That’s the vision of Philip Hele and Bob McGuigan who hope to create a formal Alliance between Singleton Council, Cessnock Council and the Hunter Valley Wine Tourism Association.

“For too long we’ve been divided when it comes to marketing this specific region,” Mr Hele said at a recent Singleton Council meeting presentation.

“Such an alliance would help attract stronger political and funding support for the wine country region.”

Sales of all wine are a huge export market and are growing in profitability, particularly premium wines, according to studies conducted by the Hunter Research Foundation.

The pair said the Hunter Valley wine region has been marketed with seaside towns in the past and believes the two naturally don’t mix together. 

The objective is to have one marketing direction, particularly to those overseas and one booking website. 

The wine industry is concentrated in the Singleton and Cessnock LGAs with more than 150 wineries and 100 cellar doors.

The wine industry itself employs 1862 jobs and supports a further 949 jobs (total 2811). 

Wine Country accounts for six per cent of the NSW state’s area under red grapes and 7.6 per cent under white grapes, over an area of 2664 hectares, producing 38 million litres of premium wine and a direct sales value of $270 million and indirect of  around $230 million.

The concentration of cellar door outlets is a major tourist attraction, along with visitor attractions, events and activities.