Dandelion Vineyards’ Wonder Room is one of five great new McLaren Vale cellar doors

A “wonder room” that offers a new kind of wine tasting – and food experience – is one of five new McLaren Vale cellar doors to add to your next visit.

Inside the tasting room of the new Yangarra cellar door, McLaren Vale.

It’s not a restaurant. It’s more than a cellar door. Dandelion Vineyards’ new Wonder Room offers a new kind of wine tasting that’s unique for South Australia.

While contemporary cellar doors often offer platter-style produce or a full restaurant on-site, the Wonder Room has employed local chef Chris Bone to create fine dining-style dishes that form part of the wine-tasting experience.

Plates such as pork jowl and celeriac on the vine, grilled over charcoal, and duck rillette topped with an intricate patterned biscuit are exclusive to those who book in for the top-tier $99 tasting.

Simpler snacks, such as olive and pork gilda, are served at the $33 tasting tier. Food can’t be ordered separately, but rather, is complimentary for wine tasters.

“As we go up and explore different wines from different regions, we have a more elaborate food offering to match,” says Bone, formerly of the now-closed Victor’s Place.W

Owner and winemaker, Elena Brooks with executive chef Chris Bone at Dandelion Vineyards’ new Wonder Room. Picture: Matt Loxton

“It’s exciting for me because I get to play with some pretty nice ingredients. It’s a welcome challenge to offer people above and beyond what they’d expect and, also, it’s never been done before. It’s an all-inclusive tasting experience … with the best view in the region.”

Dandelion Vineyards’ Wonder Room is among a mini boom of cellar doors to have opened in McLaren Vale in the past six months. Others include Somos and Yangarra.

McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association CEO Erin Leggat said it represented a bounce-back for cellar doors post-Covid.

“Both wine brands and their customers are really craving that essential in-person interaction,” Ms Leggat said. “Having a cellar door space and a physical home for a brand is still the best way to deliver those holistic winery engaging and personal experiences that wine drinkers are seeking.”

Elena Brooks, founder and winemaker at Dandelion Vineyards, said a point of difference for the Wonder Room was the amphitheatre-style steps where people can sit and sip.

“The way the vineyards sit in front of us is like a colosseum; an amphitheatre, so … you can sit down and enjoy a glass of wine and look at the vineyards and beyond,” Mrs Brooks said.

“That’s something we have taken from our travels – I’m a step-sitter, whether it’s the Spanish Steps or somewhere to sit and watch the world go by.”

The Wonder Room, which comes partly thanks to a $380,459 SA Regional Growth grant, sits around 48 people – to book for a tasting, visit dandelionvineyards.com.au

FIVE NEW MCLAREN VALE CELLAR DOORS

SOMOS

333 Foggo Road, McLaren Flat

Opened June, 2023

A cosy cellar door that sits 10 inside (plus six on the veranda), with wall murals by Melbourne artist Eddy Sara. Here, you’ll find the alternate and minimal intervention wines of friendly winemakers Mauricio Ruiz Cantu and Ben Caldwell. A $15 tasting, redeemable upon purchase, will have you taste six drops – as described by Ruiz Cantu: “in winter there’ll be more reds, in summer more whites, roses and orange wines”.

“We’ve got two reds on at the moment that I think are drinking phenomenally,” he says. “One is a 2022 Mencia from the Adelaide Hills … and also the 2021 Adelaide Hills Syrah, which took the Best of Wine Show at last year’s Adelaide Hills Wine Show.”

While total capacity is officially 16, there’s plenty lawn to sprawl across when weather permits and people are welcome to bring their own food. “It’s pretty relaxed,” Ruiz Cantu says. Walk-ins are welcome Friday-Monday, and tastings are by appointment other days.

Somos Wines cellar door, McLaren Vale. Picture: Supplied

YANGARRA

809 McLaren Flat Rd, Kangarilla

Opened May, 2023

With a striking pitched/angular roof and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the estate’s certified organic and biodynamic vineyards, the new Yangarra cellar door is an impressive piece of architecture. Inside, the design is airy and chic, with a mix of timber tabletops and upholstered lounges. “The design is true to our ethos, the importance of attention to detail, purity of expression, to produce wine that reflects an authentic sense of place,” chief winemaker Peter Fraser says. There are three tasting options on offer, including the $15 Estate Tasting; $20 Grenache Tasting (the winery’s key variety) and $30 Single Block Tasting. Food-wise, platter-style food such as charcuterie, cheese and olives are available. Bookings are essential.

New Yangarra cellar door, McLaren Vale.

THICKER THAN WATER

86 McMurtrie Rd, McLaren Vale

Opened January 2023

Walk through the tinted purple glass cube to find hydraulic tables, Jam Factory lights and mood-enhancing perforated steel screens. Then, sit down to taste the award-winning wines – they’ll come to you, via wine carts. “Traditionally cellar doors have belly-to-bar service, however we wanted to create a more intimate experience … more like being at a family catch-up than being in a public space, so the idea of wine carts that could navigate the room came to mind,” says Thicker Than Water senior winemaker Campbell Greer. Structured tastings cost $30, redeemable upon purchase. Open daily – to book, visit thickerthanwaterwines.com.au

Jessica van Berlo and Emilie Greer at Thicker Than Water cellar door. Picture: Ben Clark

MAIN & CHERRY

60 Grants Gully Road, Chandlers Hill

Opened December 2022

Main & Cherry’s family-friendly cellar door boasts sweeping views from inside and plenty of space to sprawl outside. Wine tasters will appreciate the Mediterranean wine varieties as well as McLaren Vale grenache, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. Non-wine drinkers part of the crew? There’s also beer, Big Shed cider and a few cocktails on offer, as well as softies. Food-wise you’ll find platters and heartier fare, from skewers and croquettes to a beef porterhouse steak with marrow butter. Bookings can be made here.

Main & Cherry cellar door, McLaren Vale. Picture: mainandcherry.com.au

DANDELION VINEYARDS

91 Chaffeys Rd, McLaren Vale

Wines made from vineyards across South Australia’s regions, with a broad offering across white and red varietals. Their Lions Tooth of McLaren Vale Shiraz Riesling 2020 won the Bushing Monarch and Best of Wine Show at the McLaren Vale Wine Show 2021. Bookings are strongly recommended at the new Wonder Room, with three structured tastings available – $33, $66 and $99. Wines are matched with food cooked by chef Chris Bone. Walk-ins are able to purchase a glass of wine to enjoy on the steps.