Bird in Hand winery is welcoming visitors back after a major revamp of its cellar door and garden

After three years and millions of dollars, Woodside winery Bird in Hand has opened its revamped cellar door, featuring an impressive art collection and luxury accommodation.

Bird in Hand founders Andrew and Susie Nugent at their winery at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Morgan Sette

Bird in Hand winery has reopened its cellar door after an almost three-year closure, with founder Andrew Nugent encouraging visitors to come and enjoy their new “world-class” garden, and perhaps a glass of bubbles.

The Woodside winery closed to the public in March 2020, and has been working on upgrading both its cellar door experience and investing in its winery operations.

Mr Nugent said it was great to be able to welcome people back to the cellar door, and he was keen to share particularly the winery’s reimagined garden with guests.

The first two stages of the redevelopment, which have cost about $5m-$6m, involved the development of a new private tasting room and investment in the terraced garden.

The winery has also refreshed its art collection as part of the refurbishment.

Inside Bird in Hand winery’s newly refurbished cellar door in Woodside. The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

Inside Bird in Hand winery’s newly refurbished cellar door in Woodside. The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

Mr Nugent said the vision was always to preserve the sense that visitors were coming to a working winery, “but that said it is quite luxurious and contemporary in a hospitality sense’’.

“I think the garden has gone to a whole new level, it’s on a global level, and we’ve redone our gallery – our art collection is much more sophisticated,’’ he said.

There is also a new private tasting space in the private cellar, with the winery offering rare and back vintage wines which are only available on site.

Bird in Hand will initially be offering tasting plates and the like before ramping up to full restaurant service in coming months.

“We’re intending to use a lot of native ingredients to connect with the First Nations cultures in the areas we farm,’’ Mr Nugent said.

The first two stages of the development have been completed, with the larger operational investment in areas such as the barrel hall still ongoing after the winery decided to wait and see what happened with the proposed development of the Bird in Hand gold mine immediately adjacent to the winery.

Inside Bird in Hand winery’s newly refurbished cellar door in Woodside. The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

Bird in Hand winery’s new private accommodation. Picture: The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

Bird in Hand winery’s new private accommodation.

Mr Nugent said with that project’s development recently knocked back for approval by the state government, the winery and its neighbours could now invest with confidence.

Bird in Hand will also next week host a lunch for former AFL stars Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin’s GO Foundation, which provides education scholarships to First Nations youth.

It will be the foundation’s first event held in Adelaide, with a view to introducing its mission to business, government, and cultural leaders.

Originally published as Bird in Hand winery is welcoming visitors back after a major revamp of its cellar door and garden