Mclaren Vale, SA
McLaren Vale offers exceptional wines, regional produce and beautiful scenery nestled between the Mount Lofty Ranges and beaches of Gulf St Vincent.
Best known for its wineries and welcoming cellar doors, McLaren Vale also produces fruits and is an extensive almond growing region. Little wonder that it has an abundance of cafes and restaurants whose chefs happily showcase local produce.
The first vines were planted by John Reynell in 1838 and by 1850 the well known Hardy and Seaview wineries were in operation.
Walk or cycle along the old railway alignment between Willunga and Seaford – through vineyards, wild olives and old gum trees – to get a feel for this gorgeous countryside.
Wines, views and great art
McLaren Vale on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula is one of Australia’s most attractive wine regions. Scenery varies widely, with vistas of the Onkaparinga River and tributaries giving way to hills, olive groves and forests. The climate is influenced by the nearby ocean, and by altitude as the region merges with the Adelaide Hills and Mount Lofty Ranges.
Wineries here are famous for their robust reds, in particular shiraz – the densely coloured, richly flavoured, velvety wine variety known in the USA as syrah. Whites are similarly powerful and well worth sampling. Grape varieties grown include cabernet sauvignon, grenache, semillon, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and riesling.
The Adelaide Hills, about 20 minutes by car from downtown Adelaide, offer some 15 more wineries, plus about 1,000 kilometres of walking trails, historic townships, wildlife sanctuaries, coffee shops and good old Aussie pubs. Mt Lofty Summit, rising to 727 metres, provides panoramic views of Adelaide and the ocean. On a clear day you can see as far as Yorke Peninsula on the other side of Gulf St Vincent. The Bridgewater Mill, built in 1860, still works and also serves as a wine cellar and restaurant. A good stop for lunch!
Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest German settlement (1839) was home to celebrated landscape artist Sir Hans Heysen, who left his artwork and studio as a legacy. A biennial landscape prize is named after him, as is a lengthy walking trail along which he once strolled for inspiration.
Where to stay?
About Mclaren Vale
- Locality: Urban locality
- Mclaren Vale Postcode: 5171
- State: South Australia
- Region: Adelaide
- Latitude: -35.21782
- Longitude: 138.54182
- Elevation: 63m
- Population: 3842
- Median Income: $30368
- Area (Sq/km): 58.529
- Timezone: Australia/Adelaide
Accommodation In Mclaren Vale
Discover some of the accommodation in and around Mclaren Vale
- Amande Bed and Breakfast
- Amery Vineyard Cottage
- Ashcroft Country Accommodation
- Barai-leigh Cottage
- Bellevue Bed & Breakfast
- Chapel Hill Winery Guest House
- Claddagh Cottage
- Fidge Farm Homestead & Cottage B&B
- Flower Fields, The
- Kidogo Cottage
- Linear Way Bed And Breakfast, The
- McLaren Ridge 1 – McLaren Ridge Log Cabins
- McLaren Ridge 2 – McLaren Ridge Log Cabins
- McLaren Ridge 3 – McLaren Ridge Log Cabins
- McLaren Vale Lakeside Caravan Park
- McLaren Vale Motel
- McLarens On The Lake
