Because, according to the Visitors Book, Ricky Ponting and his wife have stayed there more than once. The main draw for Ponting (besides the wine) must surely be the tiny cricket oval with its exquisite Ruby Pavilion nestled in the valley, but the treats don’t stop there at Wandin. Its two cottages, two villas and one studio apartment are clean, spacious and very private. You’re also only a crawl away from the swimming pool, cellar door and adjoining BelPosto for European-style lunches. Superb in every aspect. AT’s tip: the valley view from the upper balcony in the Winery Cottage (left) is worth every cent.

Completely secluded from one another, this could be the most private and luxurious boutique outfit currently operating in the Hunter. With simple exteriors and expansive verandahs, each cottage’s interior is a study in clean, simple, modern elegance. AT’s tip: sipping wine in The Ridge cottage’s corner window spa watching a Hunter thunderstorm stalk through the valley is a transcendent experience.

Hermitage has spent a lot of money recently upgrading its high-end suites.

Dazzling walls, gleaming floorboards and wide open-plan spaces make this a place of light, air and supreme comfort. Completely self-contained with two bedrooms on a 25-acre tree-studded property, the tariff includes a free bottle of wine on arrival.

Unbeknownst to most casual visitors the winery also houses (down the bottom paddock across the lake) a single, simple lodging called Wombat Cottage. Intimate, self-contained and ideal if you’re the stars of the aforesaid wedding or function, Wombat was built in 1910 and sleeps up to eight at a pinch. Polished floorboards, quite verandah, wood fireplace . . . simple, solitary bliss.

Smack bang on the corner of Wine Country Drive and Lovedale Road, it’s the first choice for large groups wanting easy access to everything in the region. The trees and gardens are flourishing apace, and there’s a fresh treatment room called Tea Tree Spa that’s the newest in the Valley.

With 17 spacious rooms and wide balconies in this relocated, restored convent. Classy on the outside with a delightful courtyard and gardens, the interior is old-school but with mod cons like iPod dock stereos etc. Tariffs include breakfast and pre-dinner drinks and canapés, but, best of all, you can walk to the superb Roberts Restaurant nearby. Or, better yet, avail yourself of the Convent’s free bicycles – just remember to appoint a designated cyclist if you’re going to imbibe.

They’re both identical, they’re both absurdly large, they both have bathrooms big enough to play table tennis in if you wanted to, and both lead out through French doors onto a sheltered decking overlooking a lovely lake and lily garden. The home is also cleverly designed so that its open-plan living area is directly in the centre, relegating the twin bedroom/bathroom “wings” to opposite ends of the building – meaning that even if you’re holidaying with another couple, there’s a true feeling of privacy to be had.