Wine Tastings and Winery Visits Clare Valley

Tucked away in South Australia’s Mount Lofty Ranges, about two hours north of Adelaide, the small wine region of Clare Valley is one of Australia’s hidden gems when it comes to winemaking. With over 50 small-scale and boutique wineries spread across its rolling hills, Clare Valley is the perfect destination for wine lovers looking for unordinary wine tastings and a familiar atmosphere.

Renowned worldwide for its dry Riesling wines, during your wine tastings in Clare Valley you will have the opportunity to taste premium crisp white wines, with typical Riesling flavors of exotic fruit, citruses, and apples, some with the capacity to age for over 20 years. World-class red wines are also produced in Clare Valley, which enjoys a moderate-continental climate, with long, warm summer days followed by cool nights, particularly suited for grape growing.

Clare Valley’s wine scene offers an enviable selection of wine tastings and other unforgettable wine experiences. While in the area, you’ll also have the chance to indulge in some exceptional food, with the area being famous for its premium beef, lamb, free-range eggs, and seasonal produce, as well as handmade chocolates, pasta, and extra virgin olive oil. Australia’s longest-running traditional wine and food festival, Gourmet Week, also takes place in Clare Valley each May.

Your visits to Clare Valley’s wineries will allow you to admire the different grape-growing styles and vineyards found in the region, where most vineyards are located between 400 and 500 meters above sea level. The most widespread white grape variety is by far Riesling, while other grown varieties include Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Semillon. Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz dominate the scene when it comes to black grape varieties, at times blended with other varieties like Merlot or Grenache.

The best time to visit the wineries of Clare Valley is either spring (September, October, and November) or autumn (March, April, and May) when the temperatures are perfect to enjoy both outdoor activities and cellar door tours and the area is not too crowded. May is also when the unmissable Gourmet Week takes place in the Valley.

Clare Valley’s famous Riesling Trail boasts many great wineries that you can visit for wine tastings. Spread across its territory you will also find various other sites that are worth visiting during your stay, including the Red Banks Conservation Park, where you’ll be able to admire prehistoric remains of megafauna, the pink Lake Bumbunga, Neagles Rock’s Lookout, or the Georgian-style mansion of Martindale Hall.