| TRIP DETAILS – McLAREN VALE | |
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| Trip Name | McLaren Vale Unveiled |
| Host | McLaren Vale Wine Region + Local Masters of Wine |
| Date | 19-22 April 2027 |
| Capacity | 10 minimum – 15 max per trip (20 is possible with early notice if required) |
Discover McLaren Vale, one of Australia's oldest and most celebrated wine regions. Shaped by 185 years of winegrowing, a pristine coastline and Mediterranean climate, with one of the most complex geological make-ups of any wine region in the world, McLaren Vale has an excitingly diverse range of sub-regions and microclimates to uncover.
This unforgettable trip will take guests from the hills to the ocean, all while enjoying world-class wines made from Grenache, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and a pioneering range of varieties well-suited to McLaren Vale's climate and fresh coastal cuisine.
Guests will also view McLaren Vale through the eyes of our very own resident Masters of Wine, several of which will co-host key activities throughout your trip, sharing their significant experience, passion, and confidence in the quality and unique characteristics of McLaren Vale as a world-class wine region.
We invite you to take a glimpse into something deeper. Wines that are expressive yet precise, elegant and distinctive. A close-knit community of growers and producers who are both pioneers and custodians. Old vine vineyards and single sites carefully tended for generations. An intricate tapestry of terroirs, geologies, soils and microclimates. A wine region that perfectly balances heritage and innovation and defies expectations.
McLaren Vale is one of Australia’s oldest and most acclaimed wine regions, with over 185 years of winegrowing tradition crafting world-class premium red wines, carried forward by a new generation of bold, thoughtful makers.
Just south of Adelaide, nestled between the rolling Mount Lofty Ranges and the Gulf St Vincent, a coastal Mediterranean climate, a mosaic of ancient soils, and a deep-rooted cultural heritage converge to produce wines of extraordinary character.
Our signature reds — Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon — have long been world-renowned and acclaimed. But McLaren Vale is also home to a vibrant cast of Mediterranean varieties: Fiano, Vermentino, Nero d’Avola, Tempranillo, Sangiovese - each flourishing in our coastal environment, each distinctively McLaren Vale.
Beneath the vines, the region holds one of the most geologically complex wine region terroirs on Earth — over 40 unique geologies, some over 750 million years old. This ancient foundation results in an astonishing diversity of wine styles, rooted in place and rich in personality.
And McLaren Vale understands just how vital this foundation is, it is also Australia’s leading sustainable winegrowing region. Nearly 40% of our vineyards are certified organic or biodynamic and 60% are irrigated using reclaimed water, and our grower’s led development of Australia’s national sustainability certification.
There are many items that would pique potential attendees’ curiosity, including our old vine register, geology map, climate, and key variety sections, giving them a little taste of what they might learn from a trip to our region: Website Link
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All guests are required to make their own travel arrangements to/from the trip start and end meeting point in the Adelaide CBD. Please notify the trip host if you have any dietary or access requirements.
| DAY 1 | |
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| Welcome to McLaren Vale | |
| Morning | City Centre Pick-up, transport to McLaren Vale |
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Arrival into McLaren Vale Wine Region, beginning at the historic Bekkers Clarendon Estate, first planted in the 1840s upon terraces high above the Onkaparinga River. Welcome to Country ceremony hosted by an indigenous elder of the local Kaurna people, followed by a foundational overview of the McLaren Vale Wine Region. |
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Immersion visits across the celebrated Blewitt Springs sub-region Gain a hands-on understanding of the unique sandy soils and bush vine vineyards of Blewitt Springs, hailed by many as the finest growing area for Grenache in Australia. |
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McLaren Vale – A world-class Grenache region Grown in McLaren Vale since the 1840s and uniquely adapted to the numerous microclimates of the region, discover why McLaren Vale is the undisputed home of Grenache in Australia and one of the great Grenache growing regions of the world. This masterclass will showcase wines that are expressive of site and sub-region, thanks to the guiding hands of seasoned growers and winemakers, across three brackets. Blewitt Springs: From gnarled bush vines to pure white sand, discover why this area of McLaren Vale is so sought after and renowned across Australia. Smart Vineyard: One unique 5ha vineyard and generations of one family, dedicated solely to Grenache. On steep Clarendon slopes, grow bush vines dating back to 1922, lovingly tended to by the Smart family for over a century. Taste this prestigious site through the wines of the few talented winemakers privileged to work with the Smart family. Across McLaren Vale: Experience Grenache grown across the wider McLaren Vale region from several of the most symbolic estate vineyards, showcasing the variety’s diversity across McLaren Vale’s plethora of microclimates and soil types. |
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| Afternoon | Lunch at Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard – Distinctive Growers: Over lunch, taste and learn from the winemakers working with several of McLaren Vale’s most distinctive grower-owned Grenache vineyards. |
| Iconic Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting at Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has been grown in McLaren Vale since the 1840s and remains the region’s second-most planted grape variety. Finding a natural rhythm in the long growing seasons, warm days, cool nights, and coastal breezes, especially when paired with ancient soils rich in ironstone and sandy loams, Cabernet Sauvignon in McLaren Vale shows balance, depth, elegance and a clear sense of regional identity. Through this curated tasting discover why, as a cornerstone variety for many iconic producers, Cabernet Sauvignon is returning to the limelight through sub-regional and single-site expressions across the region. |
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| Evening | Dinner at Maxwell Wines Restaurant South Australian Restaurant of the Year 2024; Three Chef Hats; Great Wine Capitals: 2026 Global Winner - Culinary Experiences Enjoy the finest culinary experience in South Australia, paired expertly with a past-present-future look at Maxwell wines and their estate vineyard grown for three generations upon their limestone hill. |
| DAY 2 | |
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| Our History, Heritage and Legacy | |
| Morning | Sustainable Viticulture in McLaren Vale Through vineyard visits to some of McLaren Vale’s foremost leaders in sustainable viticulture, discover why McLaren Vale has the highest percentage of organic and biodynamic-certified vineyards in Australia, how new regenerative vineyard practices are taking shape, how the region is able to irrigate 60% of its total vineyard area using reclaimed water, and why McLaren Vale led development of Australia’s sustainable winegrowing certification. |
| McLaren Vale’s Heritage Vineyards Visit the historic Upper Tintara vineyard and original winery ruins, including slate fermenters and gravity‑fed cellars built in the 1800s which are still in use today. Visit one of McLaren Vale’s oldest vineyards – ungrafted vines planted in the late 1800s and a local ‘Living Icon’. Discover McLaren Vale’s old vine registry and uncover the history and heritage of the pioneering vineyards of the region. |
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| Afternoon | Lunch: Enjoy a relaxing lunch of fresh produce from the surrounding Fleurieu Peninsula. |
| Uncovering McLaren Vale's Geological Complexity McLaren Vale Districts Tasting & Overview Since 2009 McLaren Vale has performed rigorous research, tastings and investigations to define and delineate 19 different wine-growing Districts of the region, based on geology, topography, elevation and climate. Hear from the winemakers that have made this quest their life’s work to express exactly how McLaren Vale’s globally unique geological complexity is harnessed in its wines. |
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| Evening | Dinner at Wirra Wirra Over dinner, learn the fascinating winemaking history of the storied Wirra Wirra winery and vineyards, dating back to 1890, while discovering through a retrospective and prospective tasting of Wirra Wirra wines how it has become a producer regarded for combining classical inspirations with contemporary thinking. |
| DAY 3 | |
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| The Mediterranean Climate of Australia’s Premier Coastal Wine Region | |
| Morning | Coastal E-bike ride McLaren Vale is considered Australia’s premier coastal wine region with 34km of pristine coastline along Gulf St. Vincent. Take an E-bike along the beach and a clifftop stretch of coast to understand the ocean’s strong impact on the growing region, feel the sea breeze, and view the exposed geology. |
| McLaren Vale Fiano Masterclass Australia has the largest plantings of Fiano outside of its Italian homeland, and as the first Australian wine region to produce Fiano, McLaren Vale has gone on to lead Australia in total plantings, individual producers and acclaim. Learn how perfectly Fiano suits McLaren Vale’s Mediterranean climate, varied topography and coastal cuisine, while tasting the diversity of styles that local winemakers are producing today from this increasingly emblematic white variety. |
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| Afternoon |
Lunch and tasting at prominent coastal restaurant overlooking the ocean Looking out over the beach, explore the wider range of white and rosé wines that are perfectly suited to McLaren Vale's seafood cuisine and relaxed, coastal lifestyle. Future white varieties: Crisp, and textural white varieties thrive in McLaren Vale’s coastal environment including Vermentino, Picpoul, and Grenache Blanc. Rosé by the Sea: The Mediterranean climate, windy coast and rolling foothills provide a multitude of refreshing, aromatic, and complex styles of Rosé, which are produced from an exciting range of grape varieties. New Wave Reds: McLaren Vale is home to a diverse range of red grape varieties that are well-suited to our coastal Mediterranean climate: warm summers, cool winters and a constant on-shore wind, as well as our foothills further inland, all bare similarities to the regions that these varieties originate from. Explore how varieties including Nero d’Avola, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Montepulciano have thrived in McLaren Vale and have taken on their own regional expressions. |
| Evening | Cellar Dinner at The Victory Hotel Founded in 1858 overlooking Sellicks Beach and Aldinga Bay, and home to an 8000-bottle subterranean cellar, this top-tier gastropub has earned its reputation as a destination for wine lovers. Over a relaxed dinner in the cellar, explore the characteristics of the wines and styles produced by the vineyards planted across McLaren Vale’s southern sub-regions including Willunga, Sellicks Hill and Whites Valley. |
| DAY 4 | |
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| Defining McLaren Vale Shiraz: Sites, Soils and Styles | |
| Morning | Walk the Onkaparinga River National Park Chapel Hill track to the gorge lookout, accompanied by a sub-regional Geology discussion. |
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The Evolution of McLaren Vale Shiraz Masterclass at Dandelion Wonder Room McLaren Vale Shiraz evolved from a sturdy workhorse red in the 19th and early 20th centuries into our region’s flagship variety and a key driver of our international reputation by the mid-late 20th century. Over the past few decades McLaren Vale Shiraz has evolved again, diversifying further in style from rich, full‑bodied wines to lighter, terroir‑transparent expressions, remaining our region’s most planted grape variety. Discover in-depth this exciting evolution through this deep dive tasting with seasoned winemakers. See how the variety is grown and produced today in McLaren Vale, with focus on bright, mid-weight, elegant style, alongside detailed expressions of sub-regional nuances and iconic single vineyard sites. Modern McLaren Vale Shiraz/Syrah: Today’s McLaren Vale Shiraz and Syrah lean into elegance — medium-bodied with fine, supple tannins and bright red and blue fruit at its core. Winemaking is contemporary and restrained, with little to no new oak, allowing the freshness and vitality of this coastal region’s varied microclimates to shine through clearly. Sub-regional Expressions: Experience the diverse range of unique expressions from across the sub-regions of McLaren Vale. Ranging from the blue-fruits and floral aromatics of the elevated Blewitt Springs and rocky wind-swept slopes of Clarendon, to the smooth, supple mouthfeel of the rolling heartland of limestone, sandhills and alluvial deposits around McLaren Vale township, to the umami, olive-tapenade flavours of the black clays of the southern plains. Iconic Single Vineyards: These prestige wines come from historic, often century-old vineyards, where vine age, site and careful farming converge to express a single origin with clarity and depth. Winemaking is intentionally restrained to let terroir lead, with old vines delivering low yields, concentration, and remarkable balance. Bottled in small quantities, these are fine wines of provenance and pedigree. The recently built Dandelion Wonder Room offers breathtaking 180-degree views over vineyards, the Mt Lofy Ranges, the Gulf St Vincent, and the Willunga Escarpment — a dramatic setting to frame our tasting. |
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| Afternoon | Lunch at Coriole Coriole Vineyards, established by Hugh and Molly Lloyd in 1967 and now led by sons Peter and Duncan, combines a deep respect for history with bold winemaking vision. Nestled on the Seaview Ridge, the estate – including its acclaimed restaurant - sits among lovingly preserved 1860s‑era buildings surrounded by a lush cottage garden. Today, Coriole continues to produce elegant Shiraz‑based wines alongside pioneering plantings of Mediterranean and Italian varieties (such as Sangiovese and Fiano), pairing heritage and innovation. |
| d'Arenberg Cube Tour & Tasting Founded in 1912 by one of McLaren Vale’s seminal wine‑making families, d’Arenberg is today led by fourth‑generation winemaker Chester Osborn. In 2017 the estate unveiled the d’Arenberg Cube — a five‑storey, Rubik’s‑Cube inspired glass‑and‑steel building that hovers among the vines and delivers a wholly unique visitor experience combining wine, contemporary art, sensory installations and panoramic vineyard views. In the Cube’s top‑floor tasting room, overlooking the rolling hills of Willunga and the Gulf beyond, be guided through d’Arenberg’s signature Shiraz‑driven blends. |
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| Departure to airport/city or stay on in-region to discover more. | |
Final itinerary subject to change.
