Contributor: Crystal AndrewsSome of this country’s very best wines are produced in South Australia. But unlike the prized wine regions of other states, their proximity to the capital city is an added bonus. The Adelaide Hills are a quick 20-minute drive from Adelaide while McLaren Vale (in the Fleurieu Peninsula) and the Barossa region are less than an hour away.
Add that to the list of reasons why you should be booking flights to Adelaide ASAP — where else in the country can you actually arrange a group wine tour during the day and still book a restaurant in the city for dinner? 2021 has been officially named the Year of the South Australian Wine, in honour of the states long-standing history of continually producing incredible vino, so it’d be offensive not to visit.
To help narrow down your list of must-hit wineries, we’ve earmarked the best cellar doors for group bookings — no matter which region you pick, Adelaide wines are as full of personality as the city itself.
Shaw + Smith, Adelaide Hills
The chic, modern Shaw + Smith was named the Best Large Cellar Door of the year by Gourmet Traveller, and it’s not hard to see why. This winery is committed to excellence in every sense of the word, producing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz vines and wines across two vineyard locations.
For the full experience you can book in for the Friday Table, which includes a hosted tour, tasting and lunch for up to 12 people. All Shaw + Smith wine flights come with a trio of matched cheeses – which is a ‘uge a win in our books.
Hugh Hamilton Wines, McLaren Vale (in the Fleurieu Peninsula)
A winery with 180 years of heritage, and wines named ‘Floozie’, ‘The Rascal’ and ‘The Drama Queen’ (iconic), Hugh Hamilton brings the best of both worlds! They have tasting flights to suit every preference (and price point) to enjoy in what is easily one of South Australia’s best tasting rooms. Under a vine-covered gazebo, soak in the sweeping 270-degree views of the vineyard and the valley.
Group tastings here are a true experience as the team use smell jars, props and videos to really make the wines come alive.
Deviation Road Wines, Adelaide Hills
Fancy a glass of bubbles? Deviation Road is perhaps best known for its sparkling wine, which your group can sample in the winery’s bright, airy tasting room. Owned by husband and wife winemakers, Hamish and Kate Laurie (who is sometimes referred to as “the sparkling queen”), Deviation Road has a proud history of women in wine — Hamish’s great-great-grandmother was South Australia’s first female winemaker.
With a small but delicious menu of local produce available, you’ll be tempted to stay drinking bubbles and eating cheese all day.
d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale (in the Fleurieu Peninsula)
Hot tip: if you’re on a budget, The Stump Jump Shiraz punches above its price bracket. But that’s not the only reason your crew should drop in to d’Arenberg for a tasting. The cellar door is an architectural delight called ‘The Cube’, a five-floor building inspired by the ‘complexities and puzzles of winemaking’.
So yes, come for the award-winning wines… but also the Alternate Realities Museum, the 360-degree video room, the wine sensory room and panoramic views over the entire McLaren Vale region in the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Tscharke Wines, Barossa
A little further out from Adelaide, the quirky Tscharke winery is full of personality. Bring your group for a fun and approachable guided tasting at the cellar door before heading upstairs to check out the eclectic collection of pottery and ceramics for sale. For an in-depth look at Tscharke’s sustainable, biodynamic practices, guided tours will take you through the vineyards, winery and cellar.
Plus, the bathrooms at the cellar door are very cute! Pink doors and intricate tiles make for an unexpected backdrop to your requisite wine tour selfie.
If you’re now craving a weekend rolling in the green hills of a luscious winery, suss out our
Adelaide Guarantee hub to peruse what else is on offer to eat, drink, and do in the city. We’ve put together a range of tailor-made itineraries, and if you see one that tickles the fancy of your girl gang, you can book it through our trusty travel agents. Considering how quickly restrictions change, booking through our hub will guarantee you get your money back if say, borders were to close the night before your trip. Sound fab? Happy booking.
