With over 18 wine regions spread across the vast landscape of South Australia’ s south east region you are certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to world class wines.
Often overshadowed by the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley or Adelaide Hills wine regions, the Mclaren Vale wineries are nothing short of spectacular and home of sustainable wine making in South Australia.
3 of the best wineries in Mclaren vale wine region sits on the western coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula and is home to a total of 88 wineries.
We’d love nothing more than to sample all 88 wineries of Mclaren Vale but for the purpose of keeping it short and sweet we’ve created the most comprehensive Guide to the Best wineries in Mclaren Vale.
Plan your South Australia holiday using our guide here !
How to get to McLaren Vale
Only 45 minutes south of Adelaide CBD and you’ll find yourself amongst McLaren Vale wineries.
If you’re arriving into Mclaren Vale from Adelaide, your easiest option is to hire a car.
Most people arriving interstate will go via air and land into Adelaide airport, centrally positioned in the heart of the Fleurieu Peninsula and easy access to the most popular attractions of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
We recommend driving yourself around South Australia as distances between regions are quite long so you can easily hire yourself a car to give you the most independance.
If you don’t feel like driving, there are plenty of McLaren vale wine tours all over the city.
As always, if you’re feeling a little lost but adventurous, you can always pop into the McLaren vale Visitor Information Centre and get the most up to date information about the best wineries in Mclaren Vale.
Address: 796 Main rd, Mclaren Vale
Website: mclarenvaleandfleurieucoast.com.au
Make sure you’re up to date on where all the best beaches are along the Fleurieu Peninsula
Your Guide To The Best Wineries in McLaren Vale
Down The Rabbit Hole
The most unique, modernised experience at a winery you will ever find yourself in.
Down the Rabbit Hole is located in the heart of the McLaren Vale wineries region of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
And if you only have time to visit one, there’s a reason we’ve made Down the rabbit hole in Mclaren vale the top of our list for the best wineries in Mclaren Vale.
Owners Dom and Elise who you may recognise from their social media escapades across Australia in their VW Kombi ‘Scout’ have created the perfect balance of vintage and modern.
Imagine walking through the gates of their property to a large grassed area lined with patterned throws, pillows and cushions in front of a big, bright blue double decker bus as you watch the sunset over the vineyard.
On the upper deck of the bus you can enjoy a half hour wine tasting tour of their best selling wines, and if you purchase a bottle at the end the tour is free.
Of all the best wineries in Mclaren vale, we found this one of the few to offer such a unique atmosphere.
Friday evenings you can find live music and an infectious crowd that come from near and far to just be here at Down the Rabbit Hole.
There’s also an exceptional a la carte menu offering locally sourced and produced ingredients to the highest of standards in their cellar door as well as a variety of tasting platters from $35 per person.
Much like their counterparts in the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and the Clair Valley, Mclaren Vale wineries offer a stunning picturesque backdrop of lush green vineyards set in the beautiful southern Mount Lofty ranges.
Like most of the wineries of Mclaren Vale and indeed the wineries of the Fleurieu Peninsula no booking is needed, so whenever you feel like popping in for a glass of wine, food platter or cup of coffee you’re welcome anytime!
Down the rabbit hole in Mclaren vale allows kids until the age of 12 to enter on the property to check out the newly renovated double decker bus as well as be enthralled by the goats and sheep on the property.
For more information visit Downtherabbithole.com
Address: 233 Binney Rd, Mclaren vale SA
Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-5pm, Friday 11am-930pm, Weekends 11am-6pm
Dogs allowed if they are on their best behaviour !
D’arenberg
One of the oldest wineries of Mclaren vale, D’arenberg wine making history dates back to 1912.
This would make the current winemakers the 4th generation of D’arenberg; and if experience is anything to go by, these guys sure have plenty up their sleeves.
The concept of the design came from the thought that winemaking was like a puzzle, complex and intriguing.
The 5 levels of the building all have a specific purpose to them.
From a wine-sensory room, a virtual fermenter and a 360 degree video room, this one of a kind winery certainly ranks high as one of the best wineries in McLaren vale.
Want to make wine like the professionals?
Well here you can with this 90 minute wine blending course offered by the good folk at D’arenberg
A hands on, interactive experience where you can learn the subtle art of wine-making and blending, and even get to take your own blend home at the end of the day!
Aside from their impressive collection of both red and white, as well as being one of the oldest families of winemakers in Mclaren vale and indeed the Fleurieu Peninsula, their impressive sustainability target is not to be overlooked.
D’arenberg winery is able to reduce their carbon emissions by 30% through their solar power network.
As well as a wide range of other strategies such as natural pest and disease control, NASAA certified organic & biodynamic processes that keep their yields low whilst caring for the soil and land.
Address: Osborne rd, McLaren Vale, SA
Opening Hours: 1030am-430pm
Website: darenberg.com.au
Dowie Doole – A story of Terroir and Time
An immersive cellar door experience located amongst some of the best wineries in Mclaren vale brought to you by chief winemaker and now owner Chris Thomas.
This Mclaren vale winery comprises 4 decked out and renovated shipping containers with some of the most altruistic architecture around.
The idea behind Dowie Doole is the experience and journey you take through their unique selection of wines, including Chardonnay, Shiraz and Savignon Blancs.
With amazing reviews as being the best winery in Mclaren vale, a clear winner here is the explanation of each individual wine and the process it has undergone to be in your wine glass.
Build your own tasting platter from regionally sourced ingredients local to the Mclaren vale wine winery region in their self-proclaimed ‘tasting pods’.
If the food here isn’t enough to satisfy your taste buds, they will happily point you in the right direction!
The key varieties of the wine produced here are Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mediterranean Reds and whites as well as a lovely Rose to finish off.
The geographical luck of this part of South Australia is that all of the best wineries in Mclaren Vale are located within the southern Mount lofty ranges, and being so close to gulf of St. Vincent, provides the perfect mediterranean type climate to ensure a long and consistent ripening period.
Address: 695 California Rd, McLaren Vale SA
Opening hours: 10am-5pm daily
Visit the crew at Dowiedoole.com.au
