The Muswellbrook region, situated in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales, is known for its flourishing wine industry, benefiting from a sub-tropical, wet climate with high humidity and abundant rainfall during the growing season. This area boasts diverse soil types, such as black silty loam over alkaline clay loam and volcanic basalt, which contribute to the region's terroir.
Significant wine production takes place in Muswellbrook, with over 6,000 hectares of vines producing more than 39 million liters of wine destined for approximately 50 countries. The prevalent grape varieties grown in Muswellbrook include Semillon, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Shiraz, Cabernet, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Semillon, and Riesling, with Hunter Valley Semillon and Shiraz standing out as notable expressions of the region's terroir.
The Upper Hunter Geographic Indication sub-region, which encompasses viticulture in the Upper Hunter including Muswellbrook, features larger vineyards near Muswellbrook that offer a more rural and laid-back wine experience compared to the compact vineyards and diverse wine activities closer to Pokolbin and Lower Belford.
Muswellbrook is recognized for consistently producing premier, award-winning wines, prioritizing quality over quantity and maintaining heritage plant stocks of international importance. The region's warm and humid climate, occasional rainfall during harvest, and moderating factors like cloud cover and sea breezes enable the cultivation of a wide range of grape varietals, resulting in distinctive wines highly esteemed both locally and globally.