Wine Tasting in the Adelaide Hills.

Wine tasting in the Adelaide Hills is a must-do, in my opinion. The Adelaide Hills produce some of the very best wines. Moreover, on a trip to the Adelaide Hills, you will discover the most delicious food, boutique shopping and some of the most stunning scenery South Australia has to offer.

South Australia is renown for its wines. From delicious crisp whites to big, bold reds, South Australia produces something for everyone’s palate. In fact, I would go as far as to say the state has some of the best wine (and food) that you will find anywhere in the world. South Australia has a reputation as the “food and wine state” of Australia, and that status is fully justified.

Australia is the world’s 5th largest wine producer, and 50% of that wine comes from South Australia. Moreover, South Australia accounts for almost 80% of Australia’s premium wine production, produced from some of the world’s oldest vines [PIRSA]. SA has a long history of winemaking, with the earliest vines thought to have been planted in 1836 by a settler named John Barton Hack in Chichester Gardens, North Adelaide [Wikipedia]. 

The Adelaide Hills’ cool climate is ideal for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. About 67% of grapes grown in the Adelaide Hills are white varietals, white only 33% are red varietals. But don’t despair if you are a red wine drinker, as am I; there is plenty of delicious red wines to taste in the Adelaide Hills.

The Adelaide Hills are only a 20 minutes drive from Adelaide. There are 51 wineries to explore in the Adelaide Hills and many options for reaching them, including private tours, group tours, and even cycling tours, to name but a few. Or, if you have a designated driver, grab a map and do a self-drive tour, which is what we did.

Our Visit

We spent three glorious days in the Adelaide Hills and used some of our time to visit the wineries. It was a mid-week trip, so although we booked the wineries on the first day, we just turned up at the wineries the following day. I do recommend you check opening times and whether bookings are required to avoid disappointment. The following wineries are in the order we visited them, not in order of preference.

Hahndorf Hill Winery

Hahndorf Hill Winery, located close to the historic German village of Hahndorf, specialises in Austrian grape varieties, such as Blaufrankisch, Gruner Veltliner, Zweigelt and St Laurent. These varieties have impressive compatibility with a vast array of food types (so I am told). Therefore, it is not surprising that Hahndorf Hill Winery implements various tasting experiences, including Chocovino – a pairing of selected wines and delicious chocolates. 

What is there? Wine tasting, wine and chocolate pairing, wine and ice cream pairing, cheese platters, and gourmet chocolate.

Wine varieties include – Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvingnon, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Blaufrankisch, Gruner Veltliner, Zweigelt and St Laurent.

Our visit

Four of us visited Hahndorf Hill. Two of us opted for the Red Wine Flight, one for the White Wine Flight and one for the Ice Cream and Rosé Experience. I can vouch for the red wines. They are delicious, and I also tasted the ice cream. Interestingly, the Davidson Plum ice cream served with the rosé is sugar, dairy, and gluten-free. It is also free of preservative and artificial flavours and colours. How awesome is that! You’d never guess. It is delicious.

Our pick – for me, it was the Blueblood Blaufrankisch 2018 and the Compatriots 2016 for Dwayne.

Nepenthe

Nepenthe described by Homer in The Odyssey as an Egyptian herbal drink so powerful that it eases grief and banishes sorrow from the mind. 

Established in 1994, Nepenthe has a cellar door located in Balhannah. They have three vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, which grow a large variety of wine grapes. They specialise in cool-climate, fruit-driven wines known for their textural complexities and delectable aromatics. Enjoy wine tasting inside, on the deck, or the lawn with the option to make-your-own platter from local produce.

What is there? Wine tasting, make-your-own platter, local produce.

Wine varieties include – Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Gruner Veltliner, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Tempranillo, Viognier, Prosecco, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir.

Our visit

The tastings at Nepenthe are $10 per person and consist of one sparkling, three white and three red wines. However, they are flexible, and two of us selected to taste six reds, while one other in our group selected only white wines. We purchased goat cheese, plum paste, olive tapenade and crackers, and created a share-platter. Nepenthe provides cheeseboards, napkins and cutlery.

Our pick – Gate Block Shiraz 2017

Sidewood Estate

Sidewood Estate Cellar Door and Restaurant is located in Hahndorf. They produce wine and cider, employing ecologically sustainable practices. They have an extensive range of beverages to suit all occasions, budgets, and palates. Sidewood’s handcrafted premium cider is made as natural as possible with no added sugar, just the fruit’s delicious sweetness.

What is there? Wine tasting, cider tasting and fine dining. 

Wine varieties include – Chardonnay, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, and Rosé. Their ciders include apple and pear and blends with cherry, strawberry and pineapple.

Our visit

I enjoyed the wine tasting while Dwayne chose to taste the cider. I tasted a little of Dwayne’s cider and can attest to the fact they are delicious. The young lady who served us was friendly and informative.

Our pick – 2020 Sidewood Estate Rosé (Tempranillo Rosé)

The Lane Vineyard

Located in Hahndorf, The Lane Vineyard has gorgeous views, exceptional dining and delicious wines. At The Lane, they take sustainability seriously. They actively reduce energy emissions, have procedures to eliminate herbicide and pesticide use, and embrace a gamut of cleaner production practices to improve the quality of their wastewater. 

What is there? Wine tasting, fine dining, blend-your-own wine, estate picnics, experiences including helicopters, limousines and lions…. yes I said lions.

Wine varieties include – Shiraz, Chardonnay, Syrah, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Our visit 

I chose to do a structured tasting experience of the Shiraz for $20. I received five different styles of Shiraz from several of their vineyards in the Adelaide Hills. The wine notes included a map of the vineyards and depicted which vineyards produced each wine. 

Our pick – 2012 John Crichton’ JC’ Shiraz Cabernet. Unfortunately, that is outside our budget, so we purchased the 2019 provenance Syrah instead (it is also delicious).

Barrister Block Premium Wines

Barristers Block Wines, located in Woodside, is a family-owned estate first planted in 1997. The estate boasts spacious grounds, a historic hayshed, cellar door and several casual dining areas. They do a $25 tasting paired with local cheese.

What is there? Wine tasting, grazing platters and pizza, weddings and functions, accommodation, family-friendly, lawn games, and a small animal sanctuary.

Wine varieties include – Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Tempranillo.

Our visit

It was a last-minute decision to visit this winery as we were driving past. As it was mid-week, it was not busy, and a booking was not necessary. I was not interested in the $25 tasting as I do not eat cheese and was offered a taste of four wines only for $10. Dwayne chose to have a glass of red wine for $12. We also ordered a lamb pizza for $22. It was a gorgeous warm day, and we chose to sit outdoors. We sat under a large shady tree near an enclosure with deer, alpacas, chickens and geese.

Golding Wines

Golding Wines, located on the outskirts of Lobethal, has beautiful surrounds of lush gardens and charming landscaped terraces. They have the complete experience including delicious wines and fine dining with a passionate focus on locally sourced ingredients; some come straight from their kitchen garden.

What is there? Wine tasting and flights, platters and cheese boards, fine dining, weddings and functions and family-friendly.

Wine varieties include – Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, and Rosé.

Our visit

The cellar door offers wine flights that comprise five different wines and a tasting plate. We were also given a taste of their sparkling wine upon arrival. Most of the wine flights cost $15, and there are various flights to chose from, for example, “Layered & Textural”, “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, and “Red, Red, Red”. It was the “Red Red Red” that Dwayne and I chose to taste. We had five seriously delicious wines and a tasting plate from the restaurant kitchen. If pushed to chose, I would have to admit this was my favourite tasting. I unequivocally recommend a visit to Golding Winery.

Our picks – The Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

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