The Best McLaren Vale Wineries To Suit Every Taste

With more than 80 cellar doors, the McLaren Vale wine region offers something for every wine lover – from family-friendly cellar doors to boutique tastings.

This wine region has long been at the forefront of cultivating southern Mediterranean varietals that thrive in its warm, coastal climate and each cellar door offers something different for visitors. Here’s our guide to the very best McLaren Vale wineries.

In short

If there’s only time to visit one winery in the McLaren Vale make it the picturesque Down the Rabbit Hole for its versatility – family-friendly, casual meals, restaurant and of course, the wine.

Down the Rabbit Hole

It’s no surprise Down the Rabbit Hole has become an Instagram favourite, with its vast green spaces, flower beds and even a pastel-blue double-decker bus for wine tasting. But the food and wine here are just as impressive. Laze on the grass with grazing boards brimming with brie, cured meats, and local olives, or enjoy homemade wood-fired pizzas, while the kids explore the gardens and maybe meet a resident cat or two.

Address: 233 Binney Road, McLaren Vale, SA 5171

Mollydooker Wines

Good things come in small packages, and Mollydooker is no exception, with crowd-pleasing ‘juicy’ wines that never fail to impress. Order a platter filled with local cheeses and charcuterie, relax on the large deck, and enjoy a sunny day with friends or family – kids are welcome, too.

Address: 23 Coppermine Road, McLaren Vale, South Australia 5171

Beach Road Winery

A laid-back spot to kick back and relax, Beach Road Winery is simple but satisfying. The focus here is on good pizzas and excellent wines, including their signature shiraz and grenache blends. There’s plenty of lawn space for kids, making it a relaxed, family-friendly option with views to match.

Address: 309 Seaview Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171

Chalk Hill Wines

With six generations and 185 years of winemaking under its belt, Chalk Hill has earned its reputation for crafting excellent small-batch wines like fiano, pinot grigio and SBR nero d’avola. The winery continues to evolve, now offering immersive wine tasting experiences, including the immersive Sensory Odyssey that pairs favourite wines with the perfect soundtrack. It’s also now grown to include Never Never Distilling Co. and Cucina di Strada which serves up Italian-style street food.

Address: Chalk Hill Wines, 56 Field St, McLaren Vale SA 5171

Ekhidna Wines

Operating for just two years, Ekhidna Wines has quickly established itself thanks to its stunning location, outstanding wines and acclaimed restaurant. The Branson Road property is framed by vineyards and rolling hills, making it a popular spot for proposals – sometimes even involving a helicopter. The Ekhidna Kitchen earned a chef’s hat this year, with much of the menu’s produce sourced directly from its own gardens.

Address: 67 Branson Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171

Alpha Box and Dice

Known for their cult-following wines, Alpha Box and Dice has a quirky personality and a relaxed, bold vibe. Step into the heritage-listed cellar door to taste their shiraz and vermentino. Wine tasting is free, and their unique ‘Alphabet of Wine’ concept is a must-try on any regional tour.

Address: 8 Olivers Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171

Coriole Vineyards

Perched on Seaview Ridge, Coriole has been pioneering Mediterranean varieties such as sangiovese, fiano, and picpoul since the 1980s. Taste their crisp chenin blanc and dark, fruity nero d’avola, then enjoy lunch at Gather at Coriole, where the menu is seasonal, locally sourced and foraged.

Address: Chaffeys Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171

Wirra Wirra Vineyards

Fans of high-quality red blends like cabernet-shiraz-merlot will love Wirra Wirra . The cellar door, located in historic cellars dating back to 1894, sits among vines and gum trees with ‘Wirra Wirra’ meaning ‘among the gums’ in the Kaurna language. Try the famous Church Block blend and cool-climate Adelaide Hills whites, accompanied by share plates and light meals in the relaxed garden.

Address: 255 Strout Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171

Gemtree Vineyards

A must for organic and biodynamic wine lovers, Gemtree produces grenache brimming with red berries, earthy shiraz and small batch fiano. Their sustainable approach extends to the Tasting Room which was built using recycled materials, is powered by solar panels and uses only rainwater. Shiraz aficionados can take a deep dive into the areas celebrated variety.

Address: 167 Elliot Rd, McLaren Flat SA 5171

Hither & Yon

Housed in a 1860s butcher’s shop, Hither & Yon is intimate, with space for just 14 guests at a time. Enjoy a personal tasting – there is a wide range of wines from chenin blanc to shiraz paired with a cheese board, soaking up the sun outside or cosy up by the fire. Hither & Yon are also one of the first vineyards in South Australia to become Carbon-Neutral certified.

Address: 17 High St, Willunga SA 5172

Samuel’s Gorge

Bordering a national parkland, Samuel’s Gorge sits high on a ridge with views of the Onkaparinga River and out to the ocean. Taste their grenache, shiraz, mourvèdre, graciano and tempranillo in the old stone barn, with breathtaking views all around.

Address: 193, Lot 10 Chaffeys Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171

Willunga 100

Well known for grenache, one of McLaren Vale’s signature varietals, Willunga 100 has won multiple awards. Their Grenache Room provides tastings and educational experiences, immersing visitors in the story of the grape and its connection to the region.

Address: 188 Moritz Rd, Blewitt Springs SA 5171

Lloyd Brothers

Set among a historic olive grove, Lloyd Brothers is a must-visit for wine and olive enthusiasts alike. David and Matthew, third-generation South Australian vignerons, oversee both McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills vineyards. There’s plenty of space for kids to play while adults enjoy a glass of wine and estate platters, with stone-baked pizzas available on weekends.

Address: 69 Warners Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171

Paxton Wines

Leaders in organic and biodynamic winemaking, Paxton is housed in an original 1850s shearing shed surrounded by sprawling lawns. Check their website for information on live music, day discos, long lunches, and intimate hands-on experiences exploring sustainable farming – from the garden to the glass.

Address: Via, Budgens Road, 68 Wheaton Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171

The charm of Mildura is hidden in plain sight along the Sturt Highway. The capital of Tropical North Victoria is in a league of its own.

From the moment you arrive in Mildura , the warm air and palm trees invite you to slow down. While most Australians might drive right past it, Mildura is full of surprises. Here you’ll spend one day witnessing over 50,000 years of First Nations history in a UNESCO-listed National Park, and the next dining in a hatted restaurant after wandering through 12,500 fireflies as the outback sunset bursts to life above. From roadside fruit stalls and family-run wineries to houseboats and galleries, it’s time to explore Mildura.

Feast Street, at the heart of Langtree Avenue in Mildura. — Taste, wander and be surprised in Mildura.

Taste Mildura’s produce

It makes sense to start your trip by addressing the most important question: where to eat. In the beating heart of Australia’s food bowl, sample the local produce directly from the source. And then, of course, experience it through the menu of a hatted chef. Or sandwiched between pillowy slices of Nonna’s ciabatta.

Rows of orchards and olive groves invite you to spend the day traipsing from farm to farm. Taste olives propagated from Calabrian trees brought over in the 40s, oranges picked right from the tree and squeezed into juice and spoons full of honey . Bring the holiday back to your kitchen by stocking your pantry at roadside produce stalls, or calling into the ‘silver shed ’ (Sunraysia’s gourmand Mecca).

Thanks to the warm, balmy air and fertile soils, the wineries dotted along these hills produce award-winning local wines. Like Chalmers , a family-run, innovative winery dedicated to making their wines as sustainable as possible. And picturesque Trentham Estate offers views of the snaking Murray River as you sample their vintages.

Venture beyond the gnarled shadows of olive groves and fragrant rows of blossoming fruit trees and you’ll find an otherworldly side to Mildura. With Discover Mildura as your guide, visit Murray River Salt’s Mars-like stacks. The naturally pink salt is formed from an ancient inland sea and evaporated entirely by the sun to create one of the region’s most iconic exports.

Start your day with just-squeezed sunshine.

Hatted dining & Italian history

Mildura is home to a proud community of Calabrians and Sicilians. This, paired with the exceptional local produce, means that you can find paninos on par with those in Italy. The Italian is a Paninoteca serving up made-to-order, hefty, authentic Sicilian paninos. Nonna Rosa’s pork meatballs, slowly cooked in tomato ragu and served in a crusty, fluffy roll topped with gratings of Grana Padano cheese and salsa verde, will call you back to Mildura for the rest of your days.

To find hatted dining in Mildura, simply follow the staircase down into the basement of the historic Mildura Grand Hotel to find Stefano’s . Following the muscle memory and instinct of his Italian roots, he delivers on the principle of ‘cucina povera’. That is, the Italian cooking ideology that turns simple, local ingredients into magic.

Things to do in Mildura include dining at the acclaimed Stefano’s, where simple local ingredients are transformed into Italian culinary magic beneath the historic Grand Hotel. — Bite into Mildura’s Italian heritage.

Discover a thriving culture scene

The city is alive with culture. Whether it’s painted on the town’s walls, told in ancient yarns, or waiting for you in a gallery.

The Mildura Arts Centre was Australia’s first regional art gallery. Behind the walls of Rio Vista Historic House, you’ll find a lineup of ever-changing exhibitions. The gallery’s wall space pays tribute to the art and songlines of local First Nations People, the region’s awe-inspiring landscapes and more. Outside, on the gallery’s lawn, find 12 contemporary sculptures in the Sculpture Park.

Mildura’s streetscapes are a punch of colour. Swirling strokes of paint blend the winding artery of the Murray River, red dirt and local characters into a story you can see with your own eyes, thanks to the Mildura City Heart’s Mural Art Project . Pick up a copy of the Murals of Mildura guide from the Visitor Information Centre.

Follow the border of NSW and Victoria on a map and you’ll see it hugs the curves of a tiny island on the Murray. That’s Lock Island, where, as the sun and moon trade places, the island comes alive as darkness falls. The island is dotted with 12,500 firefly lights that lead you on a meandering path through the outback sunset. The installation is known as Trail of Lights and was created by the same visionary who dreamt up Field of Light at Uluṟu, Bruce Munro.

Things to do in Mildura include exploring its rich cultural scene. From vibrant street art and ancient stories to exhibitions at the Mildura Arts Centre, Australia’s first regional gallery. — Find culture around every corner.

Wonder at ancient landscapes

The landscapes of Mildura feel almost transcendental. The skyline bursts to life with reds, pinks, and deep, sparkly night skies.

The nature will leave you in awe. See hues of pink water changing with the weather at Pink Lakes inside Victoria’s largest national park, Murray Sunset National Oark. Cast a line into Ouyen Lake. Watch the sunset against 70-metre tall red cliffs that reflect the setting sun. Or get the heart racing and sandboard down the Perry Sandhills dunes, formed 40,000 years ago at the end of an ice age.

Just don’t leave without following the twists and turns of the Murray. Stroll or ride along the Shared River Front Path, or jump onboard a boat for a scenic ride.

Your itinerary will be incomplete without a visit to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park . Head out with an Indigenous ranger to witness ancient campsites and footprints, before standing in awe of ancient civilisation near the discovery site of Mungo Man—Australia’s oldest human skeleton at 42,000 years old.

Mungo National Park at night is a vast, silent landscape where ancient dunes glow under moonlight and stars blanket the sky in breathtaking clarity. — Walk in the footsteps of ancient civilisation.

Meet your home away from home

On equal par with planning your meals and adventures, is finding the perfect place to relax at the end of each day.

Sleep inside a Palm Springs postcard at Kar-Rama . A sleek boutique hotel complete with a butterfly shaped, sun-soaked pool. Here you’re staying right in the heart of Mildura but you’ll feel worlds away. Or if you really wish to connect with nature, a night glamping under the stars at Outback Almonds will have you spellbound.

When in Mildura it’s only right to stay on one of the Murray River’s iconic houseboats . Wake up each day to the calm waters of the Murray lapping outside your window. Enjoy days full of river swims, fishing and exploring. All boats are solar-powered and can be self-skippered or moored along the river.

A solar-powered houseboat on the Murray River in Mildura. — Stay and play on the Murray in a solar houseboat.

Start planning the perfect getaway at mildura.com .

The best wineries and cellar doors in the McLaren Vale