Hello and welcome!

A view if the Hunter Valley

Hello and welcome to The Sipp.

My name is James and I guess I’ll be your host while you’re here.

My journey into wine is relatively young compared to many, but like everyone that has travelled this path before me and everyone that will travel it after, we all started from the same place, which is knowing a whole lot about not very much at all!

In 2022 my wife and I bought 25 incredible acres of land in the Hunter Valley.  For those visiting from a little further afield, the Hunter Valley is where Australian wine first took root.  It’s a hotbed of creativity, blending long held tradition with subtle but welcomed innovation.  It’s home to world class Shiraz, Semillon and Chardonnay, classic regional blends like Cabernet Shiraz, the many fortifieds that the Hunter was once known and fresh faces like Gewurztraminer and Riesling.

We’re still building our forever home on the 25, but we aren’t too far from the finish line and once we’ve crossed it we won’t be looking back!

As we’ve spent more and more time in The Valley (as the locals call it) our love of and appreciation of great wine has steadily grown.  So much so that in January 2023 my wife and I completed our WSET Level 1 Award in Wine.  It was a fabulous experience and really lifted the lid on how great wine is made and the incredible diversity and artistry that goes into every drop of the good stuff.

My passion for wine has continued to grow and I’m about to start my WSET Level 2 Award in Wine.  A 9 week course that will take me deeper into this fascinating world and I’m sure it will only fuel my obsession!

Be sure to check back or search for WSET L2 to see how it went and if I passed!

So that’s a little about me.  What about The Sipp.  Well as mentioned, the Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region and it’s home to over 150 wineries and many more incredible talented vignerons.  As a local and lover of wine I want to share the abundance this part of our country offers and if in the process I can help you find a great bottle of wine (or dozen), enjoy one of the countless tasting experiences the Valley offers, meet one or more of the many talented winemakers that pour their heart and soul into each vintage or just make the most of your time in this part of the world then it was worth it.

Please drop by again soon.  There is always something happening in the Valley.

James