Hotel Review: Spicers Guesthouse, Hunter Valley NSW, Australia

Dec 7

Driving through the Hunter Valley we see nothing but blues skies as the car zips past rows upon rows of vines, their grapes basking in the hot Australian sun. It's early January and 45° as we step out of the car and feel the gravel crunch beneath our feet on the hotel's driveway. We tread quickly towards reception covering our faces from the heat of the day into the crisp air-conditioned building. We have arrived at Spicers Guesthouse in Pokolbin, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney and part of one of Australia's oldest and most beautiful wine regions, Hunter Valley.

Food + Drink

The Hunter Valley is Australia's oldest and most well-known wine region, home to 150 vineyards and several top-quality restaurants to choose from. Arriving late afternoon we ordered a bottle of Merlot from the Talits Estate as per the bar staff's recommendation to enjoy nestled into the plush sofas on the outdoor veranda.
The hotel's restaurant éRemo offers a smaller 'Terrace' menu which can be had more casually outside so guests can enjoy the properties sweeping valley views. Our choice of vegetarian pizza, burrata, olives and tempura peppers was simple but of good quality and fresh. The perfect selection for a casual first evening dinner.

The restaurant's menu is deeply rooted with Italian inspiration and embodies the culture of long alfresco lunches with close family and friends. This is fused with a modern Australian take as the kitchen sources ingredients from local and highly reputable farms and suppliers. Expect a modest size menu with a range of meat, pasta and smaller sharing plates, my absolute favourite was the delicately fried courgette flower with smoked aioli. I loved the range of dishes available such as roasted pumpkin, sage & chilli ravioli or oven-baked Nduja scallops. Importantly the restaurant is high-end but not fine dining as they want guests to enjoy, relax and leave full and satisfied.

Undoublty one of the most extensive wine lists I have ever seen but no surprise there given the location. Offering the best of the Hunter Valley, as well as plenty of other Australian favourites such as bottles from the Adelaide Hills, Margaret River and the Yarra. If you are in the mood for something from Europe there is also a selection of quality Italian and French wines or a selection of classic cocktails and international beers. A great place to try a bottle of something you wouldn't typically drink.

Breakfast is included in the room rate and is served in a beautiful sun-filled day room. The standard of food preparation and presentation is just as high as éRemo. There is a display of continental items such as freshly baked pastries, fruits and yoghurts and each guest can order an additional item from the menu as well as fresh juices and coffees.

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**Interiors + Aesthetic**

The Spicers brand set out to create a high-end quintessential Australian stay for their guests with a clear focus on beautiful natural settings as the base of their design schemes. Originally built in 1980 the property under went a large renovation before reopening in 2018. Honouring the building's original purpose as a guest house the scheme's interior feels fresh and contemporary with neutral soft furnishings but is layered with neutral timber and stone to add depth.
This neutral scheme is consistent throughout it's communal spaces and guest rooms but is combined with a mix of textures and complementary colours to differentiate areas. The main feature of the sitting room is the sandstone which was excavated from the original site and repurposed to create a feature wall with an open fireplace. Surrounding this is a set of contemporary armchairs and sofas all in neutral tones and deep timber structure. Statement drop lights hang from the wall above and cosy throws and tastefully patterned scatter cushions rest on the sofa.

We booked into the queen room on the ground floor which was a lovely size and had direct access to the pool and an outdoor shared porch draped prettily in grape vines. The guest rooms vary in size but all follow a light, bright and neutral scheme with robes and slippers provided for a touch of comfort and luxury. In some spaces, there are custom leather armchairs to bring a small splash of character and warmth but I feel like a larger variety of colours, as seen in the sitting room, could have been used to add a more homely feel thought out the guest rooms. That is not to discredit the high spec and custom joinery and lighting from Furn-Niche which combines functional requirements with mixed finishes to add texture.