 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
Once a humble cattle farm, the forty-acre piece of land now home to Hanging Tree Wines is practically overflowing with rustic charm, rich Australian history and, of course, an exceptional variety of wines. From an incredibly pet-friendly cellar door experience to a hands-on team with vast experience in the winemaking industry and a knack for serving customers, this corner of Pokolbin in the Hunter Region of New South Wales makes for an oenophile’s paradise.
With a vast array of vineyards in the Hunter region for visitors and wine tasters to choose from, it’s difficult for any vineyard to differentiate its offering from the local competition. However, Ming Lianto, Hanging Tree’s Homestead and Events manager and also the daughter of the vineyard’s owners, believes that Hanging Tree Wines offers something truly special and unique to everyone that passes through its cellar doors.
Since she was a young girl, Ming recalls being dragged by her parents to attend horse races. Her dad, Venus, displayed a keen eye for selecting winning horses from sales, and this sport took up most of their time for about two decades. While Ming admits she didn’t understand much about the sport at the time, she remembers that dressing up and watching the races was always a fun family experience.
Roughly ten years ago, Venus and his wife, Sylvia, decided to act on their longtime passion for winemaking by purchasing the vineyard that would become Hanging Tree Wines. Since that time, this intimate family business has expanded to become a true hidden gem of the Hunter Valley. The small, boutique vineyard places customisable experiences and exceptional, small-yield varieties at the very top of its priority list, and the results speak for themselves.
Discover the Rustic Charm: Hanging Tree Wines
Perched atop one of the most picturesque ridges in Pokolbin, the team at Hanging Tree Wines doesn’t have to work hard to make their vineyard a sight to behold. The old buildings from the property’s cattle farming days are still present and have been remodelled to create a slightly more modern environment, with elements from the bygone era still preserved and incorporated into the vineyard buildings. For example, pieces of wood from the old blacksmith’s cottage and original ceiling structures from the cattle shed have been included in the updated design, and souvenirs from the cattle farm, such as horseshoes and saddles, have been incorporated into the decoration. The current cellar door actually used to be the property’s cattle shed, although the structure was little more than a leaky tin shed when the Lianto family first took over the land.
The result is a classic Australian country-style vineyard that feels both rich in history and newly updated, with modern, clean finishings. In fact, it is this very history that gave the vineyard its name: its namesake tree still stands tall near the front of the property and was once used to hang cattle as it bled out (not all history is a bed of roses, after all).
Perhaps the vineyard’s current inhabitants can make up for this grizzly past with their current policy on animals: the more, the merrier! What began as one family dog throughout Ming’s childhood has progressed into four dogs, goldfish, families of ducks and even some African guinea fowl, who parade around the property showing off to the daily guests.
Visitors are also welcome to bring their animals along to their wine tastings, and over the years, the vineyard has seen visits from guests’ dogs, birds, rabbits, and cats. This is just one example of how the team strives to become flexible and amenable to the ever-changing needs and desires of visitors to Hanging Tree Wines.
Many tasting experiences are highly structured, with fixed wine lists and a specific setting. But Ming and her family prefer to stay flexible and adapt to the preferences of each individual guest. Groups can choose exactly which wines they are interested in tasting and the setting in which they would like to taste - be that at an outdoor picnic overlooking the valley, a peaceful setup watching the property’s family of ducks swim across the pond, or indoors next to the lit fireplace. Ming states that “this choice isn’t something people are used to, and they love it”.
The team of hosts and winemakers also contribute to a unique atmosphere of friendliness, relaxation and overall playfulness, skillfully combining their expansive knowledge of wine and winemaking with a fun-loving attitude that keeps guests laughing throughout their stay.
Although she admits she was somewhat dragged into it by her parents, Ming now says that her love of wines has grown into a deep passion that makes the hard work of running a cellar door all the more worthwhile. When she was younger, she was more in favour of spirits and even dabbled in crafting her own spirits for a few years. This experience has led Ming to where she feels at home - alongside her parents, helping them guide Hanging Tree Wines from strength to strength. After all, ‘at home’ is exactly how she hopes every guest feels when they visit the vineyard.
While the setting and atmosphere contribute a great deal, at the end of the day, it’s all about the wine. The last few years have brought tumultuous times to the landscapes of Australia, and almost every one of the vintages at Hanging Tree Wines over the last few years has been produced through bouts of unpredictability.
Ming believes that one of its best vintages came from the harvest of 2019, a vintage that is still being cellared and which was used to produce a novel Blacksmith series - something the team at Hanging Tree Wines only does with exceptional vintages. The 2019 Blacksmith Shiraz Cabernet gives notes of black currant and blackberry, a vanilla cream finish and rich chocolate tannins. The name ‘Blacksmith’ is a nod to the previous landowner family, who were blacksmiths and who remain in the area, in an attempt to honour the legacy of both the land and those who farmed it.
When she’s not hiking, swimming, abseiling, gardening or exploring new and exciting outdoor activities, Ming works closely with the winemaker, Gary McLean, and other team members at the farm to curate a complimentary selection of wine and food for their cellar door guests. Almost from the beginning of the season, the team is already aware of what the flavours might be and what the season will produce. This means that the collaborative journey of ideating what might pair well with new and current varietals can begin, and it's a process that requires great knowledge and communication from all parties.
 |  |
The Future Of A Family-Run Vineyard: A World-Class Team And Natural Landscape
With a world-class team, a natural landscape to boot and all the potential a vineyard could possibly hope for, it’s worth speculating about what the future holds for this speciality family-run vineyard. While they hope to take the brand international one day, there are no current plans to do so in the works yet. Their small, tight-knit team would have to expand in order for that to happen, and the Liantos aren’t about to let go of a good thing. They do have a presence in Indonesia and China due to previously exporting to the regions, but, for now, their sights are set on more local recognition.
Ming, for one, is focused on keeping the brand essence of family and closeness infused into the ongoing cellar door experience. She’s out almost every weekend, promoting the Hanging Tree Wines name at local markets, events and festivals around the Hunter region. She hopes to increase their brand awareness in Sydney and along the central coast and east coast of New South Wales. Frequent events held at the vineyard, such as food and wine pairing lunches and dinners, as well as the Burning of the Canes - a bonfire event during which the team burns their offcuts of the season - also help to bring in new visitors and spread valuable word of mouth.
As someone who has lived in the world of both horse racing and luxury winemaking, Ming observes that both wines and horses have different personalities and qualities that one should take into account. Being a boutique, small-batch winery that hand-picks its grapes to ensure they get only the best from every harvest, the Liantos strive to highlight the unique characteristics and distinct flavours that can be captured in every bottle. At the end of the day, you can’t force a wine - or a horse - to be anything other than what it is. You simply have to work hard and try to get the best it can offer.
Hanging Tree Wines is open daily to guests from 10 am to 5 pm, and bookings are highly recommended. Inquire at https://hangingtreewines.com.au/
By Dean McHugh