Sabor's Sweet Spring Awakening
As the vines at Lam Bloch Estate show the signs of 'budburst' - the arrival of spring leaves on the vines, Sabor in the Hunter Dessert Bar is shaking off winter and settling into its favourite season.
There's something fitting about a dessert bar built into a working vineyard: the terrace fills with warmer light, the sliding doors roll back to catch the breeze, and the view across ten hectares of vines to the Brokenback Mountain Range turns from bare canes to soft new growth almost overnight.
New owners Bunty and Ram have spent their first months settling into a business with, in their words, "an extraordinary reputation" – and they haven't tampered with what made it famous. The multi-award-winning Portuguese chocolate mousse remains the drawcard, sitting alongside more than 60 handcrafted desserts made fresh to order and served whole, never by the slice. Eight varieties of Belgian waffles, gourmet ice cream, decadent cakes and pastries, and a wall of handmade chocolates round out a menu built for lingering over rather than rushing through.
Spring is also when Sabor's newer additions come into their own. Indulgent cheesecakes and cheese plates have joined the board, alongside dipping plates designed for sharing – one version for the adults, a milder one for the kids – which suit the lighter, later afternoons that spring brings back to the Hunter. A rotating list of seasonal creative specials means the menu shifts with the produce, so it's worth asking what's new each visit. Gluten-free options run right through the range, so no one at the table needs to sit out.
To drink, there's barista-made Glinelli coffee, a well-chosen list of local wines and ports, ciders, and a growing run of shakes and iced drinks – the last of which start to make a lot more sense as the weather warms.
The private function room and verandah are also worth knowing about for anyone planning a birthday, baby shower or bridal celebration this spring, with gift certificates available for those who'd rather give the experience than choose for someone else.
Sabor is open seven days at 2342 Broke Road, Pokolbin, sharing its building with the Pokolbin Cider House. It's an easy stop between vineyards, and an even easier place to lose an hour. Details and bookings at www.sabordessertbar.com.au.
