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Nestled away in the gardens of one of SA’s favourite wineries, Down the Rabbit Hole, there’s a new elevated space that’s starting to put down roots and bloom into a seasonal, experience-led wine tasting haven.
For those who’ve never been for a wander down the rabbit hole – we simply must ask, what’s taking you so long? And for those well-acquainted, the team hopes their new Signature Wine Room will be the perfect reason to make this sunny, smiley, winery a recurring go-to, and not just another ticked check box on everyone’s long list of must-visit SA cellar doors.
Launched just over a week ago, this new tasting space joins favourites like The Bus in their line-up of delightful tasting spaces. But this addition shifts things up a little. The Signature Wine Room is an elevated hideaway where visitors can truly soak in and settle, with seasonal events designed to leave you walking away after each visit with something new.
“We want to keep people coming back to experience our wine in a different way. Rather than repeating the same tasting… it’s a space where we can create new experiences, so locals can return and discover something different each time”, Emma from Down the Rabbit Hole explains.
In case you needed more convincing, we’ll give you a taste of what’s in store. First up? A chocolate and wine pairing. Need we say more.
“Max Collett has a chocolate business here in McLaren Vale. He’s recently launched it, and we’ve partnered with him. We’ve paired five of our wines with five of his chocolates,” tells Emma.
But it’s not just your taste buds being indulged – the space is just as easy on the eyes. Tucked away, it feels like your own little pocket of paradise as you sip away.
“The vision from Dom was to create another space that felt really elevated. We’ve got custom furniture by Aolani Studios – a long, narrow table made specifically for the room. The artwork is beautiful, there are custom windows…..it’s supposed to be still that kind of boho chic, but on an elevated level”
“All the little details – the plates, the cutlery – everything is beautiful quality. It feels incredible to sit in. It’s surrounded by newly landscaped gardens and tucked behind the bus, so it really does feel like a hidden escape.”
Emma explains how the space was born from a desire to slow things down.
“We wanted to create a space that a group of people could come in and just sit and really sink into that space, rather than the traditional kind of tasting experience, which is kind of in and out – turning things over. You get the use of the space for, like, two hours, and we guide them through the wine and the chocolate. There’s some fresh bread from our chefs on the table when they walk in, so it’s a really kind of an elevated, more luxurious tasting experience”
Down the Rabbit Hole is already something of a South Australian institution – and for good reason. It’s the kind of place where afternoons stretch out, where the clock ticks a little slower, where the flowers smell sweeter and the sun feels warmer. The kind of place where those old adages ring true; you really can stop and smell the roses, the grass really does look a little greener, and you definitely can fall down a rabbit hole of good wine, good food and even better company.
And while the cellar door, wine bus, and Fiore restaurant aren’t going anywhere, the Signature Wine Room feels like an elevated take on a sun-kissed picnic-table long lunch. It’s the perfect place to gather your nearest and dearest, settle in, and let the wine do the rest. This little gem feels steeped in the essence of family, good food, the great outdoors, spring days, and effortless nostalgia. While Emma teased an exciting new experience coming to the Wine Room in May, it’s still under wraps, so we’ll have to stay tuned. In the meantime, the winery has just announced its new weekly calendar as we ease into the colder months, so there’s always something to do at Down the Rabbit Hole.
Cellar Door — open 7 days a week, all year round
Pouring daily 11am–5pm, dining 12pm–3:30pm
Winter Garden Marquee — now open, a cosy, weatherproof nook within the cellar door
Wine Tastings — daily from 11am
Fridays, extended hours — from May 1st, last tastings at 6pm (bookings recommended)
Fiore Restaurant — Thursday to Sunday
‘Mangiamo’ set menu lunch, 12pm–5pm
Nonna’s Table — every Friday night from 5:30pm
A fireside Italian feast with wines included
Mi Amore — private dining aboard the iconic double-decker wine bus
Perfect for a date (or double date) — book ahead, it fills fast
Down the Rabbit Hole
Where: 233 Binney Rd, McLaren Vale SA
When: 11am-5pm Sunday to Wednesday, 11am-9:30pm Thursday and Friday
For the website, click here
