Lovedale, which is widely known as the `Heart of the Hunter Valley` is situated east of the Pokolbin District in the hunter Valley Wine Region in New South Wales. Lovedale is located about 160 km north-west of Sydney and is renowned internationally for its fine boutique wines. The first vineyards were established and wines produced in Lovedale in the early 1800s. Many of the farmer who originally focused on wheat, grain, grazing and other enterprises switched to growing grapes and the area has expanded to become on of the major Wine Sub-Regions in the Hunter Valley. Lovedale has a friendly community and has a lovely range of quality guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, cellar door outlets for boutique wineries, quality cafes and restaurants, arts and crafts galleries. Lovedale has a wide range
of tourist and recreational facilities and visitors enjoy winery tours, horse riding, bush walking, bike riding, riding in hot air balloons, golf, and adventure trips. The main tourist event is the annual `Lovedale Long Lunch`, which brings thousands of visitors to the area every year to taste the food and wines that make Lovedale famous. Many local wineries organise their own events such as Country Music in the Vines, Olive oil tastings, String Quartet in the Vines and home-made pasta and other cooking classes. Some of the other attractions, activities and events in the Lovedale area include: Jazz in the Winery, held in November and the Harvest Festival held in March and April.