LONELY Planet's decision to exclude the Hunter Valley from its guide book to the "world's most exciting wine-touring regions" has been slammed by tourism bodies.
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The travel media company will release its-first-of-its-kind Wine Trails in October, which provides weekend-long itineraries in 52 wine regions in countries, including France, Spain, Portugal, Lebanon and Georgia.
But Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association vice president Andrew Margan has labelled the company as "out of sync" for failing to include what he said was the oldest and best-known wine region in the country.
Instead, the book's Australian component features the seven regions of Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Margaret River, Mornington Peninsula, Rutherglen, Tamar Valley and Yarra Valley.
"I'm not surprised by any of those regions being included on the list, but it's just ridiculous that we're not," Mr Margan said.
"We invented wine tourism in this country and we're the largest wine region in terms of tourists in Australia."
"Sydney is the port of entry for most international tourists - and the Hunter Valley is within two hours of the airport."
Mr Margan said the Hunter Valley also boasted the most "professionally-run tourism organisation in any wine region".
Chair of Tourism Hunter Will Creedon said the region's operators "worked pretty hard to sell packages both internationally and domestically to focus on the entire cultural element of the Hunter Valley, the wine component but also the culinary experience, providores and agriculture".
"That compounds our disappointment," Mr Creedon said.
"How can Lonely Planet not even have taken a look?"
Mr Creedon said the Hunter region received 8.9 million visitors last year, which included 2.1 million visitors to wine country.
"I'd like to know why the region was omitted," he said.
"I'll be making inquiries and do my best to ensure this glaring omission is rectified and will be putting us forward for updated editions."
Lonely Planet spokesman Chris Zeiher said Australia contained more than 60 designated wine regions, which made selecting the final seven destinations an "unenviable task".
"Our Australian inclusions range from the very well known to the less, so striking a balance between the big and the small, thereby highlighting the diversity of Australian wine-growing regions," Mr Zeiher said.
"Our selections are never based on which destinations to exclude.
"If the publication is successful and we pursue a second volume I would suggest that the Hunter Valley will be a frontrunner for inclusion."
