Last updated on September 21st, 2024 at 04:13 am
Adelaide, celebrated as Australia’s wine capital, is recognized for its exceptional wines. The city is surrounded by stunning landscapes, picturesque coastlines, and quaint towns. Embarking on wine tasting tours and visiting wineries are must-do activities when visiting this beautiful city.
McLaren Vale (A drive south of the city, taking approximately 40 minutes).
Things to Do in McLaren Vale-McLaren Vale stands out as a premier wine destination in South Australia, renowned for its red wines that thrive in the region’s warmer climate, especially varieties such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Staying near Mount Barker, we opted to visit McLaren Vale due to its shorter travel distance. During our trip, we explored three cellar doors:
- Down The Rabbit Hole Wines
- Samuel’s Gorge
- Coriole Vineyards
1.Down The Rabbit Hole Cellar Door
Down The Rabbit Hole Cellar Door provides a relaxed and laid-back ambiance, with minimal tables and chairs where visitors often opt to spread out a rug to enjoy their wines and a delightful platter of food.
You have the option to indulge in a guided wine tasting experience aboard tasting bus, or simply unwind outdoors. Live music is featured on Fridays, adding to the welcoming atmosphere.
My experience:
What particularly stands out is the food platter, which exceeded my expectations.
We ordered a cheeseboard selection for 5 people, costs $38/person
A chef selection cheeseboard with house made goodies, as well as their signature sides of arancini balls and olives, cheeses, cracker, grapes, was a highlight for me at Down The Rabbit Hole Cellar Door. I highly recommend trying it, as it ranks among the finest snack options I’ve encountered in Australia.
Enjoying a glass of wine, paired with tasting snacks, and surrounded by wonderful people in a relaxed atmosphere is truly a blessing.
Check more info at their official website here
2.Samuel’s Gorge
Samuel’s Gorge is a boutique winery specialising in small batch red wines including Grenache, Tempranillo, Graciano, Mourvèdre and Shiraz. Samuel’s Gorge, founded by winemaker Justin McNamee in 2003. Positioned on a ridge, the winery and its cellar door boast breathtaking views: to the North, the stunning expanse of the Onkaparinga River National Park, and to the South, the vast ocean.
The historic 1853 building has been preserved to retain its original character and charm.
The tasting menu featured exclusively red wines, all of exceptional quality, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The wines are of outstanding quality, clearly crafted with love and pride. The staff were knowledgeable and demonstrated a real passion for their wines. Compared to others, the cellar door and its surroundings were more intimate in size.
Enjoy glasses of wine in a beautiful setting, we are looking across with stunning view overlooking the Gorge.
There is no tasting fee involved for wine tasting at Samuel’s Gorge.
I enjoyed the Shiraz and Graciano. I bought bottle of Shiraz, cost around $45.
Check more info at their official website here
3.Coriole Vineyards
Our last visit in McLaren Vale was to Coriole Vineyards. I found myself taken by the charming vineyard and cellar door. In front of the cellar, there’s a gorgeous flower garden, complete with tables set out for visitors, surrounded by expansive, lush vineyards.
Coriole Vineyards’ cellar door, winery, and restaurant are located on the Seaview ridge in the stunning McLaren Vale region. With a rich heritage steeped in the area’s winemaking history, Coriole has gained renown for its estate-grown shiraz and cabernet varietals.
The Ironstone Cellar Door welcomes visitors to sample its wines with a $15pp tasting fee which is waived with purchase of wine.
We tried a variety of wines, including different types of reds and whites. While I think the wines didn’t stand out as much, I was captivated by the picturesque scenery. We didn’t get the chance to experience the cuisine at the Coriole Vineyards Restaurant due to our time restriction.
Coriole does not only offer wine and culinary experience but also serves as a sought-after location for various functions and events, offering banquet menus tailored for intimate gatherings.
Things to Do in McLaren Vale
Overall, my day spent discovering wine and food across three locations was fantastic. I would rank Coriole as having the best ambiance and setting, Samuel’s Gorge as offering the finest wine, and Down The Rabbit Hole Cellar Door as presenting the most impressive snack board.
Check more info at their official website here
Exploring South Australia? find out 8 best things to do in Adelaide here