Why South Australia leads the way in cellar door experiences

SOUTH AUSTRALIA has always done wine well, and the state’s grape growers are undoubtedly glass-half-full thinkers. They’re now creating offerings that spill over into more than just a winning drop - whether you like red, white or neither.

South Australia Tourism

The cellars have something for everyone: even if you’d rather beer, gin, whisky or brandy. From the Adelaide Hills through to the Barossa Valley,  McLaren Vale or Kangaroo Island, you can’t go wrong.

These unique experiences will take your tastebuds on a trip.   

SIP, SWIRL, CHUG, QUAFF, SMELL & STIR… YOUR DRINK OF CHOICE.

Wine + Fun…                    

See South Australia’s famous German village, Hahndorf, by helicopter while wining and dining with The Lane Vineyard. Prefer being on the water? Spend the day on the floating cellar door at Caudo Vineyard. Long summer days are best spent meandering along the Murray River, with an iced fruity Caudo wine in hand, topped off with a wedge of freshly-picked orange. Locally made sangria, beer and cider are also tantalising thirst-quenchers when hanging out at this isolated oasis on the riverbank.

Just as the Greeks throw plates, the guests of Wirra Wirra throw watermelons. And when they say “throw”… it’s using the winery’s own trebuchet (also known as a catapult!) Why? Because it’s spectacular fun, and that’s what open paddocks are for. The fun doesn’t stop with watermelons getting smashed. Take a tour of the cellar door and get a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of this iconic McLaren Vale winery. Gaze at a clear starry sky, on a blanket with good company, at the Twilight Tastings sessions. It’s a summer fling you won’t forget anytime soon.

For golf lovers, take a trip over to Kangaroo Island’s Dudley Wines. This clifftop cellar door offers a wide range of handcrafted bottles to enjoy on the deck. Shop for local clothing, produce and artwork, between rounds on the golf course.

Beer… that’s art.

Got beer choice paralysis? Here’s a hint: if the label is cool, the beer is good. Pikes Beer Company in the Clare Valley is headed up by Alister, the sixth-generation descendant of Henry Pike, who launched the long-standing wine brand Pike & Co. Tonic Ale is just one example of Pike’s creations. The mixture of orange and lemon peel with ginger and coriander gives it a citrus kick, while the cinchona bark added during fermentation lets you taste the bitterness of the tonic water.

Drink it as is, or mix it with your favourite gin… yes, you heard right. You can’t miss these bottles with the famous fish label. It certainly explains why people drink Pikes “like a fish”.

Keep driving north onto the Yorke Peninsula and you’ll reach Watsacowie Brewing Company. Nestled in one of the world’s best barley growing regions, this new family-run brewery opens this weekend. If you love hand-crafted ales and rustic  countryrustic country sheds illuminated by fairy lights, this is for you.

Skip over to the next peninsula, Eyre, and visit Beer Garden Brewing. Every beer made here uses local grain - with leftovers feeding the beef that feature on their menu – giving new meaning to the “farm-to-table” concept. But it’s not just the cows that are grazing. A huge 100-person beer garden is designed for legendary Sunday sessions, complete with live music and a tapas-like menu at a country pace.

Gin is in… oh, and Whiskey!    

Is G&T your go-to? Well, you’re in for a treat, because the world’s best gin is made in Adelaide. 70 78 Degrees Gin, created at Nairne in the Adelaide Hills, recently won the number one title for International Gin in the American Distilling Institute Awards. The secret ingredient? Pure Adelaide Hills water and a mix of twelve unique botanicals including juniper, coriander, cinnamon and nutmeg. The new Adelaide Hills Distillery cellar door is currently being built in Hay Valley.

A hop, step and a spit away are Ambleside Distillers and Unico Zelo. Hahndorf’s Ambleside Distillers invite all gin-lovers to their scenic acreage distillery that doubles as a tasting bar. Share a platter and revel in their seasonal batches of gin, straight from a locally handcrafted copper still. If you like it hot, make sure to try the Big Dry Gin with jalapenos. A short drive south through the gorgeous countryside, you’ll fndfind Unico Zelo in Gumeracha. This intimate cellar door lovingly creates vegan-friendly wines and has since expanded, becoming theto include Applewood distillery.

The Adelaide Hills sure is in good spirits.

However, if you want a drink closer to the city, another spirited bootleg producer is the Prohibition Liquor Co. Focusing on small handmade batches of craft gin, their artisan philosophy has is evident in their two main products: Prohibition Gin 42% and Bathtub Cut Gin 69%, both winners of international gin awards.   

You know what this means: Road. Trip.