Wine house reimagined

A familiar Hunter Valley name has entered a new chapter, with Wine House Hunter Valley now under the ownership of husband-and-wife duo Matthew and Kylie White.

Originally founded in 1987 as the Small Winemaker Centre, Wine House has long offered something a little different in the heart of wine country. Now, Matthew and Kylie are bringing fresh energy to the much-loved destination, creating a home for more than 20 independent and iconic Hunter Valley wine brands under one roof.

Between them, the pair bring decades of experience across wine buying, retail and marketing. Matthew’s career has included senior buying roles with Oddbins in the UK, The Wine Society, Woolworths Liquor and, most recently, Wine Selectors, while Kylie has spent years working alongside Hunter Valley producers through her specialist wine marketing consultancy.

Their vision is simple: make it easier to discover the extraordinary breadth of wine being produced across the region, particularly from smaller labels without cellar doors of their own.

Among them is Silkman Wines, led by acclaimed winemaker Liz Silkman. Despite becoming one of the Hunter’s most celebrated producers, Silkman has never had a dedicated cellar door, making Wine House an important new place for visitors to experience the label.

“I’ve spent years telling people how good these small producer Hunter wines are and often having to explain there’s nowhere to actually taste them,” says Kylie White. “That’s the piece that’s been missing for brands like Silkman and many of the newer emerging wine brands who are making some of the region’s most awesome wines. Wine House closes that loop.”

Visitors can explore a hand-selected collection featuring established Hunter names alongside emerging producers, with Silkman, Riggs & Wiggs, Thomas, Tyrrell’s, Brokenwood, De Iuliis, Mercer, Mount Pleasant, Margan and more currently represented.

For Matthew, the opportunity to bring such a varied collection together is at the heart of Wine House’s next chapter.

“Every wine on our tasting list is here because I’ve personally tasted it and rate it,” he says.

The experience extends well beyond the tasting bench. More than 35 local wines are available by the glass and over 100 by the bottle, giving guests the freedom to settle in with a favourite drop, a plate of food or coffee from local sustainable roaster Sprocket.

Its relaxed, family-friendly setting also encourages visitors to linger, with lawn space for children while parents enjoy an unhurried introduction to the region’s wines.

Wine House is also making it easier to take those discoveries home. Wines from multiple independent producers can be combined into a single mixed case and shipped together, removing the need to organise separate orders and delivery costs from individual wineries.

And there is more to come. A collaboration with Hunter Valley young-gun collective Valley Rising is set to introduce another 12 brands to the Wine House line-up, providing an even greater platform for emerging local winemakers.

With its 40th anniversary approaching in 2027, Wine House is returning to the philosophy that has shaped it from the beginning: championing independent producers, encouraging discovery and offering wine lovers the chance to experience more of the Hunter Valley in one place.

Under Matthew and Kylie White, that legacy is being given a fresh new energy, one glass at a time.