She does her research...

Pre-trip internet research showed me that being headquartered in Sydney would easily allow for a visit to the Hunter Valley -- Australia's oldest wine-making region, an area about two hours and 81 miles away. Home to over 65 small wineries, this area seemed like the perfect spot for my education to begin. I couldn't believe my good fortune when I learned that Hunter Resort Country Estate ran a program called, The Hunter Valley Wine School (Fees: A$30.00 per person). Their two-hour very informal "total wine experience" promised not only to be great fun but to better prepare me to sample wines at cellar doors (wineries) in the area. And, for this solo traveller there was yet another bonus -- I could look forward to meeting up with other like-minded visitors from all over the world.

Seven others join her at Wine School...

When I arrived at the resort and checked-in for the course, there were seven other casually dressed tourists already assembled -- a young backpacking couple from Hong Kong, an older couple from Europe, two men from Chicago and a single woman from New York City. We chatted about being able to learn about the wine-making process at a winery reputed to be one of the most advanced in the area. At Hunter Resort Country Estate they crush in the vicinity of 6,500 tonnes of grapes each year and their facility has a stainless steel storage capacity for an incredible six million liters of wine.

Bright sun and clear blue sky...

Under an extremely powerful Aussie sun, classes started in the vineyard promptly at 9:00 AM. (prospective students would be wise to carry bottled water, a wide-brimmed sun hat and lots of sunscreen). We learned about growing conditions in the region and that grapes were cultivated there for the first time in 1824. Our instructor informed us that vines can live and produce for up to 146 years and he showed us examples of some of his "elders." (Considering my wine preference, I took extra special note of the 32 year old Shiraz-producing vine). I remember noticing the bright blue sky that day and thinking how interesting the information being offered was. Those facts along with the image of a sun drenched vineyard remain indelibly etched in my collection of wonderful travel memories.

She wears a bright yellow hard hat...

For the next part of the tour students were asked to don bright yellow hard hats and we were directed to the interior area where giant machines roared -- de-stemming truckloads of grapes and splitting the fruit to release the juices. Next came the enormous vats, the Potter Tanks, the infiltration equipment and the Cask Hall where the final maturation process takes place. Each step was carefully explained and all our questions about the industry (no matter how elementary) were respectfully answered. I learned that red wine production is more expensive than white because of the longer, slower process it undergoes, that wine bottle corks are made from Portugal's cork trees, and that wines are best stored at a consistent temperature of 18-21 degrees Celsius.