Victor’s Place in Old Noarlunga is closing after roadworks hindered trade

An award-winning winery-restaurant near McLaren Vale is closing its doors, blaming six months of roadworks for ruining the business.

Varney Wines winemaker Alan Varney and his wife Kathrin at their winery, cellar door and restaurant Victor's Place in 2020. Picture: Tom Huntley

Award-winning winery restaurant Victor’s Place, in Old Noarlunga, is closing because roadworks have made it impossible to survive, owners say.

Husband-and-wife duo Alan Varney and Kathryn Dressler will continue their wine brand Varney Wines on site.

Works to duplicate 5km of Victor Harbor Rd between Main South Rd in Old Noarlunga and Main Rd in McLaren Vale began in June, which included the acquisition of the Victor’s Place carpark.

Winemaker Varney said works in front of their property, near the South Rd end of Victor Harbor Rd, have been “far more severe than we ever imagined”.

Victor’s Place owners Kathrin Dressler and Alan Varney inside the restaurant. Picture: Tom Huntley

“The impact on the business has been quite severe, and we’re at the point where if we didn’t make the decision (to close) now, we wouldn’t have been able to keep paying staff and our suppliers,” Mr Varney said.

“In the very early days, when we first heard the road would have been duplicated, we … were assured we would be well looked after, but unfortunately over the past six months a lot of those verbal promises haven’t come to fruition.

“Originally we were told the section in front of ours would be done in three months, over the winter months. To our guests, unfortunately, from the road, it’s such an unwelcoming site. It’s a sad day.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport said the Department had collaborated with the business owners on a scope of “make good” works to the property, including the contruction of a replacement carpark, completed in September.

“A strip of land was acquired from the front of the property to enable road widening for the project,” the spokesperson said. “Both the landowner and business are entitled to seek compensation, and these details are yet to be finalised.”

Victor’s Place opened in 2018, with SAWeekend restaurant reviewer Simon Wilkinson describing it as “something special”.

It made the 2019 and 2022 delicious. 100 best restaurants list, and was also named among TripAdvisor’s Best of the Best in their Travellers’ Choice Restaurant Awards this year.

Chris Bone was the restaurant chef.

Coorong mullet and carp ballotine at Victor's Place.

Mr Varney said they would now concentrate on their wine brand, Varney Wines, which was awarded Best New Winery in the 2021 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.

“We’ll be maintaining the winery on site, working away through vintage,” he said. Wines are currently available online.

“There may be opportunity for some people to come in and do tastings by appointment only, but we’ll see what happens when roadworks finish,” he said.

“The roadworks need to be done; we’re all in favour of them – it’s a dangerous section of road … it’s just sad that we seem to have become collateral damage.”

Victor’s Place will hold its last service on December 23.

Duplication works are scheduled for completion in 2024.