OUR VISION
THE NIOKA STORY
In 2019, Jonno Hope, leading the 2nd generation into the Hope family business, decided to branch out into cattle farming as a way to utilise the spent grain from the family’s brewery.
What started as a useful hobby at Hope Estate became a serious beef business with the addition of the 530 hectare Nioka Farm, located at the foothills of the Barrington Tops in the Upper Hunter Valley.
While constantly striving to improve the genetics of the 100% Black Angus breeding program, the ideal high-country conditions provide an amazing starting point in the beef journey.
Nioka Beef Farmer, Jonno Hope.
Our cattle are grass fed on the farm until they are ready for finishing, and then transported to the pastures adjacent to Hope Estate. They are then finished on a 120-day grain fed program incorporating the spent grain from our brewery and distillery production.
After processing select prime cuts are then dry-aged in our custom made dry-ageing facility, taking our signature Nioka Beef to the next level.
"We take pride in producing premium Angus cattle that possess superior genetics and traits. When you choose Nioka Angus Cattle, you can be confident that you are getting the very best."
OUR VISION
OUR FARM TO TABLE PHILOSOPHY
Farm to Table Philosophy is all about ensuring every step your food has taken between being in the ground and on the hoof, to your dining table is carefully monitored, to ensure sustainable practices and that the food is kept as fresh and unprocessed as possible.
We have worked with farm gate producers to provide us with the best local ingredients. Working closely with farmers, producers and artisan crafters, we have hand-selected some of our region’s best ingredients and celebrate the abundance of beautiful produce on offer.
We follow a carcase resource maximisation strategy driven by a commitment to honouring the whole animal ensuring that everything is utilised. Since premium beef cuts and the best steaks only accounting for 7.5% of the beef carcase, there are a range of lesser-known nugget cuts of beef that have incredible flavour and can be used to create a range of truly special dishes. We believe that these cuts should be celebrated and enjoyed.
Artisan butchery techniques are focused on maximising the range of cuts harvested from each animal with the result of this process, a true farm to table philosophy. As a chef, being able to control the total process from farm to table to create the perfect steak has been a long-term goal and labour of love.