One of the pleasures of staying at The Vineyard Retreat is having some of McLaren Vale’s best cellar doors and producers just a few minutes away.
These are some of our favourites, from small family-owned wineries and neighbouring Blewitt Springs producers to a few McLaren Vale classics worth seeking out.
Opening hours can change seasonally and on public holidays, so we recommend booking ahead or checking directly before you visit.
A small, family-owned winery here in Blewitt Springs, run by husband-and-wife team Damon and Alexia Roberts. Larnook is one of those local finds we love recommending, with thoughtfully made, small-batch wines and a relaxed cellar door that feels very much part of the neighbourhood.
A great choice if you’d like to discover a smaller McLaren Vale producer and spend some time exploring the wines of Blewitt Springs.
Open: Thursday–Sunday, 11am–5pm
Address: 7 Settlement Road, Blewitt Springs
From The Vineyard Retreat: just a few minutes
Website: Larnook Wines
Just minutes from The Vineyard Retreat in Blewitt Springs, The Grenache Room is set within Willunga 100’s Blind Spot Vineyard and housed in a beautifully restored 1920s stone cottage.
Willunga 100 has built its reputation around McLaren Vale Grenache, with wines drawn from exceptional old-vine sites across Blewitt Springs and Clarendon. Choose from several tasting flights, including Single Vineyard and Study of Grenache experiences.
A particularly good choice for guests wanting to explore the variety that has become synonymous with this part of McLaren Vale.
Open: Thursday–Monday, 11am–5pm
Address: 188 Moritz Road, Blewitt Springs
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 5 minutes
Website: Willunga 100
Bookings are highly recommended.
One of our favourite cellar doors in McLaren Vale. Set in a beautiful old stone building overlooking the Onkaparinga Gorge, Samuels Gorge is relaxed, full of character and refreshingly unstructured.
Come for excellent wines, one of the best outlooks in the region and a cellar door experience that feels unmistakably McLaren Vale.
Open: Daily, 11am–5pm
Address: 193 Chaffeys Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 5 minutes
Website: Samuels Gorge
Six generations of the Oliver family have farmed this land, making Oliver’s Taranga one of McLaren Vale’s great family wine stories.
The heritage cellar door is full of character and the wines are consistently excellent, from Fiano and Vermentino through to Grenache and some seriously good McLaren Vale reds. One we regularly recommend.
Open: Daily, 10am–4pm
Address: 246 Seaview Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 7 minutes
Website: Oliver’s Taranga
A beautiful hilltop destination with sweeping views across McLaren Vale. Alongside Chalk Hill Wines you’ll find Never Never Distilling Co and Pizzateca, making this an easy place to settle in for an afternoon rather than simply stopping for a tasting.
A good option if your group would like a mix of wine, gin, cocktails and food in the one location.
Open: Monday–Thursday 11am–5pm; Friday 11am–8pm; Saturday 11am–6pm; Sunday 11am–5pm
Address: 56 Field Street, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 6 minutes
Website: Chalk Hill Wines
One for serious wine lovers. Yangarra specialises in varieties from the Southern Rhône, with Grenache a particular highlight.
The contemporary cellar door overlooks the estate vineyards and offers a polished, seated tasting experience. Give yourself some time here and book ahead if you can.
Open: Daily, 11am–5pm
Address: 845 McLaren Flat Road, Kangarilla
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 10 minutes
Website: Yangarra Estate Vineyard
An intimate and beautifully designed tasting room with sweeping views across McLaren Vale. Toby and Emmanuelle Bekkers produce wines in very small quantities, with a particular focus on Syrah and Grenache.
This is a more refined, hosted tasting experience and one we recommend booking ahead.
Open: Daily, 10am–4pm; closed public holidays
Address: 212–220 Seaview Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 5 minutes
Website: Bekkers Wine
A small boutique producer with plenty of character, housed in a beautifully restored 1850s chapel.
Samson Tall is particularly special to us as its Grenache is made with fruit from our own Marmont Vineyard here at The Vineyard Retreat. It’s a lovely opportunity to taste the vineyard from a completely different perspective.
Open: Daily, 11am–5pm
Address: 219 Strout Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 5 minutes
Website: Samson Tall
A small, welcoming cellar door with a lovely outdoor area and consistently excellent wines.
Bondar is a great choice if you prefer smaller producers and a quieter, more intimate tasting experience away from some of McLaren Vale’s larger cellar doors.
Open: Monday–Thursday 12pm–4pm; Friday–Sunday 11am–5pm
Address: 148 McMurtrie Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 5 minutes
Website: Bondar Wines
One of McLaren Vale’s classic destinations. The historic stone cellar door sits among beautiful gardens and vineyards, with an excellent restaurant alongside it.
Particularly good for Italian varieties, Grenache and Shiraz. Allow a little extra time to wander through the gardens and enjoy the setting.
Open: Daily, 11am–5pm
Address: 79 Chaffeys Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 5 minutes
Website: Coriole Vineyards
A beautiful small-scale cellar door set above Turraparri Creek, surrounded by old gums, grazing paddocks and vineyards.
The wines are small-batch and estate-grown, with Grenache from almost century-old dry-grown vines a highlight. Tastings can easily turn into a relaxed lunch, with pizzas, platters and small plates available alongside the wines.
Open: Thursday–Sunday, 11am–5pm
Address: 314 Rifle Range Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 10 minutes
Website: Shadow Creek
One of McLaren Vale’s most recognisable landmarks and worth visiting at least once. The five-storey Cube combines wine, art and immersive installations, with panoramic views from the tasting room at the top.
It’s much more than a traditional cellar door, so allow plenty of time if you plan to explore the building as well as taste.
Open: Daily, 10.30am–4.30pm
Address: 58 Osborn Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 10 minutes
Website: The d’Arenberg Cube
A relaxed and very photogenic cellar door set among lawns, gardens and vineyards. Come for wine, food and an easy afternoon outside, with seasonal events and live music adding to the atmosphere.
Particularly lovely when the weather is good and you’re in no hurry to be anywhere else.
Open: Monday–Thursday 11am–5pm; Friday 11am–9.30pm; Saturday & Sunday 11am–5pm
Address: 233 Binney Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 12 minutes
Website: Down The Rabbit Hole
A small cellar door on Willunga’s historic High Street, with a relaxed feel and an interesting range of wines.
A lovely addition to a morning at the Willunga Farmers Market or an afternoon spent wandering around Willunga.
Open: Thursday–Monday, 11am–4pm. Tuesday and Wednesday tastings may be available by prior arrangement.
Address: 17 High Street, Willunga
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 20 minutes
Website: Hither & Yon
A relaxed cellar door and restaurant with wide views across the Vale. Particularly good if you’d like to combine a tasting with a casual lunch, with house-made pizzas and regional produce on the menu.
Open: Wednesday–Sunday, 11am–4pm
Address: 309 Seaview Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 5 minutes
Website: Beach Road Winery
Very close to The Vineyard Retreat and an easy stop during your stay. The contemporary pavilion offers structured tastings across Beresford wines, along with brewery and distillery selections, regional platters and views from the deck.
Open: Daily, 10am–5pm
Address: 252 Blewitt Springs Road, McLaren Flat
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 5 minutes
Website: Beresford Estate
Another McLaren Vale classic. Set around the historic ironstone winery, Wirra Wirra offers seated tastings, behind-the-scenes experiences and Harry’s Deli for lunch.
There’s plenty to explore around the property, including the enormous Angelus Bell and the winery’s famously oversized trebuchet.
Open: Monday–Saturday 10am–5pm; Sunday & public holidays 11am–5pm
Address: 255 Strout Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 6 minutes
Website: Wirra Wirra
A contemporary cellar door with a strong Italian influence and excellent food alongside the wines.
Mitolo is a good choice if you’d like to turn a tasting into lunch, with Little Wolf Osteria also on site.
Open: Thursday–Monday, 10am–4pm
Address: 141 McMurtrie Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 6 minutes
Website: Mitolo
For a break from wine, Goodieson is a small, family-run craft brewery producing traditional beer styles on site.
Relaxed and unpretentious, with a lovely setting overlooking the creek and surrounding vineyards.
Opening hours: We recommend checking directly before visiting as current published hours vary.
Address: 194 Sand Road, McLaren Vale
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 7 minutes
Website: Goodieson Brewery
A relaxed little stop among the fruit trees, offering estate wines, apple and pear cider, local produce and casual food.
It has a completely different feel from a traditional cellar door and is a lovely option for a leisurely afternoon.
Open: Monday 11am–4pm; Friday–Sunday 11am–5pm; closed Tuesday–Thursday
Address: 207 Sand Road, McLaren Flat
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 5 minutes
Website: McCarthy’s Orchard
Just minutes from The Vineyard Retreat in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale Distillery specialises in Australian single malt whisky, much of it matured or finished in casks with a strong connection to the region’s winemaking heritage.
A good change of pace after a few days of cellar doors, with tastings and cocktails available. Bookings are recommended.
Open: Thursday–Saturday 11am–5pm; Sunday–Monday 12pm–4pm
Address: 725 Chapel Hill Road, Blewitt Springs
From The Vineyard Retreat: approximately 7 minutes
Website: McLaren Vale Distillery
McLaren Vale rewards a slower pace. Rather than trying to fit five or six cellar doors into a day, we suggest choosing two or three, allowing time for lunch and leaving some room for an unexpected stop along the way.
For smaller cellar doors and weekends, booking ahead is always a good idea. Opening hours may change on public holidays and seasonally, so please check directly with the venue before setting out.