Feature image by Frankie The Creative
1. Down The Rabbit Hole
Down the Rabbit Hole Wines, recently opened their new McLaren Vale cellar door, which includes a vintage bus called Lennon. Owners Elise Cooke and Dom Palumbo have matched the decor of Lennon to the rustic cellar door, which has an etherial vibe (that’s also perfect for those looking for insta worthy snaps).
They’re taking strictly no bookings, walk-ins only. It’s also not a place for wine buses or bucks/hens parties, and is more suited to chilled picnics on the lawns, and lazy Summer adventures. Read more about it here.
You can find Down The Rabbit Hole’s cellar door at 233 Binney Road, McLaren Vale, SA, 5171.
2. Saint & Scholar
Saint and Scholar wines are part of the new landscape of the flourishing Adelaide Hills wine scene. This year the company has lay down more local roots with the opening of their new cellar door at reputable Hills icon Maximilian’s.
Founded in 2016, Saint and Scholar has experienced great success and is cementing the label’s future in undertaking this major new venture.
Of course, all the perks of the location add to the lure of their wine tastings, with the gorgeous lake views and ongoing golf, hole-in-one challenge.
Saint & Scholar can be found at 15 Onkaparinga Valley Rd, Verdun SA.
3. Salena Estate
Salena Estate Wines has officially launched their brand new cellar door and restaurant named Cucina 837 at Salena at their winery in Loxton. As part of their $10 million dollar site-wide expansion including new storage and warehousing facilities, offices and meeting spaces as well as the brand new cellar door and restaurant. Read more about it here.
Salena Estate is at 837 Bookpurnong Road, Bookpurnong
4. RedHeads Wine
RedHeads wine is the Australian Winemaking arm of UK-Owned wine merchant, Direct Wines. Despite not having a huge following in South Australia has gathered a devout following. Their new cellar door includes an old 1888 cottage, which heritage builders renovated back to its former glory. There’s also an implement shed, which originally blocked out the vineyard views from the halls, however, after the removal of one side, it’s been transformed into an open bar. “We didn’t want to be a cellar door with people wearing white shirts who are regurgitating from a script, we wanted more of that bar feel. You can come in and chill or ask questions and dive deep into the wine.” In following the regional bar theme, RedHead’s venture also includes the offer of beer. Read more about it here.
RedHeads Village Opening Hours:
Fridays 12pm ’til 7pm
Saturdays and Sundays 11am ’til 5pm
Find RedHeads Village at 258 Angaston Road Tanunda, SA.
5. Charlotte Dalton Wines & 6. Cooke Brothers Wines
Just a stroll from the popular beachside town of Port Elliot sits Factory 9, a creative hub that houses an eclectic group of people. Charlotte Dalton Wines has relocated from the Adelaide Hills to Port Elliot alongside Cooke Brothers Wines. Respective winemakers, Charlotte Hardy and Ben Cooke are connected in more ways than one, new business partners as well as the kind of partners that have kids together.
It’s a place where you can hang out, play some pool, drink beer, share simple plates of local produce and, of course, try and buy delicious wine. Visitors will be able to taste both brands with mixed flights available. There will be some cellar door exclusives and Charlotte Dalton and Cooke Brothers collabs, under the name The Joinery. But there will be no rules, no pressure.
“We don’t want to talk at you about wine,” she assures us.
“It’s somewhere to come, drink wine and relax, and if you want to chat wine we can.”
You’ll find The Joinery at Factory 9 down Waterport Road and at 89-91 Hill Street, Port Elliot.
7. Vigna Bottin Wines
Marrying the Italian regions of Veneto and Calabria, Vigna Bottin Wines‘ has recently opened a cellar door as the natural progression in a trajectory of Italian authenticity.
Reminiscent of the vignerons of the North and South of Italy, grape grower/winemaker, Paolo Bottin, alongside partner, Maria, have both metaphorically and physically grown a vineyard that is indeed a slice of Italy in South Australia. The new cellar door is located at former Willunga institution, Au Pear restaurant, which is a perfect choice given the Tuscan style venue. Read more about it here.
You can find Vigna Bottin Wines’ cellar door at 192 Main Road, Willunga.
8. Sidewood Estate Pop Up Cellar Door
Adelaide Hills winery, Sidewood Estate will enter next year with a new, multimillion dollar cellar door, cidery and restaurant on River Road Hahndorf. As for now, Sidewood has announced that its tenancy at Maximilian’s will come to an end on September 29 of this year.
Until then, Sidewood is creating a ‘pop up’ cellar door in the Apple Shed at the new property.
The pop up will trade from Wednesday to Sunday, 11am – 5pm at 6 River Road, Hahndorf.
9. Riot Wine Co’s Urban Cellar Door—The Cannery
Riot Wine Co are leaders in contemporary sustainable winemaking. As the first Australian company to store 100% of their wine in reusable stainless steel kegs, they also package their wine in infinitely recyclable aluminium cans.
They launched their new cellar door a few months ago, as an urban destination where you can enjoy wine tastings, or kick back at their bar where you are invited to experience all the wines on your own time.
The Cannery is located at 59 Torrens Road, Brompton and is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
10. Maxwell Wines
While Maxwell Wines don’t technically have a new cellar door, their recent renovations have essentially given us a whole new venue. And it’s amazing. From their updated branding, to the slick new cellar door bar, and breathtaking restaurant, it’s the perfect excuse to visit one of the regions most stunning locations. Luckily, of course, their incredible views are still very much the same.
You’ll find Maxwell Wines at 19 Olivers RoadMcLaren Vale, South Australia
11. Atze’s Corner
This Barossa Valley cellar door has actually been open for just over a year but it’s a bit of a hidden gem.
Andy Kalleske founded Atze’s Corner Wines in 2005, backed by the rich history of his ancestry and deep appreciation for the winemaking process, eventually opening the stunning cellar door in 2018.
Right near Penfolds and Elderton, the vineyard, and now cellar door, sits proud, the location of some of the oldest vineyards in the Barossa Valley, and multi-award winning wines.
In terms of what’s to come, Atze’s Corner will play host to a variety of upcoming live music events.
Dowie Doole
Amidst the vineyards, just off Bayliss Road in McLaren Vale, four shipping containers sit, all the final touches since our last chat with the team have produced one of McLaren Vale’s coolest cellar doors.
Dowie Doole’s cellar door has been in the works for a few years now, with director and winemaker Chris Thomas working closely with Oli Scholz of Scholz Vinall Design, to produce something that breathes sustainability.
Dowie Doole can be found at 598 Bayliss Road, McLaren Vale, SA.
COMING SOON:
Bird in Hand Wine
One of the Adelaide Hills most recognisable wineries and cellar doors, Bird in Hand, is undergoing a huge $30 million renovation. The upgrade will include an exclusive 40-seat wine and culinary experience, art gallery, increased cellar door space, underground cellars, tasting rooms and landscaped gardens. Read more about it here.
Location: Adelaide Hills
Construction commencement date: Early 2020
Sidewood Estate
Adelaide Hills winery, Sidewood Estate will enter next year with a new space; A cellar door, cidery and restaurant on River Road Hahndorf.
Working closely with local designer Amanda Shier, Cassandra says that the new venue is said to have a “clean and sleek, modern design of the restaurant and cellar door will feel elegant but approachable, relaxed and authentic.”
The new venue will only be a short drive from Adelaide’s CBD (only 12 minutes drive from the South Eastern Freeway toll gates) and is located on a on a 50 acre working orchard, with a working sheep farm.
Location: Adelaide Hills
Expected opening date: Mid-January 2020
Tilbrook Estate
In March 2018 Tilbrook Estate relocated their cellar door and winery to the vineyard at 1856 Lobethal Road (halfway between Lobethal and Lenswood), siting the winery in the old machinery shed and the cellar door temporarily in a side opening shipping container. They are now building an environmentally friendly cellar door next to the shipping container that will be zero net carbon and powered by the sun. Read more about it here.
Location: Adelaide Hills
Expected opening date: 2020
Know of any other new cellar doors? We’d love to know! Email [email protected]
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