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COMING SOON: Dandelion Vineyards set to open their first cellar door in McLaren Vale!

By Lisa Keller

Posted on March 29, 2022

Opening in June 2022, Dandelion Vineyards’ new cellar door will be located at a centre of a stunning 60-acre property, overlooking the Gulf of Vincent.

All images: Dandelion Wines

South Australian label Dandelion Vineyards is a unique purveyor of wines. Rather than a single property for their vineyards, they have made the most of the pristine conditions that our great state has to offer and have spread their vineyards across the main regions.

In doing so, it’s meant that there has been no ‘base’ for their loyal following to visit. From their very first vintage in 2008, it has always been a dream for winemaker and owner of Dandelion Elena Brooks and her husband Zar to open a cellar door and now that dream is coming to fruition.

The pair purchased the Firehawk Farm Vineyard as part of their McLaren Vale circle with the intention of opening a cellar door and restaurant on the stunning 60-acre property. Then Covid hit. Plans were thrown out the window as Dandelion Wines joined the vast number of businesses wondering how they would survive.

But thanks to the South Australian Government and PIRSA’s regional dollar-for-dollar grant, the dream was alive once again. The $380 thousand dollar award breathed fresh life into the project.

‘The Wonder Room’ will stand among the vineyards at Firehawk Farm, on top of an ancient ridge overlooking the beauty that is McLaren Vale with breathtaking views of the Gulf of Vincent and Willunga Escarpment.

Construction on the building is deep in the works with the team aiming for competition by early June this year.

Hailing from Bulgaria, Elena Brooks made her way to South Australian shores at the tender age of 19 and never looked back. She grew up in a small wine region in the mountains and was grew up surrounded by barrels and grapes. For Elena, her future was never a doubt. She was always going to be in wine.

24 years later and Elena not only has a successful wine business that is imported to over 20 countries around the world but along with her husband has won multiple awards including Bushing Queen and King for Best Wine in Show in last years 48^th McLaren Vale Wine Show.