Wine Tours McLaren Vale

If you’re on the hunt for an exciting wine tasting or an unforgettable wine tour in the surroundings of Adelaide, then the McLaren Vale wine area might be just what you’re looking for. Considered the cradle of South Australia's wine industry, McLaren Vale is located south of Adelaide, on the gentle slopes that stretch between the Mount Lofty Ranges to the east to the gulf of St. Vincent to the west.

During your time in McLaren Vale, you will be able to choose the wine tasting experiences that best suit you, with over 80 wineries spread across its territory. Thanks to the cooling ocean breezes, the McLaren Vale territory enjoys a cool Mediterranean climate, allowing the production of its signature dry white wines and elegant reds, especially made from Shiraz, renowned for their velvety texture and intense flavors.

McLaren Vale doesn't only boast several wineries that you can visit for a special wine tasting. Thanks to its vicinity to the sea and abundance of cellar doors, McLaren Vale is a melting pot for culinary delicacies. While in the area, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a number of premium dining spots, hatted restaurants, artisanal cheese shops, and farmers' markets to savor the best local products.

The star of your wine tastings in McLaren Vale will be Shiraz wines, with the Shiraz variety accounting for roughly half of the total production in the vale. Other widespread black grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and Mourvedre, often blended together to obtain GSM wines. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are instead the most common white grape varieties. Additional European varieties like Tempranillo, Vermentino, and Sangiovese grow prosperously in the area.

The best moment of the year to organize wine tastings, winery visits, and cellar door tours in McLaren Vale is from spring to autumn, between October and April when the precipitations are fewer and the days are longer.

The area of McLaren Vale offers a wide range of activities that will please every wine lover, from wine tastings in unique settings to visits to world-famous wineries and tailored wine tours. Some of the activities we recommend doing in the area include cycling along the Shiraz Trail, strolling around the Willunga Farmers Market, watching the sunset over Port Willunga beach, or visiting one of the ongoing art exhibitions in the area.

The average price of a wine tasting with winery visit in McLaren Vale is around €243. Depending on the experience, prices range from €36 to €450. Booking in advance ensures availability and the best prices.

Here are the top wineries to visit in McLaren Vale:

• Gemtree Wines
• Hastwell & Lightfoot Cellar Door
• D'Arenberg
• Wirra Wirra

Here are the best wine tastings to book in McLaren Vale:

• Wine and Wander tour at Gemtree Wines
• The Blending Bench & Degustation at d’Arenberg in McLaren Vale
• Lunch & Wine Tasting Experience for 2 at Hastwell & Lightfoot
• Being byodinamic tour at Gemtree Wines
• The Blending Bench Experience at d’Arenberg in McLaren Vale
• Discover Wirra Wirra in McLaren Vale: Cellar tour & Wine tasting and lunch
• Distilled Experience at d'Arenberg in McLaren Vale