Thomas Wines — Attraction in Pokolbin

[Addition to Review] After posting this review, I received a call from Andrew Thomas, who explained that the day was unusually busy and that they were short-staffed. He also mentioned that the staff were surprised to hear how we felt and hadn’t realised the impact of their behaviour.

Whilst I acknowledge the call and his attempt to provide context, it doesn’t excuse the way we were treated — especially given the premium price we paid and the basic expectation of respectful service.

I also retract my earlier suggestion that the experience may have been racially motivated. It was, quite simply, just very poor service. 🙂

Original Review: Extremely disappointing experience. We paid $20 per person—above the usual tasting fee—expecting a quality wine tasting. Instead, we were met with disinterest and rudeness. The staff member literally walked away mid-conversation while I was speaking, which was shockingly disrespectful.

In my 30 years of living in Australia, I’ve never experienced such behaviour, especially from someone in a customer-facing role. Reading some of the other reviews, I can’t help but wonder—was this treatment because we’re not white? 🤷🏽‍♀️ Certainly...

My partner and I enjoyed a relaxed, thoughtful, and thoroughly enjoyable wine tasting at Thomas Wines. From start to finish, the whole experience felt welcoming and engaging.

Brody, who guided us through the tasting, was outstanding. His passion and knowledge about winemaking, the land, and Thomas Wines’ philosophy shone through in every interaction. He answered all our questions with a perfect balance of approachability and depth, making the experience accessible yet rich for both seasoned wine lovers and those newer to wine. Brody even generously opened some older wines for us to try, which was a thoughtful and memorable touch.

The $20 Explorer tasting was a wonderful way to explore their single-vineyard Semillon and Shiraz. The inclusion of soil samples really brought their focus on the land and sense of place to life.

The wines were beautiful, and the cellar door experience was one of the most enjoyable and well-considered I’ve had. I can say the same about my previous visit a few years ago.

I highly recommend this experience to any wine lover - especially those with a particular appreciation for...

Spent a few days in Hunter Valley with my wife recently, and the first winery we visited ended up being the best out of all of them!

Their $20 "Explore" tasting let us try wines made from grapes grown in different soils across their vineyards. The tasting menu was thoughtfully designed, making it easy to compare the different styles side by side.

On top of that, they didn’t just talk about the flavors—they shared the stories behind the wines, why they were made a certain way, and some of the new ideas they’re experimenting with. Even my wife, who isn’t into wine, was super impressed!

In comparison, other wineries felt more like straightforward tastings—more options, older vintages to try, but missing that vibe of a small group sharing a theme and diving into it together. Honestly, I haven’t experienced that kind of wine...