Playdates for parents: SA’s best kid-friendly cellar doors
Warmer weather calls for a relaxed drink and nosh at one of South Australia’s great cellar doors – but where are the best spots to take the kids too? Here are our top picks.
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“Our children are part of our life, why wouldn’t we want them to be happy and content doing things we like to do?”
James Hook is one of a growing number of cellar door owners who are keeping mums and dads happy by catering for their little ones, too. The winemaker, who runs Lazy Ballerina with his partner Miriam Bourne, welcomes families to his Dingabledinga property – between McLaren Flat and Kuitpo.
“We started out as a cellar door, but, as life changes, you find things going in a different direction,” James says. As well as whipping up crowd-pleasing pizzas, Lazy Ballerina offers plenty of lawn and nature play for kids to explore (and tire out their little legs).
But wineries aren’t the only ones heeding to the call.
Swell Brewing Co. Taphouse has fast become a favourite since opening in McLaren Vale 12 months ago, with lawn games, a vast array of craft beer on tap, and food for both big and little kids, cooked up by two of the Fleurieu’s best chefs – Todd Steele and Glenn Worrall.
It’s drinks-led dining ideal for summer months, when Mum and Dad want to enjoy some play dates, too.
These are our top picks.
Barossa fave
WHISTLER WINES
The Pfeiffer family has been growing grapes for four generations and loves welcoming visitors to their special Barossa Valley patch of land. There’s plenty of room to explore (and grass on which to play) around the lovely, tree-framed cellar door and play equipment to keep little ones amused while the adults try Josh Pfeiffer’s range of wines. Very friendly resident border collie Cooper loves to play with kids, too. On normal business days (non-event days) people can BYO food or use the free barbecue facilities.
● Food: Kids packs with fruit bars, cheese and crackers, sultanas and a fruit juice. There’s also a local larder where you can choose your own cheese, meats and pâté with which to build your
own platter.
● Drinks: Fruit juice for the kiddies, wine for the grown ups.
● Kids will love: The treasure hunt and cute orphaned kangaroo enclosure.
Open daily, 241 Seppeltsfield Rd, Stone Well, 8562 4942, whistlerwines.com.au
Great for babies
GEMTREE
Pull up a pew (and a highchair) at one of the tables on the deck overlooking the picturesque vineyards, or relax at one of the tables out on the grass. This is a contemporary cellar door that has families at heart, and staff are all too happy to make you feel at home. Need help with that pram? They’ve got your back. Gemtree also recently won a global award for sustainable practices, so you can enjoy a drink, too.
● Food: Arguably the best regional platter in the Vale. The cheese is gooey, charcuterie and pate of the highest quality, by Little Acre. Vegan? They’ve got you covered.
● Drinks: Delicious biodynamic wines – enjoy a glass or take turns in a structured flight. There’s also organic juices for under-18s.
● Kids will love: Well, actually it’s the parents who’ll love the change table area – so spacious and clean. Older kids can burn energy on the playground.
Open daily, 167 Elliot Rd, McLaren Flat, gemtreewines.com
Value
LOT 100
There’s a bevvy for everyone at Lot 100 – even the kids. The Adelaide Hills cellar door and restaurant is home to Mismatch Brewing, Adelaide Hills Distillery, the Hills Cider Company, Ashton Valley Fresh and Vinteloper. Former Orana chef Shannon Fleming and pizza guru Tom Bubner have joined forces to deliver a menu with something for all foodies, big and small. Families should forgo the restaurant for a table in the large outdoor entertaining area, where parents can grab a drink and tuck into a woodfired pizza (the potato, taleggio and rosemary offering, $23, is a winner) while the littlies make the most of a large grassy area and adventure playground.
● Food: All-you-can-eat pizza at lunch on Fridays (adults $25, children under 12, $15); a $45 pizza and antipasto menu is available for group bookings of eight people or more (kids cost $25 and they also get a juice and ice cream).
● Drink: Beer, wine, gin and juice.
● Kids will love: Lots of lawn (BYO cricket sets encouraged) and games (think giant jenga) during summer, and an adventure playground.
Open Thu-Sun, Lot 100 Chambers Rd, Hay Valley, 7077 2888, lot100.com.au
For a group
LAZY BALLERINA
This is the kind of place you herd a group of friends and their kids for a catch-up without the hassle. Picture a big beautiful garden, with tables scattered across the lawn making it easy to watch little ones roam. Owners James Hook and Miriam Bourne are hosting twilight dinners with live music for three Fridays in summer, starting December 20. Bookings here are essential – the owners don’t let it get
too crowded.
● Food: A $40 “let us feed you” lunch kicks off with a seasonal produce platter (think housemade dukkha, cheese and dips) and pizzas through the afternoon. It’s $20 for kids under 15 and free for under 7.
● Drinks: James makes the wines and they cater to most tastes, from a sparkling to a shiraz. There’s also Swell beers and cider, and Vale Ale.
● Kids will love: Climbing logs and ball games. There's also plenty of shade and Sunshine Ice Blocks.
Open Fri-Mon, 1152 Brookman Rd, Dingabledinga, 8556 7085, lazyballerina.com
Space to roam
PINDARIE WINE
With a passion for sustainable practices, Tony Brooks took over his grandfather’s run-down farm in 1990. With his wife, Wendy, they have planted thousands of trees and restored the buildings. This is a place to slow down and breathe in some fresh air. Enjoy a tasting in the old stables ($5 per person) or lunch in the grain store. There’s plenty of space for little ones, a sandpit and playground.
● Food: The specialty is local pies, but there are tasting platters and kids’ lunchboxes and panini on the menu, too. Or just enjoy a cake and coffee. No BYO.
● Drinks: The full Pindarie range, by glass or bottle, includes some lesser-known varietals, plus Rehn beers, juice and softies, tea or coffee.
● Kids will love: Romping on the grass or climbing a
hay bale.
Open daily, 946 Rosedale Rd, Gomersal (closed Dec 23-Jan 5), pindarie.com.au
For a picnic
SEVENHILL CELLARS
Explore the expansive lawns at your own pace and throw down a rug – you’ll also find totem tennis, cricket, footballs, soccer and balls. There’s an impressive museum full of winemaking machinery of yore. Cellar door is known to attract 200 visitors a day so they’re well accustomed to welcoming all ages with open arms. It’s easily accessible from the Riesling Trail – and bikes are welcome.
● Food: BYO picnic and enjoy it alfresco in the dedicated picnic area. Cheese platters can also be purchased from cellar door.
● Drinks: Reds, whites, fortifieds and sparklings.
● Kids will love: The kid’s corner with paper, pencils, games, toys, and a blackboard/whiteboard for scrawling.
Open daily, 111C College Rd, Sevenhill, 8843 5900, sevenhill.com.au
Far flung
BELLWETHER WINES
As Coonawarra (and Australian) cellar doors go, this is a doozy. Hairy highland cows and a donkey called Gerado (they love apples and photos) greet visitors to the renovated 1868 Glen Roy shearing shed-turned-cellar door. Winemaker Sue Bell welcomes all ages with open arms. Her creations are memorable, as are the onsite food and entertainment events, quirky art, nooks and crannies full of books, and pens and pencils for colouring in. Outside there’s plenty of space to roam, including a tree house, a sand pit, produce garden, chickens, donkeys, and a fire pit for roasting marshmallows.
● Food: Degustation meals served at a wool sorting table.
● Drinks: Wine.
● Kids will love: Mabel the maremma (sheepdog) who roams the camping area with 10 campsites and large bell tents. Perfect for stargazing.
Open daily, 14183 Riddoch Hwy, Coonawarra, 0417 080 945, bellwetherwines.com.au
The all-rounder
SWELL
So popular is brewer Dan Wright’s taphouse, there’s usually a guy at the gate checking people’s names against the booking list. This decked-out shed ticks the boxes – it’s got the vibe, the food, the drinks and the grass for kids to play. They’ve just opened their upstairs area, offering more options for seating.
● Food: Headed by Todd Steele and ex-Victory chef Glenn Worrall, it’s gastropub food done really, really well. Highlights include the salt and pepper Spencer Gulf squid, buttermilk fried chicken burger and roasted pumpkin salad. Kids’ options cost $10.
● Drinks: All. The. Beer. Select wines, mostly by Dan’s partner, Oliver’s Taranga winemaker Corrina Wright.
● Kids will love: Giant jenga, space to kick a ball around.
Open Thu-Sun, 168 Olivers Rd, McLaren Vale, swellbeer.com.au
OTHER SPOTS TO QUENCH YOUR THIRST THIS SUMMER...
Old school
COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS COMMUNITY RSL
This small RSL club tucked away in leafy Colonel Light Gardens is a treasure. When was the last time you had braised lamb chops with onion gravy? Probably as a kid at another RSL club.
Here, there’s a new menu every Friday with about six choices of main, including one vego option. Bookings are advised – especially if you want one of the coveted tables on the back veranda, overlooking the grassed area where kids can play. It’s no frills but big on nostalgia.
● Food: Friday night meals are $19 for non-members (think roast beef or beer-battered fish, served with chips or potatoes and salad). There’s usually one dessert for $5. Kids’ meals, $10, include a juice or softie and can be fish, chicken nuggets or half-serves of the adult menu.
● Drinks: RSL club prices.
● Kids will love: A fully fenced grassed area out the back to make their own fun. BYO soccer ball. If it’s a rainy day, they can run around in the hall next to the dining area.
Fri from 6pm, 4 Prince George Pde, Colonel Light Gardens, 8276 9080
Pub pick
EDINBURGH HOTEL & CELLARS
Family lunch under the leafy plane tree and wisteria vines at The Ed is summer in Adelaide all over. Big brollies and misting fans keep things cool, and the gated garden offers a safe play space in the ‘burbs.
● Food: A crowd-pleasing menu covers the bases – and more. The signature Ed burger is a good affordable option at $24 with chips. The snack menu is on offer all day if your babe’s awake time is between lunch and dinner – think arancini, haloumi and oysters to share. A great range of $10 dishes should satisfy the fussiest taste buds.
● Drinks: $8 pint specials most weekends, a well-curated selection of summer sparklings, whites and roses, as well as a long list of big-drinking reds. Milkshakes and softies for the kids.
● Kids will love: The garden with its fountain.
Open daily, 1-7 High St, Mitcham, 8373 2700, edinburgh.com.au
–with Katie Spain, Roxanne Wilson, Gordon Knight, Robyn Douglass and Justine Costello