Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, NSW
Chemical & Pesticide Free Winemaker: Nicholas Paterson

Established in 1980 by the late David Paterson. The Château Pâto legacy lives on through son Nicholas. Raised on his family’s vineyard and winery Château Pâto in Pokolbin, Nick had no choice early on but to help his parents out with everything from pruning to labelling. His late father David Paterson, encouraged Nick to approach wine in a holistic way, firmly believing that the vineyard’s environment was the starting point of any great wine.

Nick also makes wine via contract for a small number of  local growers, however Château Pâto is the main focus. The majority of the old vines are Shiraz with smaller blocks of Chardonnay, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier and Mourvedre. Chardonnay is made in a true modern Hunter style, a little leaner but with great use of oak, and savoury Shiraz from the ‘Old Pokolbin Vineyard’ and then a limited release Reserve Shiraz from an old dry grown vineyard.

Nick’s style of winemaking has played a big part in the revival of Hunter Valley wines. Fresher expressions of the varieties, inter mixed with some elements of tradition.

The Wines that Nick is making at Château Pâto are first class stellar examples of what the Hunter is capable of. They are made in extremely limited quantities.

Wines