Hunter Valley Wine and Beer Festival welcomes 10 breweries and 50 wineries

Brewers have jumped on the opportunity to showcase their liquid gold, with exhibitors including Sydney Brewery Hunter Valley, IronBark Hill Brewhouse, Lake Macquarie Brewing, Hope Brewery and MaltNHops.

They will join some of the region's best-known wineries including Scarborough, Drayton's and Audrey Wilkinson, along with boutique and organic vineyards such as Macquariedale Organic Wines and Tamburlaine Organic Wines.

And with breweries muscling in on the show, it was only fitting that there should be a Wine vs Beer Expression Session at the festival.

John Drayton from Drayton's Family Wines and Sydney Brewery's head brewer Scott Hayward will discuss all things wine and craft beer in the Vintage Room at 12pm and 4pm. Entry to the expression sessions will be a $2 cash donation for Rural Fire Service.

On-site tours will also be held at Sydney Brewery Hunter Valley throughout the day.

Previously known as the Hunter Valley Wine Festival, it was first held at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley in 2013, and was held annually until last year when COVID-19 forced its cancellation.

This year's festival will be held in two ticketed sessions from 11am to 2pm and 3pm to 6pm, which the organisers hope will ensure a comfortable, safe and uncrowded environment.

In between tastings, festival-goers can enjoy entertainment from well-known local musicians Max de Groot (session 1) and Jarrod Sherman (session 2), and gourmet local food

The Hunter Valley Wine and Beer Festival is a family-friendly event, with free entry for children under 18 when accompanied by an adult. A variety of kids' activities - including a jumping castle, train rides, carousel, petting zoo and face painting - will run throughout the day.

Advance purchase tickets will be available for $15 per person (booking fees apply) or $25 on the day. Tastings are available for $2 each (30ml wine, 75ml beer/cider).

For bookings and further information, visit huntervalleywinefestival.com.