Australia Wine Tour with WineMaker Magazine

Brad Ring, Publisher of WineMaker Magazine, personally invites you to join him on this exclusive wine vacation.

Tour Details

• Location: South Australia 
• Next Tour Date: March 6 – 14, 2025
• Trip Price Per Person: $5,700
• Optional single supplement: $900
• Host: Charles Grover
• Meals: All breakfasts and one additional meal per day 
• General Tour FAQs
• Minimum/Maximum: 6/18 people

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Day 1 > March 6 > Thursday

Welcome to Australia! Our journey begins in Adelaide, where we’ll be whisked away to to our first experience together at Penfolds Magill Estate Cellar Door, one of Australia’s oldest, iconic wineries. We’ll walk through the original working winery, explore the vineyards, and uncover the historic tales of the underground drives before finishing off with a tasting and delicious lunch with breathtaking views of the historic Penfolds vines and Adelaide city.

Next, we’ll shuttle to the National Wine Centre for an exploration of the nation’s 65 wine regions, each possessing its own unique and diverse characteristics that contribute to Australia’s renowned winemaking reputation, followed by a taste of the flavors of South Australia with a wine and canapé pairing.

The afternoon concludes with a short walk to our hotel for rest and relaxation before a wonderful dinner at a local Adelaide restaurant cheersing to our first of many amazing days down under!

Day 2 > March 7 > Friday

After breakfast, we head out to the town of Langhorne Creek, a population of 444 residents, where Frank Potts introduced winemaking. In 1860, Potts planted the fertile soils of Langhorne Creek wine region with Shiraz and Verdelho grapes.

Our first stop will be at the very first winery established in Langhorne Creek by Potts himself. At Bleasdale Wines, we’ll taste a range of their prestige and flagship wines, including their Powder Monkey Shiraz.

Lunch will be in Goolwa (meaning “elbow” in Ngarrindjeri), the historic river port on the Murray River. You’ll have time to explore and find lunch on your own before heading to Shaw Family Vintners for a tasting of their Shiraz matured in French Oak and Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of cherry, mint, and chocolate oak, finishing with velvety smooth tannins.

On the way back to the hotel, we stop in Victor Harbor. You’ll have the opportunity to take an optional walk across the footbridge to Granite Island (home to a wild penguin colony!). Dinner will be in Victoria Harbor at Hotel Victor, a local favorite. The menu features chargrilled seafood, kangaroo, and roasted vegetables.

Day 3 > March 8 > Saturday

This morning, we say farewell to Adelaide (for now), and we head to Eden Valley. The drive there is just the start of the breathtaking rolling hills we view throughout the day. Fernfield Winery is family-run and a great example of classic Eden Valley wines. We’ll be led on a cellar door tour followed by a tasting in their beautiful 170-year-old stone cottage.

Lunch is on your own in the quaint town of Angaston. We will then shuttle to Barossa for a tasting comparison of Barossa and Eden wines at Thorne -Clarke. Afterward, we’ll enjoy afternoon tea at Gully Gardens, a dried fruit and nuts producer showcasing the best of Australian-grown products.

Later this afternoon, we will check into the tranquil Barossa Weintal Hotel. Whether you’d like to take an easy 25-minute walk or shuttle to dinner, we’ll all eat together at 1918 Bistro & Grill, boasting a charming ambiance, hearty fare, and friendly service.

Day 4 > March 9 > Sunday

Today, we’ll further explore Barossa Valley wines, starting with a short detour to Mengler’s Hill lookout for the best views of the Barossa Valley, taking photos and admiring the sweeping, 180-degree views of award-winning wineries.

We start the morning off with a wine & chocolate pairing at the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, sampling five of their Single Origin Chocolate from all over the world, matched to five Vineyard Road’s estate-grown Barossa red wines. What’s better than chocolate and wine to start your day?!

Lunch will be the famous Pindarie’s Barossa gourmet pie served at the beautiful Pindarie Wines, accompanied by their wine. After you’ve eaten your fill, we’ll head out for a short drive to our final two stops.

Kalleske Wines, with certified organic/biodynamic grapes, focuses on minimalist winemaking techniques to produce premium quality wine. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy their premium Old Vine range of wines, tasting through the 1935 Single Vineyard Old Vine Grenache, 1905-1973 Eduard Shiraz, and the flagship 1875 Single Vineyard Johann Georg Shiraz.

A little off the main route, at the northern end of Barossa, among the gum trees, patchworks of old vine vineyard, and sentinel Lutheran churches, is Gibson Wines. Have some time to take in the scenery before tasting Barossa Shiraz drawn directly from oak barrels and experiencing behind-the-scenes access to small-batch winemaking.

After a full day, we’re back at the hotel in Tanunda for dinner on our own. Your local guide, Charles, will be happy to point you in the right direction and recommend some of his favorite local restaurants.

Day 5 > March 10 > Monday

After breakfast, we’ll depart for the Clare Valley driving past Kapunda, Australia’s First Mining Town, and Curio the Bucking Bronco statue.

Our first stop is Claymore Wines, who pride themselves on producing premium wines, but when it comes to enjoying a glass, they don’t take themselves too seriously, as seen by their fun labels inspired by either football or some of the greatest music.

After lunch on your own in the charming town of Clare, our journey continues to Knappstein Winery for a taste of their award-winning Rieslings and juicy fruit-driven reds. Their riesling vineyards sit at 450 to 500 meters above sea level and often experience quite dramatic diurnal temperature shifts in summer, leading to the retention of strong natural acids and the development of classic citrus and floral flavors.

Dinner will be enjoyed after checking into our home for the next two nights, Clare Country Club amongst the beautiful rolling hills of the Clare Valley.

Day 6 > March 11 > Tuesday

We’ll enjoy our final day in the Clare Valley, starting at Sevenhill for a historical tour of the Jesuit Shrines, ruins, winery, slate fermentation tanks, crypt, and wine tasting.

On the way to lunch, you’ll see what might be one of the largest paintings you’ll ever see at Farrell Flat Silo Art by local Adelaide artists Jarrod Soden and Matthew Knights. A 900 square meter silo painting using over 150 liters of paint, a beautiful display of the region. Lunch will be enjoyed close by on your own in the historic mining town between the vineyards of Burra. 

We’ll continue our journey with a visit to Sussex Squire. Winemakers and owners Mark and Skye will join us for a chat as we taste their Sangiovese, Shiraz, and Riesling. 

The afternoon will conclude with a lovely cooking class making traditional scones at the Curley Goose before dinner in the heart of Clare at Ragu & Co.

Day 7 > March 12 > Wednesday

After breakfast, we say farewell to the Clare Valley and hello to the Adelaide Hills.

The 13.5 acres vineyard of Basket Range Wine is our first stop. Basket Range is known for their varieties of Pinot Noir (both 777 and MV6 clones), Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Petit Verdot, and Saperavi. We’ll stay for an informative tasting and tour and soak in the beautiful scenery around.

Lunch on your own will be in Hahndorf, known for its German-style architecture and artisanal food. You’ll have free time to wander and explore Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement before we shuttle to Petaluma Wines.

Petaluma Wines is situated in a very hilly region with various valleys and sub-valleys which are best suited to early ripening varieties, like Chardonnay. During our time here, we’ll dive into the cool climate varietal and compare the diverse characteristics of each Chardonnay in both the Adelaide Hills and Tasmania with a tasting.

In the late afternoon, we stop at Grünthal, a microbrewery brewing up more than just beer. We’ll refresh our palate with a gin, beer, wine, and cheese masterclass hosted by Sheree Sullivan, cheese queen and educator.

After a wonderful day, we head to Adelaide and check back into the hotel where we spend our first two nights. Dinner will be a short walk from the hotel at a local Adelaide favorite.

Day 8 > March 13 > Thursday

After breakfast, we depart for McLaren Vale. Perched atop scenic lookouts, we’ll marvel at panoramic vistas of sprawling vineyards and lush valleys at Beach Road Wines before having a tasting and tour.

This vacation is all about excellent wines and spectacular views, so naturally our final full day together won’t be complete without a visit to the d’Arenberg Cube. We’ll visit the top floor of this cube-shaped building and take a look at the wine sensory room and virtual fermenter.

Next up, a light lunch and tasting at Bec Hardy Wines, savoring a selection of 6 wines from their Pertaringa and Bec Hardy ranges, accompanied by generous regional platters by The Kitchen at Bec Hardy, a Two Hat venue featuring house-made, seasonal, and locally sourced produce.

You’ll have some time after lunch to digest as we drive through Willunga, a beautiful town steeped in history along the coast. Your guide, Charles, will share what makes this town so special before arriving at Vigna Bottin Winery, a homey, welcoming winery rooted in Italian heritage. We’ll taste a selection of their premium & small batch wines and new release olive oil.

Then, it’s back to Adelaide for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in town. We will choose a couple of exceptional bottles of wine from their cellar to go with dinner. What a perfect way to end our last night together.

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Day 9 > March 14 >        Friday

 You’ll enjoy a morning of breakfast at your leisure before checking out and starting your journey back home or onto your next adventure!

Photo provided by Clare Country Club

Nights 1 & 2 and 7 & 8: The Playford (Adelaide) The newly renovated Playford MGallery, a true 5-star masterpiece nestled in the heart of Adelaide, where classical elegance harmoniously embraces contemporary luxury.

Nights 3 & 4: Barossa Weintal (Tanunda) Nestled in a leafy residential area within the Barossa Valley wine region, this informal and tranquil hotel is located within walking distance of wineries, cafes, and boutique shops—the perfect place to relax after a day of wine tasting.

Nights 5 & 6: Clare Country Club (Clare) This 4-star hotel is located amongst the beautiful rolling hills of the Clare Valley. Its spacious accommodations combined with world-class facilities, including a top golf course, pool, spa, and renowned dining, make it one of our favorites in the area.

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