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South Australia is a big place, and home to Australia's most significant wine regions. It's a bit of a
3-in-1, cheating? A perfect start to the day - a true intro to the Vale. Three producers under one roof, the full rainbow of varieties that thrive in McLaren Vale’s Mediterranean climate: from chenin to grillo, bastardo to nero, grenache to mataro; from fun to serious.
Follow the olive trees… Coriole cellar door, restaurant, and winery are set amongst some of the oldest vines in McLaren Vale. Now three generations in, the Lloyd family were early adopters of ‘alternative’ varieties in the region, particularly Italian varieties. A big part of McLaren Vale’s history, they have never rested on their laurels. From the gardens to the vines, Coriole carries a strong sense of place.
Finish at the top… of the Onkaparinga Gorge. Samuel’s Gorge offers the most rustic, intimate cellar door experience. A preserved 1853 built farm shed sets the stage for some of McLaren Vale’s most sought-after red wines. Sit on the stonewall and watch the sun go down over the beautiful steep slopes of the Onkaparinga Gorge. Justin, if you catch him, will take good care of you.
A classic, and for good reason. One of the best sites for pinot noir in theHills, intuitively discovered by one of the Hills’ early pioneers, Stephen George. Now owned by Wirra Wirra (McLaren Vale), a shift to organic viticulture and a continued focus on premium cool-climate wines sees Ashton Hills leading the rise of Adelaide Hills as one of Australia’s most exciting wine regions.
Winery visits are by appointment only so best to aim for their Open Cellar Day in May. The Button family arecustodians of a 70-acre forest and vineyard in the Basket Range sub-region of the Adelaide Hills. One of the flag-bearers for Australia’s natural wine movement, Jasper and Sophie (second generation) make pure and refined sparkling and table wines from organically managed vineyards both in Basket Range and the broader Piccadilly Valley. The Commune’s driveway makes for good Adelaide Hills driving practice.
Winemakers Candice and Frewin live on their certified organic Arranmore vineyard in the high Carey Gully sub-region of the Adelaide Hills. Pinot, chardonnay and grüner veltliner are the focus, with a small Barossa offering of Mencia and Shiraz (anod to Candice’s birthplace). Taste through their several single-vineyard bottlings of each variety in a restored 19th century shearing shed. Keep your eyes peeled for wild porcini mushrooms around here.
For the nerds. An ambitious project bringing together some of the great global minds in viticulture and winemaking, set on an expansive property managed using organic and biodynamics principles. Terroir-driven wines based on ‘polygons’ of specific geologies including limestone, schist and quartzite, through the lens of grenache and shiraz. Dig in.
One of the most lovely, thoughtful and passionate people in the wine industry. Brett Grocke has a family history written in winegrowing. Visit Brett at his off-grid, underground winery for a one-on-one tasting of some of the rarest old vine wines in the country. Barossa’s treasured heritage is on full display here: unadulterated wines that speak of site and season.
The Barossa is a warm place, as is Wayne and Suzi’s cellar door located in the historic town of Angaston. Viticulturists first, winemakers second, Wayne andSuzi grow grapes using organic and biodynamic principles for their Smallfry wines. The Barossa is by no means a one-trick-pony, Wayne and Suzi will prove it. Pet-nats, skin-contact whites, light reds, everything beyond and in between.
Ollie is Australia's most handsome winemaker and a very good friend of Veraison. He makes and farms the wines at his winery, Parea Estate, in McLaren Vale.