Lucy's Run

Lucy's Run is nine acres of vines on Wine Country Drive, and the cellar door is a shed, which the owners are the first to point out. Shiraz, Merlot and Verdelho went in on the lower slope beside Black Creek in 1998, and the fruit goes to three well-known Hunter winemakers: David Hook, Mike De Iuliis and Nick Paterson.

Tastings are $5 a head, among the cheapest in the region, and non-redeemable, and the doors open Friday to Sunday only with bookings recommended and groups capped at eight. This is a working property rather than a family day out: children need to stay seated and supervised. Look for the blue fence and the running-dog sign about eight minutes north of the Hunter Valley Visitor Centre. It is a small, no-frills stop for people who care more about who makes the wine than the room it is poured in.