Back
Australia's wines are a hot commodity throughout the country, but the Hunter Valley is in a league of its own. The oldest producing wine region, the valley is situated in New South Wales on either side of the Hunter River. When you take a medical job in Australia, make sure you come to this region to indulge in views of serene rolling vineyards and, of course, sample some delicious fine wines.
High temperatures in the summer and a decent amount of rainfall from January to April make growing conditions tricky, but when these vineyards have a good harvest, they produce some of the most famous shiraz in the Land Down Under.
Don't consider your Hunter Valley experience over after the shiraz, though. The region's Semillon is a white wine that is not as common as other chardonnay varieties across the globe, and the earlier the date on the bottle, the more you're going to enjoy your first sip of this crisp libation.
While you can hand pick which wineries to visit, some people enjoy taking a half- or full-day wine tour to get a full sampling of the Valley. Along with your walks through the vineyards, you'll get to taste some of the best soft cheeses produced on farms in this region.