McLaren Vale wine tours: the best wineries for a private day
Forty-five minutes south of Adelaide, McLaren Vale is where the vineyards run almost to the sea. The Gulf St Vincent breeze cools the vines, and the region is famous for Grenache and Shiraz with a softer, Mediterranean feel. It's also home to some of the most striking cellar doors in Australia.
The Vale is compact, but its best experiences book out and its winding roads are no place for a designated driver. This guide covers the McLaren Vale wineries we'd build a private day around, and how to finish it on the coast.
Why McLaren Vale suits a private wine tour
- It's close. Less time in the car, more time at the table.
- Wine, food and the coast in one day. Few regions let you go from cellar door to clifftop in minutes.
- Distinctive cellar doors. From a five-storey glass cube to small family estates.
- Nobody drives. Your chauffeur is there at every stop.
The wineries worth building your day around
d'Arenberg and the d'Arenberg Cube
The d'Arenberg Cube rises out of the vineyard like a Rubik's cube in glass. Inside are tastings, art and one of the region's most talked-about experiences. Even if you've seen photos, standing in front of it is something else.
SC Pannell
One of McLaren Vale's most respected winemakers, known for elegant Grenache and modern Mediterranean varieties. The cellar door looks out over the vines towards the coast, and it's the place to taste where the region is heading.
Beresford Estate
Beresford Estate is one of our partners, with a beautiful cellar door and accommodation among the vines. It's an easy, elegant stop, and a lovely place to stay if you'd like to turn your day into a weekend.
Lunch at The Salopian Inn
A historic inn turned celebrated restaurant, The Salopian Inn is where we'd put lunch. Long, relaxed and full of local produce, with a famous gin collection behind the bar.
Finish on the coast
What makes a McLaren Vale day special is the ending. Minutes from the vineyards, Port Willunga's cliffs look out over the gulf, and sunset there is one of the most beautiful sights in South Australia.
How to plan the perfect McLaren Vale day
- Late morning: collected from your home or hotel in Adelaide, and in the Vale in about 45 minutes.
- Two tastings before lunch: start with the icons while your palate is fresh.
- A long lunch: around an hour and a half.
- One more tasting: a smaller estate in the afternoon.
- Sunset on the coast: then home.
When to go
- Summer: long evenings and the best sunsets.
- Autumn: vintage, with the vines changing colour.
- Winter: big reds, open fires and quiet cellar doors.
- Spring: green vines and mild days, ideal for lunch outdoors.
Sea-breeze reds and a clifftop sunset
Our Signature McLaren Vale day is around eight hours with four wineries and lunch, all booked for you, with a chauffeur and a prestige car waiting at every stop. It starts from $2,190 for two, and you can choose a premium tasting or add guests.
More wine country
Comparing regions? Read our guides to the Barossa Valley and the Adelaide Hills, or see all our private wine tours from Adelaide.
Questions we're often asked
How far is McLaren Vale from Adelaide?
About 45 minutes by car from the Adelaide CBD.
What is McLaren Vale known for?
Grenache and Shiraz, Mediterranean varieties, the d'Arenberg Cube, and its closeness to the coast.
Can we see the beach on a McLaren Vale wine tour?
Yes. Port Willunga is minutes from the vineyards, and we like to finish the day there at sunset.
Do you offer private McLaren Vale wine tours from Adelaide?
Yes. Our Signature McLaren Vale tour is fully private, with your own chauffeur and prestige car, collecting you from your home or hotel in Adelaide.
Every booking is planned by me personally. If anything isn't perfect, I'll make it right.Lee Catania · Founder
Images courtesy of the South Australian Tourism Commission.
Plan your McLaren Vale day
Tell us your date and we'll take care of the rest.