Calais Estate
Calais Estate
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Calais Estate is a family owned and run boutique winery in the Hunter Valley that is famous for it's great wine and hospitality. Calais is home to one of the largest ranges of boutique wines in the Valley as well as the renown Verandah Restaurant and Come What May, a vintage modern homewares store.Eat in the restaurant or one of our numerous picnic spots, ride or walk the wine eco-trail between the 6 Palmers Lane Cellar Doors, Shop and enjoy great wine all at Calais.Cellar Door is open 7 days a week, 10am-5am. Verandah Restaurant open for lunch and dinner Thursday-Sunday. Come What May is open Thursday-Sunday, 10am–5pm.
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4.5
149 reviews
Excellent
107
Very good
27
Average
7
Poor
5
Terrible
3
Extraordinary246262
16 contributions
June 2020
We have visited the Calais Estate on many occasions and have had lunch there several times. We have always found their wines exceptional and became members of their buyers club allowing us to receive wine on a regular basis which is personally delivered to our home in Sydney. The dining room and its outdoor veranda provides an intimate experience. We strongly recommend it. Paul and Catherine Tavuzzi
Written 20 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathryn M
1 contribution
Jan 2021
From the moment I walked into the cellar to the moment I left the Estate grounds, you could not wipe the smile off my face! Thank you Lana! Lana was super attentive, friendly and very knowledgeable. With just a few questions, she knew which wine was just right! Her warmth and friendliness is unparalleled. She really does go above and beyond. Hands down best customer service in the Hunter!
FYI - It is a very scenic winery and an amazing spot for a mini-photo shoot!
FYI - It is a very scenic winery and an amazing spot for a mini-photo shoot!
Written 19 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoria L
10 contributions
July 2020 • Family
Just beautiful grounds with fields for days. The sommelier was knowledgeable and really engaging. The staff allowed us to stay by the fire after they closed as we were waiting for our restaurant booking upstairs. Very boutique and a little more rustic for a very authentic feel.
Written 12 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex
Sydney, Australia172 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
One of my Hunter favourites. Great tasting session with Dave, some amazing wines on offer. We are now club members and look forward to enjoying some more amazing drops in the coming months. Highly recommended.
Written 4 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren1789
Sydney, Australia101 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
This was our first cellar door on our half day tour and nothing lived up to it! The experience, service and wine was fantastic. Lana served us and was great and exactly what you want - welcoming, knowledgeable but not pushy. This was by far the best tasting wine and cellar door experience. Will definitely be back next time we’re in town. Thank you!
Written 4 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hugary1
Sydney, Australia8,842 contributions
Oct 2020
Great winery with an excellent selection of wine. For the red person the Cab Sav is excellent as is the Chardonny.
COVID precautions are in place and you need to book in advance. Not hard to do. Staff friendly, know the wines and aim to please. No rush atmosphere. Credit card is good way to purchase.
There is a restaurant, nice outside seating and lovely open space to wander in.
COVID precautions are in place and you need to book in advance. Not hard to do. Staff friendly, know the wines and aim to please. No rush atmosphere. Credit card is good way to purchase.
There is a restaurant, nice outside seating and lovely open space to wander in.
Written 18 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ginny F
Wahroonga, Australia264 contributions
July 2020
We visited on Tuesday. They were flat out but we were able to make an appointment to visit a little later. The staff are delightful and very knowledgable about the wines. The whites are round and smooth.
Make an appointment before you visit. They are COVID-19 safe.
Make an appointment before you visit. They are COVID-19 safe.
Written 9 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Till Dwyer
Sydney, Australia27 contributions
July 2020 • Friends
I always enjoy my time at Calais. Have been visiting there for over three years now and just love the Estate. Excellent wine, beautiful people and stunning surrounds! Due to COVID regulations we took part in a seated wine tasting with matching cheese and nibbles (pre booked) and it was a wonderful experience. Can’t wait to go back again soon and hopefully get a table at the restaurant which is now under new management.
Written 27 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jtam82
15 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
i have to say, my husband and i were very disappointed by this winery. We were firstly greeted with a huff as apparently we disturbed their lunch break!
The wines were nothing to write home about. Very little interest in explaining the wines. The cheese and wine lunch basket was a complete rip off. Would certainly not return nor recommend.
The wines were nothing to write home about. Very little interest in explaining the wines. The cheese and wine lunch basket was a complete rip off. Would certainly not return nor recommend.
Written 19 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
troyyyyyy123456
Coffs Harbour, Australia1 contribution
Aug 2017 • Friends
If you have a special occasion planned, DO NOT book with Calais Estate. I had a 25th birthday lunch booked 4 weeks in advance. When myself and my group arrived, no one knew of my booking. I showed them my emails where I had booked with a 'Katrina [--]' but they informed me she had gone home sick. Five minutes later she walked through the door. She claimed she had no knowledge of my booking until I showed her the emails. I had organised for platters to be ready upon arrival as we had a wine tour schedule. They weren't ready. They were rude and unorganised. They did not try to accommodate in any way. So I told everyone to get back on the bus and we would go elsewhere. Katrina then said 'do not tell everyone that we didn't cater for you'. That was rude because they didn't. We went to HOPE Estate where they were more than accommodating. I informed them of what Calais Estate did, so HOPE Estate set up an area for us and provided lunch. HOPE estate were amazing, if not for them Calais Estate would have ruined my day!
Written 12 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It's very disappointing to read your account of these events as they are very far from the truth.
Yes you emailed in advance for your group and after discussions via email you were informed that as you only wanted to order three picnic packs that you could order these on the day in cellar door, as you had decided not to book a tasting for your group there was no need to prebook. Hence there was no advance booking for your group, you were even informed that without a booking a group your size would not be able to come into cellar door for a tasting as we would not have room. The Cellar Door is an establishment to taste and buy the Boutique wine made on the Estate, it is not a place for your group to bring their own alcohol to and drink. We do however have plenty of outside areas where customers are welcome to have a picnic however the entire property is no BYO alcohol. Even though you didn't want a tasting, as it was such a windy day the Cellar Door team tried to find a space inside that could accommodate your group. As this went on, Katrina approached your group outside (yes she was sick and was on her way home as she spotted your group drinking their own alcohol in the middle of the carpark) and when asked to please either throw it out or return it to your bus immediately you proceeded to tell your group to 'finish it first'. You also stated that you had been told you could bring your own alcohol which was completely untrue. There was some confusion over who you had been speaking to via email because you were stating that you had been told you could bring your own alcohol but this was rectified within about 10seconds of talking...it was a simple memory slip as the emails had been weeks prior to the day and you admitted at no stage had we told you you could bring your own alcohol! You were also asked to please stop holding the door open on numerous occasions as the wind was so strong it was disrupting the entire Cellar Door and you refused! You were so combative in your approach to our staff that we began talking to your group to please remove the alcohol immediately and they were all very apologetic and immediately moved to rectify the situation. You then stood at the front door of our establishment and shouted rude and quite frankly untrue statements about us and announced you were leaving. At this point almost your entire group apologised as they left and were told not worry and to please enjoy the rest of the day. As you continued to rant Katrina asked you to stop shouting things that were not true and to enjoy the rest of your day.
We are delighted to hear you enjoyed the rest of your day as we love hearing about people enjoying themselves. Clearly you had the wrong expectations when you arrived at Calais and we are sorry for this but at no stage would you have ever been welcome to bring your own alcohol and drink at our establishment. We are a boutique Cellar Door and our primary business is to sell our wine and give our customers a lovely personal experience.
Written 14 August 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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