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About half of all vine plantings in McLaren Vale is Shiraz. To me, that sounds like we have to up our daily intake of Shiraz, to help the wonderful folks of McLaren Vale and ensure that all their hard work is appreciated and not gone to waste.
The other main stays are Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Chardonnay. Of course will you find some other grape varieties, but that is the fun when exploring a wine region.
There is a great range of wineries to visit from the very swanky to the chilled out rustic style. Keep an eye out for the Scarce Earth wines where wineries are encouraged to release a Shiraz from a single block, to see what influences and unique flavours show up in the wine.
Apart from international acclaimed wines and some excellent cellar doors with passionate staff, you will find just down the road there are some great beaches that will you leave you torn.
Do we spend an extra hour on the beach and miss out on an hour of wine tasting, or do we go straight to the cellar doors now?
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Alpha Box & Dice
Location: LOT 8 Olivers Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Daily, Mon - Thurs 11am - 4pm, Fri - Sun 10am - 5pmThrow out all your ideas out the window on how you imagine a cellar door should be, because this is nothing like you have ever seen before. It’s a bit like the cool g...read more
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Angove
Location: 117 Chalk Hill Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Opens: Daily 10am - 5pmFacilities:
Battle of Bosworth
Location: 92 Gaffney Rd, Willunga SA
Open: Daily 10am - 5pmThe tree lined drive leads to a smaller cellar door. An outdoor paved area with a couple of tables looks out to the tall gums with the vineyard just beyond. Two range...read more
Brick Kiln
Location: McMurtrie Rd The cellar door is located at Red Poles Restaurant and Gallery SA
Opens: Wed - Sun 11am - 4pmFacilities:
Chapel Hill
Location: 1 Chapel Hill Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Daily 10am - 5pmChapel Hill is a lovely setup situated on a ridge with wonderful views to their “Retreat” accommodation. The cellar door is inside a 19th century stone church and c...read more
Features: Produce store & cooking classes
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Coriole
Location: Chaffeys Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Mon - Fri 10am – 5pm, Sat - Sun 11am - 5pmLovely provincial cottage and gardens. Apart from some wonderful wines on offer at the cellar door there is the chance to sample and purchase some of their wonderful ch...read more
Features: Produce store
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d’Arrenberg
Location: Osborn Road, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Daily 10am - 5pmIf you love fine reds then this winery perched on top of a hill will make you think your in heaven. There are many blends and styles to try. The cellar door has a great...read more
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Foggo
Location: Foggos Road, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Mon - Fri 10:30am – 4:30pm, Sat - Sun 11am - 5pmI called this the Aladdin’s cave. Not much from the outside but once you enter you will find so many gems that you will think you have hit the jackpot. The winemaker ...read more
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Fox Creek
Location: Malpas Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Daily 10am - 5pmFollow the long drive up to the cute cellar door with a beautiful lawn area surrounded by gardens and the vineyard just yonder. Pieces of art and sculptures scattered t...read more
Features: Art & sculptures around the grounds
Gemtree
Location: 184 Mains Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Mon - Fri 11am – 4pm, Sat - Sun 11am - 5pmA nice little modern cellar door that sits slightly elevated with an undercover deck that looks out to the vines below. With just shy of ten wines on offer we begin wit...read more
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Geoff Merrill
Location: 291 Pimpala Rd, Woodcroft
Opens: Daily, Mon - Fri 10am - 4:30pm, Sat - Sun, miday - 4:30pm, closed public holidays
Goodieson Brewery
Location: 194 Sands Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Daily 11am – 5:30pmA great microbrewery that does wonders for your palate after all that wine tasting. An outdoor area shaded by gums and views as good as any winery cellar door look out ...read more
Graham Stevens
Location: Ingoldby Rd, Mclaren Flat SA
Opens: Daily 10:30am - 4:30pm
Hugh Hamilton Wines
Location: McMurtrie Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Daily 11am – 5pmThe round cellar door sits elevated above the vines with a black sheep greeting you half way. Inside the tasting bar sits in the middle of the room with floor to ceilin...read more
Hugo Wines
Location: 246 Elliot Rd, McLaren Flat SA
Opens: Daily, Mon - Fri 9:30am - 5pm, Sat 12pm - 5pm, Sun 10:30am - 5pm
Kangarilla Road
Location: Hamilton Rd, McLaren Flat SA
Open: Mon - Fri 9am – 5pm, Sat - Sun 11am – 5pmSometimes a wine touring schedule can be tight and a trip to Kangarilla Road only happened because we approached the turn off for the winery and thought why the hell no...read more
Features: Bocce court
Lazy Ballerina
Location: 1152 Brookman Rd, Dingabledinga SA
Opens: Fri - Sun & public holidays 11am - 5pm. Appointment other timesFacilities:
Lloyd Brothers Wine & Olive Company
Location: 34 Warner's Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Opens: Daily 11am - 5pm
Maximus
Location: 197 Foggo Rd, McLaren Flat SA
Opens: Sat - Sun 11am - 4pm. By appointment during the weekFacilities:
Maxwell
Location: Crn of Olivers & Chalk Hill Roads, McLaren Vale SA
Opens: Daily 10am - 5pmFacilities:
Minko
Location: 13 High Street, Willunga SA
Opens: Wed - Sun 11am - 5pm, Sat 9:30am - 5pm
Mitolo
Location: 67 Branson Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Fri - Sun 11am – 5pmThe cellar door is modern and takes up one half of a room with the other being used for food workshops like a cheese making day. We are greeted with a smile by the ce...read more
Features: Food & wine workshops
Oliver’s Taranga
Location: 246 Seaview Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Daily 10am - 4pmCute cellar door that is housed in a restored 1850′s workers cottage with an extension that blends the old and the new together nicely. Several rooms run off the tast...read more
Features: Structured tastings can be booked for the museum or limited edition wines
Oxenberry Farm
Location: 26 - 28 Kangarilla Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Opens: Daily 10am - 5pmFacilities:
Parri Estate
Location: Ingoldby Rd, McLaren Flat SA
Open: Sat - Sun & public holidaysGreat little modern setup in McLaren Flat with fantastic panoramic views of the vineyard and gumtrees lining the estate boundaries. Comfy couches and an open fire place...read more
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Paxton
Location: Lot 100, Wheaton Road, McLaren Vale SA
Opens: Daily 10am - 5pmFacilities:
Penny’s Hill
Location: Main Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Daily 10am - 5pmPast the homestead that can be rented out and sleeps up to eight people, is a great sized outdoor area with a bocce court, a chook palace complete with rose bushes, scu...read more
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Primo Estate
Location: McMurtrie Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Daily 11am – 4pmThis very cool cellar door with its olive trees planted against the stark outside walls hides a real gem inside. An enclosed courtyard greets you once you enter what se...read more
Features: Local produce for purchase
Rosemount Estate
Location: 114 Chaffeys Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 11am - 5pmI must admit I was not terribly excited about the prospect of visiting Rosemount Estate after visiting so many other great wineries and cellar doors in McLaren Vale and...read more
Samuel’s Gorge
Location: Lot 10, Cnr Chaffeys Rd & Chapel Hill Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Daily, 11am - 5pm no groups over 8 peoplePast the lavender plants this small cottage setup has wonderful views across to the national park. Inside it’s a bit museum and a bit like a room that time forgot wi...read more
Features: Coffee machine
Scarpantoni Estate
Location: Scarpantoni Drive, McLaren Flat SA
Opens: Daily, Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat - Sun 11am - 5pm
Serafino
Location: Kangarilla Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Opens: Daily, 10am - 4:30pmFacilities:
Settlement Wines
Location: Lot 101 Seaview Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Opens: Daily, Mon - Fri 10am - 5pm, Sat - Sun 11am - 5pm
Shingleback
Location: 3 Stump Hill Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Opens: Daily, 10am - 5pm
Shottesbrooke
Location: Bagshaws Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Opens: Daily, Mon - Fri 10:30am - 4:30pm, Sat - Sun & public holidays 11am - 5pm
Tapestry
Location: Olivers Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Daily 11am – 5pmWe had a great time at Tapestry that was greatly influenced by the fun loving girls behind the bar. This casual approach was not a guise to cover a lack of knowledge on...read more
Features: Picnic area & BBQ hire
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Ulithorne
Location: The Mill at Middleton 29 Mill Tce, McLaren Vale SA
Opens: Sat - Sun & public holidays 10am - 4pm
Wirra Wirra
Location: McMurtrie Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Open: Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 11am - 5pmThe entrance to this winery is flanked by the largest post and rail fence I have seen (made by a giant lumberjack I am sure). The big things don’t stop there. In the ...read more
Features: Private tastings
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Woodstock
Location: Douglas Gully Rd, McLaren Flat SA
Opens: Daily, 10am - 5pmFacilities:
Yangarra
Location: 809 McLaren Flat Rd, Kangarilla SA
Open: Daily 10am - 5pmSome wineries have wonderful surrounds and views, some beautifully architecturally designed cellar doors, while others offer unusual grape varieties to taste that are m...read more
Features: Behind the scenes tour