Whether you’re in Adelaide for a romantic weekend, on a two-day business trip or for the whole week but need to fill your weekend’s itinerary, we’ve got your time covered. Get out on the winding roads into the nearby country and sniff, sip and toast some of the area’s best wines.
South Australia is home to acres of rolling vineyards and has an estimated 44% of the nation’s vineyards. And the only way to truly appreciate the area’s charm is with a glass (or a few) of zesty, aged wine during a day or weekend trip to one of Adelaide’s wineries.
We hope you use this guide and then search for IHG hotels in Adelaide to help you plan your Adelaide wine tour. The regions and wineries we’ve mentioned are just a short day trip from Adelaide, giving you more than enough time to drop in for a wine tasting and tasty lunch—and make sure to grab a couple of your favorite bottles to take back home with you.
Adelaide Hills
Photo Credit: Longview Vineyard Facebook
Roughly a 30-minute scenic drive from Adelaide, Adelaide Hills is a perfect day trip. This cool-climate region, with its plentiful rainfall and higher altitude, produces some of the best tasting, high-quality grapes for Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Whether you’re in the mood for wine and lunch, wine and a view or just an enjoyable cellar door tasting, Adelaide Hills has the wineries for you. Here are three of the most popular, according to locals and tourists:
Longview Vineyard
Open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on public holidays.
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Resting in the heart of Adelaide Hills, surrounded by breathtaking views (hence the name), is Longview Vineyard. This family-owned winery has the ideal location to grow both red and white wine varieties, many of which are taste-pleasers as they’ve produced multiple award-winning wines. Aside from the wine, visit on a Sunday for Longview’s famous Sunday Tapas—the best lunch you’ll have all vacation.
Shaw + Smith Winery
Open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day.
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Awarded Best Cellar Door for 2015 and winner of the Best Additional Experience (tutored wine flights) in 2016, it’s no surprise why Shaw + Smith is filled with wine lovers each weekend. But even though it’s busy, there’s plenty of outdoor and indoor seating to accommodate all who’ve came for their Sauvignon Blanc and ash-rolled goat’s cheese. As for the wine flights we mentioned, it’s a must-do. You get a semi-formal tasting of five different wines, each paired with a delightful cheese sampler plate. One visitor and online reviewer said Shaw + Smith “never disappoints.”
Bird in Hand Winery
Open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends and public holidays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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A visit for all of your senses, Bird in Hand will be appreciated by first-time wine tasters and world-traveling wine enthusiasts. Try any of their award-winning wines, although the Bird in Hand Merlot seems to be a favorite, as you casually dine alfresco on the terrace. Or for a more intimate lunch, The Gallery, the winery’s onsite restaurant, is an appetizing choice that perfectly showcases Bird in Hand’s passion for wine, food and art.
Barossa Valley
Source: Flickr
Barossa is a special place, from the landscape to the wine to the hospitable people. And Barossa Valley, about an hour’s drive from CBD, is a historical wine region, dating back to 1842, and a place where more than 550 grape growing families call home. There are more than 150 wineries alone in this region, but here are three of the best.
Langmeil Winery
Cellar door open daily, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
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Langmeil is one of the oldest in all of Australia—one of Barossa’s original settlements— the location includes a number of the village buildings, including the village well and blacksmith shop, adding to the visitors experience to the Winery. Planted in 1843 by Christian Auricht, an immigrant from Prussia escaping religious persecution— it’s alleged to be where the world’s oldest known surviving Shiraz vineyard resides.
To enjoy your experience, please allow 1.5 to 2 hours to get the most out of your visit. Take time to wander the old buildings and taste the range of Barossa wines. Cheese boxes are also available to enjoy in the gardens or take home with you. By appointment only, a personalized vineyard tour and special tasting in the Cellar is available for $50 per person.
For a great wine tasting, accompanied with a friendly, knowledgeable staff, for an all-around enjoyable experience, come check out all that Langmeil Winery has to offer. For more information or booking please call 08 8563 2595.
Seppeltsfield Estate Winery
Open daily, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
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Seppeltsfield’s claim to fame is for its Centennial Collection and being the only winery in the world that releases a 100-year-old, single vintage wine every year. This estate also houses the JamFactory craft and design studios, gallery and shop as well as its simply innovative restaurant, FINO. Seppeltsfield provides a memorable day worth traveling for.
Peter Lehmann Wines
Open Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
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If sophistication and hospitality are what you want, this medium-sized winemaking operation is calling your name. Peter Lehmann’s winery offers tastings on more than 40 wines—a chilled glass of The Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz is absolutely divine—and picnic tables scattered across their lawns for a tranquil afternoon having a glass of wine paired with a local produce platter. One recent reviewer said this Barossa Valley winery is a must-do. “We visited Peter Lehmanns recently on recommendation… From an exceptional cellar door service to excellent wine and a beautiful setting, Peter Lehmann Wines is definitely worth a visit!”
Source: Flickr
McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale is considered one of Australia’s most visitor-friendly winery regions. With its lower elevation and Mediterranean climate, about a 45-minute drive south from Adelaide, it’s well known for producing the richly flavored Shiraz and its Mediterranean varieties. One TripAdvisor reviewer said, “McLaren Vale is terrific and…the scenery is pretty too, [an] excellent day trip.”
Wirra Wirra Vineyards
Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Wirra Wirra is perfect for big groups, with a great outdoor facility as well as an inside tasting area that’s also roomy. Come for a simple wine tasting and platter or take one of Wirra Wirra’s new and intimate behind-the-scene tours. And while you’re here, be sure to grab lunch at Harry’s Deli, taste test the first wine produced under the Wirra Wirra label, Church Block, and get your picture taken with one of the world’s largest cork sculptures—a 10-meter-tall wine bottle.
d’Arenberg
Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Founded in 1912, d’Arenberg is a fourth-generation family-owned business that still makes distinctive wines through traditional methods. Offering more than 60 wines and 25 grape varieties, you’re guaranteed to find one that suits your palette. You can even blend and bottle your own wine. But the fun doesn’t stop with a cellar door visit. Adventure through the picturesque region in 4WD and try the gastronomic pleasures at d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant. And don’t just take our word for it. Guests can’t say enough good things, leaving reviews like, “my first choice in Southern Vales” and “this one was a stand out for views, setting, food and service.”
Paxton Vineyards
Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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An eco-conscious winery, Paxton Vineyards has great wine, at very reasonable prices, and even better service; not to mention the gorgeous views of the vales and Willunga Hills seen from its cellar door. As far as wines, red varieties seem to be the most loved here, as Graciano is a real crowd-pleaser and Paxton Tempranillo won the 2015 Best Single Red Varietal Other at the McLaren Vale Wine Show.
