174 Years of Wine Heritage: Inside the Ben Ean Estate

The words ‘ben ean’ are Scottish for “mountain of pleasure”, and the Ben Ean winery complex, formerly known as Lindemans, in the heart of picturesque Hunter Valley wine country, certainly lives up to its name!

With a cellar door that offers an extensive range of wines, including Penfolds Grange for tastings; the popular, family-friendly restaurant Baumé serving up delicious Mediterranean-inspired cuisine; the historical and astonishingly renovated Still House providing that VIP experience for tastings, dining and private events; and now the recently opened Ben Ean Patisserie serving expertly brewed coffee and a tempting array of freshly baked pastries, cakes and pies to be savoured on the terrace whilst enjoying the gorgeous views - visitors will find it hard to leave!

Under the Lindemans brand, the vineyards here have produced some of the most successful wines in Australian viticulture history. The property has been producing wine for over 174 years and is deeply connected to the history of winemaking in Australia. It got caught up in the great merger of wine brands in the latter part of the twentieth century and spent some time closed and abandoned. In 2017, Colin Peterson, patriarch of one of the great winemaking families of the Hunter, approached his friend and wine industry icon Brian McGuigan with the idea of purchasing the Estate together to preserve its heritage.

“I would drive past it daily, and I just felt so sad about it,” said Colin.

“It holds significant historical importance to the growth of the Hunter Valley wine industry, and I became determined to do something about it.”

Today the property is owned by the two families (‘from our wine families to yours’), and with Savannah Peterson at the helm, they have displayed extraordinary dedication to returning the estate to its former glory and its rightful place in history. With extensive refurbishment to the cellar door, restaurant, function, Still House and winery areas over recent years and expansion of its offerings, it is a must-see destination for those visiting the Hunter.

With two such legendary wine-making families involved, the range of wines available for tasting includes the labels of each winemaking family with wines from Savannah Estate, Lisa McGuigan Wines, Weerona, Petersons Wines, Gunpowder, and the new The Still House Wines. In addition, Ben Ean is the only place in NSW where visitors to the cellar door can book a tasting of Penfolds Grange as well as other premium Penfolds wines that are also available.

The Still House, built by John McDonald in 1907 to house his distillery, has become the most sought-after destination for VIPs and those ‘in the know’ who want to enjoy private dining and tasting experiences while soaking up the extraordinary heritage of this once-humble building, where the original copper brandy still sits with a historical beauty all of its own. The shelves are stocked with old Lindeman’s and Penfolds bottles, some dating back to the 1930s, and the space is used to host private tastings and dining events that are nothing short of bucket-list experiences.

Baumé Restaurant pitches itself as the option between fine dining and pub meals and recommends the European practice of sharing dishes. Influenced by Mediterranean flavours and featuring family friendly favourites such as pizza and pasta, it’s popular with locals as well as visitors. Diners can enjoy the delicious fare on a sun-drenched terrace, sipping wine from an extensive wine list that even includes options from Colin Peterson’s cellar for those looking for something extra special. Don’t miss the hugely popular starter of Arancini of Roasted Tomatoes, Basil, and Mozzarella served with Basil Aioli or for mains, the 6-Hour Slow Braised Italian Style Lamb with Rosemary & Red Wine Jus, and for dessert you might want to try the Snickers Cheesecake or the Key Lime Pie. A Chef’s selection of three pizza specials changes daily and is ideal for the whole family.

The Ben Ean Patisserie opened in July of this year and provides a more casual café-style dining option that can be enjoyed on a terrace overlooking the vineyards and stunning views. Enjoying rave reviews since opening, diners can’t get enough of pastry chef Steven Bampton’s sweet and savoury options that include freshly baked pies (Brazilian BBQ and Chimichurri pie, anyone?), a French Vanilla Slice that is widely claimed to be one of the best in the region and an incredible range of mouth-watering cakes, classic sausage rolls, and gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions. Open seven days from 8am to 3pm, it will satisfy sweet cravings, your coffee fix or your need for a quick bite. A must-include stop on your Hunter Valley itinerary, Ben Ean is open seven days a week. For restaurant and tasting bookings and more

information about events and functions, visit www.benean.com.au