McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale, south of Adelaide, for wine lovers: cellar door tastings from 15 to 20 Australian dollars at six estates, with opening times and tips.
At a glance
- A wine town on the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide
- Cellar door tastings from 15 to 20 Australian dollars at six estates
- Shiraz and Grenache, the reds the region is known for
- Coriole has welcomed visitors to its cellar door since 1970
- 1culinary experience
Culinary experiences in McLaren Vale
Wikipedian, CC BY-SA
Map of McLaren Vale
What to taste in McLaren Vale
Shiraz
The region’s main red. Wirra Wirra devotes a one-hour tasting of five Shiraz to it.
Grenache
Old Grenache vines are a McLaren Vale speciality. Wirra Wirra pours its flagship Grenache on a 35 dollar menu.
Olive oil
Served with bread and dukkah on Wirra Wirra’s Ironstone Cellars group tasting.
McLaren Vale is a small wine town on the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide, with vineyards running from the Mount Lofty Ranges down towards Gulf St Vincent. Its warm, Mediterranean climate suits Shiraz and Grenache.
Cellar doors around McLaren Vale
- Wirra Wirra: 255 Strout Road, with tastings from 15 dollars.
- Coriole Vineyards: 79 Chaffeys Road.
- Also compared: Serafino, Primo Estate, Bec Hardy and Hugh Hamilton.
Their entry tastings cost 15 to 20 Australian dollars per adult in 2026, for about 30 to 45 minutes.
From Reynell’s vines to a protected district
- 1838 or 1839: John Reynell, a young farmer from Devon, plants South Australia’s first commercial vineyard. The first vintage follows in the early 1840s.
- 1853: Thomas Hardy, who joined Reynell in 1850, sets up his own property, Bankside.
- 1857: about 600 litres of Shiraz and Grenache leave for England with Hardy, then the largest bulk-wine export to England.
- 1999: the district builds the first and largest reclaimed-water network in Australia, to irrigate without river water.
- 2012: a state law protects McLaren Vale from urban sprawl. It came into force in January 2013.
Soils and vineyards
- Size: more than 7,300 hectares of vines, about 90% of them red grapes.
- Geology: over 40 geologies, aged from 15,000 years to more than 550 million years.
- Farming: Wine Australia counts here the highest number of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards in the country.
- Newer grapes: Barbera, Fiano, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Vermentino thrive on many sites.
A day on the Fleurieu
- The coast: the beaches of Gulf St Vincent lie west of the vineyards.
- Adelaide: the state capital, with the Central Market.
The Barossa Valley, another Shiraz region of South Australia, lies north of Adelaide: a second base for the same trip.
Before you go
- Arriving: Adelaide Airport is the gateway. McLaren Vale lies south of the city.
- Getting around: the cellar doors are spread across the district. Plan a car and a driver who skips the tastings.
- Opening hours: Coriole opens 11 am to 5 pm, seven days a week. Hugh Hamilton’s sessions start from 11 am.
- Alcohol: the minimum legal age to buy alcohol in Australia is 18.
- Prices: in Australian dollars, per person.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a wine tasting in McLaren Vale?
15 to 20 Australian dollars per adult at the estates compared in this guide (2026 prices).
What wine is McLaren Vale known for?
Shiraz above all, and Grenache, often from old vines.
How far is McLaren Vale from Adelaide?
It lies south of Adelaide, on the Fleurieu Peninsula. The city’s airport is the usual gateway.
Is McLaren Vale near the sea?
Yes. The vineyards run down towards the coast of Gulf St Vincent.