time | 12:00pm |
| Duration | About 90 minutes |
| Venue | Barrel Room, Saddlers Creek Wines, 15 Marrowbone Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320 |
| Tickets | $75 per person | Club Equus Members: $65 |
| Season | 8 July to 31 August 2026 |
| Notes | 18+ only. Book ahead. Booking closes the day before. |