Taste the high life in the Adelaide Hills

Renowned for incredible wine and lush valley landscapes, the Adelaide Hills region offers culinary charms no one can resist.

Lost In A Forest where they offer brilliant wood-fired pizzas. Picture: Supplied Lost In A Forest

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In partnership with Tourism Australia

Less than an hour’s drive from the South Australian capital, the Adelaide Hills district is some of Mother Nature’s finest work.

With the rolling green hills of the Mount Lofty Ranges and ideal conditions for producing top-tier cool-climate wines, Adelaide Hills is rich in vineyards, distilleries and cellar doors.

The region was touched by the bushfires in 2019, but is now open for business and welcoming visitors for the perfect gourmet escape.

Unico Zelo's Brendan Carter (left) hosting a night a function and one half of the mastermind behind the winery. Picture: The Cru

TRY NATIVE-INSPIRED, SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED WINE (AND GIN)

Brendan and Laura Carter are the masterminds behind Unico Zelo wines.

With a passion for sustainable practices and the use of native ingredients, the couple’s ethos is to showcase and celebrate the indigenous produce now available thanks to the historical custodianship of the land by First Nations people.

Experience this dedication and passion first-hand at Unico Zelo’s cellar door at their Applewood gin distillery in Gumeracha, where the wines are produced.

While you’re there, sample Applewood’s range of Coral and Navy gins, too.

MORE INFORMATION: unicozelo.com.au

Lost In A Forest where they brilliant wood-fired organic pizzas. Picture: Supplied Lost In A Forest

ENJOY ORGANIC PIZZA AND NATURAL WINE IN AN OLD CHURCH

Expect the unexpected at Lost in a Forest.

Situated within a 130-year old church in the tiny township of Uraidla, wood-fired organic pizza and unconventional wines are the name of the game here.

This inviting hub features drops by the maverick winemakers at Ochota Barrels, a label renowned for natural wines produced in Basket Range in the Adelaide Hills.

Lost in a Forest is Ochota Barrels’ “cellar door-ish” where you can sample the range from the drinks list.

The pizzas, too, are equally interesting, with the selection spanning from a traditional margherita to the more experimental bánh mi.

MORE INFORMATION: lostinaforest.com.au

Michael Hill Smith, Australia's first master of wine and co-owner of Shaw + Smith, at his winery in Balhannah in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Supplied

RELAX ONBOARD A WINE FLIGHT

The expansive and elegant cellar door of Shaw + Smith in Balhannah is an experience wine connoisseurs can’t miss.

With its majestic setting among the Adelaide Hills, the vineyard’s region-specific wines are best enjoyed during a relaxed tasting-room experience.

Choose from a flight that pairs wines with local cheeses, or take a comprehensive, behind-the-scenes tour of the winery and vineyard followed by a tasting paired with fine South Australian produce.

Shaw + Smith’s signature experience is the Friday Table, which combines the hosted, extensive winery tour with a tasting and a wine-matched two-course lunch. Bookings are essential.

MORE INFORMATION: shawandsmith.com

Matt Dickson of Ambleside Distillers is planning a huge extension of its Hahndorf-based business. Picture Matt Turner.

DISCOVER GARDEN-FRESH GIN IN HAHNDORF

Ambleside Distillers, they say, was “built from the garden up”.

The craft gin distillery is located in the historic town of Hahndorf and is dedicated to all things local, from its Australian-made copper still named “Doug”, to the homegrown botanicals that infuse each of Ambleside’s three signature gins.

Enjoy a gin cocktail or two with some snacks and share plates on the timber deck. Or take a tour of the distillery room to see where and how the magic happens.

And for those with a thirst for knowledge as well as gin, there are scheduled gin-blending masterclasses available.

MORE INFORMATION: amblesidedistillers.com

Hahndorf Inn pub is just one several spots to take in on a stroll through town. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

TAKE A TOUR THROUGH PAST AND PRESENT

Tick off the best sightseeing spots in the region with a half-day tour that focuses on the historic German settlement of Hahndorf.

A local guide takes groups through the villages of Crafers, Stirling and Aldgate followed by a stop at the Beerenberg Farm Shop and an afternoon tea or beer tasting at the iconic Hahndorf Inn.

You’ll also get the chance to sample local produce and wander at your own pace through the main hub of Hahndorf and pop into art and craft shops, bakeries, and cafes.

MORE INFORMATION: adelaidesightseeing.com.au

Patch Kitchen & Garden in Stirling, Adelaide Hills where you can enjoy a drink and experience their ever-changing seasonally focused menu. Picture: Supplied

UNEARTH A NEW PATCH

A beloved community spot for its ever-changing seasonally focused menu, Patch Kitchen & Garden epitomises the connection between produce and plate.

The Patch team’s access to local farmers and producers means diners enjoy garden-fresh ingredients, while the restaurant’s historic villa and garden setting between the villages of Stirling and Aldgate is the ideal stage for these inventive dishes to shine.

Patch closed in March, but reopened at the end of October with a renewed energy and four days of foodie festivities.

MORE INFORMATION: patchkitchen.com.au

ArtWine owners Judy and Glen Kelly at their winery which is open seven days a week. Picture: Mike Burton

DIG INTO A DELICIOUS PLATTER

Local produce is perfectly paired with wine at the Artwine cellar door located in Woodside.

Owned by Judy and Glen Kelly, the building itself is a stunning piece of architecture, with a fully enclosed terrace so you can take in views of the vineyard all year round.

Choose a platter for a taste of the best of the region, matched with the winery’s lighter, more “food-friendly” range of European-style wines.

The cellar door is open seven days a week for tastings, and bookings are recommended for weekend visits.

MORE INFORMATION: artwine.com.au

VIEW FROM THE TOP

The Lane Vineyard restaurant in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia which is sits 400m above the hills. Picture: Supplied

PICTURE-PERFECT PICNIC

Perched 400 metres above the hills next to the Onkaparinga Valley, The Lane Vineyard estate is located in one of the most picturesque spots in the Adelaide Hills.

Drink it all in on The Panorama Experience.

Be guided through the vineyard, then arrive at the Panorama Venue for a picnic of hand-picked local produce and wine.

MORE INFORMATION: thelane.com.au

Sequoia lodge has panoramic views across Piccadilly Valley. Picture Supplied

PURE SCENIC LUXURY

Sequoia is a new luxury accommodation option set to open in early 2021 with 14 contemporary suites showcasing uninterrupted, awe-inspiring views across Piccadilly Valley.

The Panorama Suites feature valley views from every corner of the space, from the lounge room with a gas fireplace to the kingsize bed with vast valley and sky views.

MORE INFORMATION: sequoialodge.com.au

Enjoy a romantic dinner at Hardy's Veranda Restaurant overlooking the Piccadilly Valley. Picture Matt Turner

FINE DINING

The 1852 summer residence of British colonial settler and businessman Arthur Hardy now houses three-hatted restaurant, Hardy’s Veranda.

The degustation menu changes with the seasons and is paired with an award-winning wine selection.

The original stone cellar under the property is home to local wines, as well as classic European vintages.

MORE INFORMATION: hardysverandah.com.au