Must-visit McLaren Vale cellar doors

Best wineries in McLaren Vale

Just 45-minutes from Adelaide, McLaren Vale offers wine lovers a wide range of wine styles, stunning cellar doors, lauded restaurants, and pristine beaches to boot.

With over 200 years of winemaking history, McLaren Vale is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions. It’s also one of its most progressive, with world-leading organic and biodynamic vineyards, climate-forward and sustainability-focused practices, and experimental winemakers. 

Inspired by McLaren Vale’s mild Mediterranean climate, many of these winemakers have embraced alternative varieties, such as fiano, picpoul, aglianico and tempranillo. However, it’s Rhône reds such as shiraz and grenache, and, increasingly, Rhône whites such as roussanne and grenache blanc, where the region really excels.  

Below, we spoke to six producers from McLaren Vale: Angove Family Winemakers, Chapel Hill, Curtis Family Vineyards, d’Arenberg, Dandelion Vineyards and Wirra Wirra. They share local tips, their favourite spots, and a wine of theirs to try.

Get to know the six wineries below.

Angove Family Winemakers 

Chief winemaker Tony Ingle says: This year marks 140 years of grapegrowing and winemaking by the Angove family in South Australia. Angove Family Winemakers is a fifth-generation family-owned-and-operated winery and distillery, dedicated to crafting super premium and single-vineyard wines from their organic vineyards in McLaren Vale, as well as diverse organic wines and spirits from some of Australia’s great wine-growing regions. These award-winning wines and spirits reflect an ongoing dedication to quality and a commitment to sustainable viticulture and winemaking practices – a sentiment proudly shared with their McLaren Vale winery's community.

H. What do you love about making wine in McLaren Vale?
TI. What I love most is the extraordinary harmony between climate, soil and heritage. The region’s Mediterranean conditions, with warm days tempered by cooling coastal breezes, produce fruit with remarkable depth, balance and complexity. Its ancient, character-filled soils impart a distinct sense of place, while the community’s deep commitment to sustainable viticulture ensures every vintage feels thoughtfully connected to the land. It’s a privilege to craft wines here that genuinely express the beauty, diversity and story of McLaren Vale.

H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
TI. The cellar door is set among the Angove family’s certified organic and biodynamic Warboys vineyard, offering an immersive experience in the heart of the vines. Following a significant renovation, the space now features a refined vineyard lunchtime dining experience, intimate private tasting rooms and a dedicated spirits bar showcasing selections from the Angove family’s St Agnes Distillery. The McLaren Vale portfolio on pour includes the flagship Brightlands McLaren Vale Shiraz, the Warboys Single Vineyard range, Medhyk Old Vine Shiraz, Angels Rise, Family Crest and the Wild Olive Organic collection.

Favourite local spot: If I had to choose, it would be Port Willunga Beach. The beach itself is pristine, yet unpretentious. Turquoise water laps gently along the shoreline and the vast horizon of the Gulf St Vincent brings a sense of calm that instantly slows your pace. It’s the kind of place where you linger, whether that’s for a long coastal walk, a swim on a still morning or simply watching the sky shift from soft blush to deep amber as the sun sets.

What makes Port Willunga really special is its proximity to McLaren Vale. Within minutes, you move from vineyard-lined roads to dramatic coastline; a reminder of how closely land and sea shape this region’s identity. That coastal influence, those cooling breezes and ancient landscapes, are part of the story in every glass of wine crafted here.

Wine to try

2021 Angove Family Winemakers Brightlands Shiraz

The Angove prestige bottling, in its second vintage, is a composite of their two premium Vale sites. It's impactful, deep in fruit and earthy import as well as being spice-laden and fragrant. Brambly berries and black olives tumble out with red fruits, macerated cherries and some florals, cocoa powder, suitably but not overtly lux oak and chalky, ferrous-inflected mineral notes. Like the inaugural release, this benefits from the light and shade of both vineyard sites, but here the nexus of generosity and relative elan is more tightly aligned. It’s extremely smart, and it will age impeccably. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 96 Points. 

Best enjoyed: The Brightlands Shiraz is best enjoyed at 14°C in a Riedel Extreme Shiraz glass, with friends. It pairs wonderfully with a dry-aged sirloin steak.

RRP $125 | Drink to 2040 | angove.com.au | Shop this wine 

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Chapel Hill 

Michael Fragos says: Centred around the ironstone Chapel, built in 1865, which served as the village school and church for a century, Chapel Hill is steeped in history. After falling into ruin, the site was purchased in 1971 by our founder, Tom Nelson, who planted the first vines in 1972. The winery was built adjacent to the Chapel, with the first vintage produced in 1975. Today, the Chapel remains the centrepiece of our tasting room. Our deep respect for the land and vines, along with our history,  inspires our vision to handcraft wines of purity and balance.

H. What do you love about making wine in McLaren Vale?
MF. Having grown up on a vineyard in McLaren Vale, I am incredibly passionate about this region. While it possesses many wonderful viticultural virtues, it is the people who make winemaking here so special. A strong sense of community unites us as we collectively act as custodians of this spectacular region.

H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
MF. We offer a varied range of curated tasting experiences at our historic cellar door. Our passionate team is dedicated to sharing their knowledge of both Chapel Hill and McLaren Vale to ensure every guest has a memorable visit.

Favourite local spot: Driving and parking on the beach at nearby Aldinga and Silver Sands is a truly unique experience. It is especially breathtaking during the golden hour at sunset, and it takes my breath away every time.

Wine to try

2022 Chapel Hill The Vicar Shiraz

This is wonderfully opulent Vicar. Inky black and packed with blackberries, plums and dark chocolate, with a twist of aniseed. The nose brims with a complex mix of wild herbs, violets, black licorice and a sprinkle of wild fennel. A powerful wine that flows across your palate, unveiling layers of delicious flavours and succulent tannins with an impossibly long finish. Purity in a glass.

Best enjoyed: It is best enjoyed with full-flavoured meals, where the wine and food combine to elevate the experience to new heights.

RRP $80 | Drink to 2036 | chapelhillwine.com.au | Shop this wine 

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Curtis Family Vineyards

Mark Curtis says: Curtis Winery is a family-owned-and-operated estate in the heart of McLaren Vale, built on generations of grapegrowing and winemaking tradition. Our wines are handcrafted with a focus on purity of fruit, balance and structure, showcasing the richness and character of McLaren Vale while maintaining elegance and refinement. From bold shiraz to expressive grenache and cabernet, each wine reflects our commitment to quality and craftsmanship.

H. What do you love about making wine in McLaren Vale?
MC. McLaren Vale offers an extraordinary combination of ancient soils, coastal influence, and a warm Mediterranean climate. The proximity to the sea brings cooling breezes that preserve freshness and natural acidity, while the diverse soils add depth and complexity. It’s a region that allows us to produce wines of power and generosity, yet finesse – a balance we truly value.

H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
MC. Guests can expect a warm, relaxed and welcoming experience that reflects our family heritage. Our cellar door offers guided tastings of our estate wines in a beautiful vineyard setting, allowing visitors to discover the stories behind each bottle. Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or simply exploring the region, we aim to create a memorable and personalised experience.

Favourite local spot: It’s hard to choose just one favourite spot in McLaren Vale; the region offers so much to explore and enjoy. From the breathtaking coastal views at Port Willunga to long, relaxed lunches showcasing incredible local produce, there’s a seamless blend of natural beauty, community spirit and culinary excellence that makes this region truly special.

Wine to try

2023 Curtis Family Vineyards Small Batch Grenache

Off vines planted in 1900 to alluvial soils. There’s an assertive minerality and old-vine gravitas to this, with notes of iron, crushed rock, dried rose, caraway and old leather. Within lie bright red fruits with a brush of Mediterranean herbs, warmed earth and a hint of musk. It’s quite open and transparent, winemaking secondary, the palate carrying latent power with a textural suppleness and fine persistence. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 93 points

Best enjoyed: Serve slightly chilled at 15–17°C to enhance its vibrancy and aromatic lift. Enjoy in a large-bowled red wine glass to allow the delicate red fruit and subtle spice to be fully expressed. For optimal complexity, allow the wine to breathe for 20–30 minutes before serving.

The natural richness of lamb cutlets pairs beautifully with the vibrant red cherry and raspberry notes of the 2023 Small Batch Grenache. Grilling over open flame introduces a subtle smokiness that enhances the wine’s gentle spice and earthy undertones, while fresh rosemary and thyme mirror its savoury complexity. The wine’s bright acidity cuts through the lamb’s succulence, and its fine tannins provide structure without overpowering the dish, creating a seamless balance of fruit, herb and char.

RRP $80 | Drink to 2036 | curtisfamilyvineyards.com | Shop this wine

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d'Arenberg  

Chester Osborn says: My great grandfather bought the vineyard in 1912 and then built the winery in 1927. We still use the old submerged cap open fermenters along with a lot of modern equipment we have added over time. We take a minimal intervention approach in both the winery and the vineyard, with organic and largely biodynamic vineyards across about 500 acres, all in McLaren Vale. We also work with Adelaide Hills fruit and a few other regions, but McLaren Vale is the main focus. We make around 80 different wines and we also produce gin and whisky.

H. What do you love about making wine in McLaren Vale?
CO. McLaren Vale is such a beautiful region, with the southern Mount Lofty Ranges on one side, the sea on the other and Adelaide just to the north, with rolling hills in between. But more than the scenery, it’s the fruit quality that’s amazing, particularly red varieties from the limestone and sandstone soils. We get really beautifully structured wines that can compete with some of the greatest wines in the world in terms of balance and ageability. That’s largely due to the geology we’re working with and the age of the vines. About half of the vines over 100 years old in the region are owned by d’Arenberg, and we also farm a large portion of the 50- to 100-year-old vineyards.

The climate in McLaren Vale is maritime in winter but becomes quite continental in the height of summer and into spring and autumn. That means we can make wines with good concentration while still retaining very good acidity, perfume, structure and length. The region also lends itself very well to organic viticulture because of low rainfall in summer and autumn. We have long, mild autumns that allow us to ripen even obscure varieties. It’s simply a beautiful climate for growing just about anything.

H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
CO. They can expect a lot. Since we built the d’Arenberg Cube in 2017, it has been amazingly busy and has really transformed the region. There’s a lot of art in and around the d’Arenberg Cube. At the moment we have a Salvador Dalí exhibition and the Secret Art of Dr. Seuss. Around the lawns, near d’Arry’s Verandah restaurant, you’ll find sculptures by Greg Johns, one of Australia’s greatest sculptural artists.

We also have another restaurant, the Singapore Circus, which is a more casual offering inside the d’Arenberg Cube. There’s David Archer’s automata art, and over 100 sculptures of my own telling the d’Arenberg story, each with QR codes so you can understand how they relate to the wines and the winemaking process. There are sensory experiences, too. There’s a wine aroma room where you can smell different wine characters, and gin tasting with botanical aromas. You can blend your own gin and even create your own d’Arenberg wine blend. There’s a 360-degree video room as well. You can spend all day at d’Arenberg and still leave feeling like you haven't seen everything.

Favourite local spot: That’s tricky. I love being on the beach; it’s beautiful. However, the Onkaparinga Gorge is also a special place, and not many people realise how beautiful it is. It’s a lovely walk and feels very rural. There are also lots of great restaurants in McLaren Vale – too many to single out just one – and, of course, plenty of great wines, beers and spirits to enjoy as well.

Wine to try

2019 d'Arenberg The Old Bloke & The Three Young Blondes Shiraz Roussanne Viognier Marsanne

From centurion vines crushed over 1% each of roussanne, viognier and marsanne. The cuvée name always sounds like the start of a joke going the wrong way, or at least for the zeitgeist. This does not go the wrong way, although it is also outside the zeitgeist. No matter – cancelling isn’t recommended. It’s powerful in its old-shiraz-vine way and built on the d’Arenberg chassis of tannin with far-horizon ageing aspirations, though the white grape seasonings are perhaps easing the way, with an access at this early stage (for the estate) readily apparent. It’s loaded with flavour, roiling through red and black berries, plum, old cupboard spices, ground dark chocolate and dried herbs. For me, it’s the best one yet. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 96 Points.

Best enjoyed: Serve at 16–18°C, especially if the room temperature is warm. While unconventional, I enjoy this wine in a brandy balloon glass. It is sturdy enough to go through the dishwasher, and the large bowl helps open up the aromas beautifully. Best paired with simply prepared meats without heavy sauces, such as roast chicken, lamb or beef. Avoid strong reductions so the wine can remain the focus. 

RRP $200 | Drink to 2051+ | darenberg.com.au | Shop this wine 

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Dandelion Vineyards

Founder Elena Brooks says: Founded and led by Elena Brooks, Dandelion Vineyards is a celebration of old vines, regional character and meticulous craftsmanship. We produce wines from exceptional vineyard sites across the Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Eden Valley, Fleurieu and McLaren Vale, including our estate at Firehawk Farm. Our wines are focused on fruit purity, complexity and flavour intensity. From old-vine shiraz and riesling to elegant grenache, each wine tells the story of its site. We believe great wine begins in the vineyard, and our approach honours both tradition and innovation.

H. What do you love about making wine in McLaren Vale?
EB. There is something truly special about McLaren Vale. The diversity of soils, including limestone, ironstone and ancient sandy loams, combined with cooling maritime influences from the Gulf St Vincent, create extraordinary growing conditions.

At Firehawk Farm, we sit atop an ancient ridge with sweeping views across the region. The grenache and shiraz grown here have remarkable intensity and structure, yet they retain freshness and elegance. McLaren Vale gives us both power and refinement. It’s a winemaker’s dream.

H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
EB. Guests visiting Dandelion Vineyards Wonder Room can expect a truly immersive and elevated tasting experience. The Wonder Room opened in May 2023 and sits high above our Firehawk Farm vineyard with breathtaking 180-degree views across McLaren Vale, the Willunga Escarpment and the Gulf St Vincent. The space itself is a destination. Designed with adaptive architecture, it repurposes the original tractor shed footprint, blending rustic warmth with modern elegance. Its expansive glass façade and amphitheatre-style seating invite guests to relax and enjoy the expansive landscape.

We offer three curated tasting tiers, each featuring a selection of five exceptional wines that highlight the unique terroir and craftsmanship behind each bottle.

Favourite local spot: I love a lunch at Star of Greece. The food is delicious and the coastal views are always spectacular. A dinner at Little Rickshaw features some of my favourite flavours. Also, don’t skip a drive through Willunga on a market weekend as it is full of charm, and the local produce is divine.

Wine to try

2022 Dandelion Vineyards Firehawk of McLaren Vale Shiraz

From the estate vineyard, Firehawk Farm. This saw 18 months in French oak, a third new, and classy oak at that, gifting fine vanilla bean, char and gentle caramel notes to the boysenberry, blackberry Danish, red plum and sour cherry fruit notes. There are also hints of violet, lilac and anise pastille, and a little smoky coal dust savouriness. This will be better in a year or two, but it’s delicious drinking either way. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 Points

Best enjoyed: Serve slightly below room temperature at 16–18°C in a large Bordeaux-style glass. Decanting for 30–60 minutes will allow the wine to open and express its full complexity. It pairs perfectly with chargrilled ribeye steak with rosemary and garlic or slow-braised beef cheeks.

RRP $60 | Drink to 2035 | dandelionvineyards.com.au | Shop this wine 

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Wirra Wirra

Chief winemaker Emma Wood says: Wirra Wirra was established in 1894 in the heart of McLaren Vale, and from the very beginning it has been shaped by a respect for site and an uncompromising pursuit of quality. Today, with a Master of Wine at the helm and a deeply experienced team across viticulture and winemaking, we continue to champion the region’s heritage varieties while refining our approach with what we call 'maximum attention' – vinifying in smaller parcels to preserve the distinct voice of each vineyard.

Our home remains the historic ironstone cellars in McLaren Vale, and our portfolio reflects both place and precision. Cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and grenache form the backbone of our reds, expressing the depth, structure and generosity for which the region is known. Alongside these, we craft cooler-climate whites from the nearby Adelaide Hills, bringing purity and line to the range. Church Block, now in its 51st vintage year, remains our touchstone – a wine that balances approachability with structure and longevity. At the flagship level, our RSW Shiraz and The Angelus Cabernet Sauvignon represent the pinnacle of our small-batch philosophy, each wine shaped by careful vineyard selection and considered élevage.

Across every tier, the aim is the same: wines of integrity and detail that speak clearly of their vineyard origins. We believe great wine is not made by formula but by attention – to season, to soil, to site – and by allowing each parcel the time and space to show its character.

H. What do you love about making wine in McLaren Vale?
EW. The patchwork of vineyards grown in this beautiful region are diverse in soil and geology types. Apart from our single vineyard wines, I can blend wines from these different sites to build layers and complexity. Across all the varieties we make wines from at Wirra Wirra, the expanse of vineyards we source from can offer up fragrance and varietal expression at one end to bold tannin structure and power at the other. Blending is my favourite time in the winery.

H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
EW. At the top of our wine range are our flagship wines. These wines are the cumulation of detailed winemaking, maturation and then finally blending. This is when we select our best and most intriguing parcels of grenache, shiraz or cabernet sauvignon to make these wines. The wines are built to age but have a finesse to them while young. At cellar door we offer our 'Flagship tasting flight', this is the perfect and affordable way to experience a selection of our top wines. Sometimes, back vintages are on offer, giving you a glimpse of what rewards await if you are patient enough to age them.

Favourite local spot: Port Willunga beach. The combination of crisp white sand, the waves and the sun setting over the ocean give Mediterranean vibes. A refreshing dip after work or over the weekend followed by a coffee or white wine overlooking the beach from the Star of Greece restaurant/kiosk is the perfect way to wind down.

Wine to try

2022 Wirra Wirra Vineyards RSW Shiraz

A mild season, again, and an elegant RSW, though still bristling with dark berries and plum, with some blue fruit echoes. Black tea, dried violet, some dried olive, dark panforte and amaro, licorice powder, old leather and tar. There’s an appealing savouriness to this, and a weight that sits below the fuller side of things, the detail clearly rendered, the tannic architecture resolute but not strident. It’s a very good release. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 96 Points

Best enjoyed: When autumn nights have a distinct chill in the air, for me it’s time to open a bottle of RSW. I always decant the wine – young or old. As a young release I think it helps open up the aromas of the wine. My preference would be drinking from a glass with a beautiful fine-rim and a large bowl to swirl it around, but equally have enjoyed this wine from a sturdy café water glass – either way, it will work! A serving temperature somewhere around 12–14°C would be ideal. It also pairs beautifully with charred wagyu beef fillet with black garlic puree, truffled celeriac and a red wine jus.

RRP $80 | Drink to 2041 | wirrawirra.com | Shop this wine

Top image credit: Wirra Wirra