Fall From Grace is something of a hidden gem, and an easy one to miss at that. Located out at Aldinga, this humbly sized yet welcoming wine bar is tricky to find, but intensely memorable once discovered.
A long-time labour of love for winemaker Gill Gordon-Smith, Fall From Grace is emblematic of her love for wine, travel and the stories connecting them. Inspired by a London bottle shop Gill visited while working as a flight attendant, the business has an extensive history of travelling itself. The first location opened on Main Road in McLaren Vale, then moving to High Street in Willunga four years later. After another four years, Gill relocated to Aldinga, operating from within a café. One year after that she shifted the business to the corner of Old Coach and Port Roads, where it still sits.
Befitting a former flight attendant and travel savant, Fall From Grace features a unique selection of local and foreign wines. There is a distinct Italian bias in the wine list, showcased by the premier selection. Such a find pairs well with the typical cheese and salami pairings offered at the bar, or you could buy a pizza from across the road and bring that with you instead. Fall From Grace happily encourages a BYO food mentality for customers.
One of the greatest attributes of Fall From Grace is the community that has sprung up around it. Many of the day-to-day patrons are regulars, who are often eager to strike up a conversation. Fall From Grace is also the go-to hub for emerging local winemakers, where they have weekly opportunities to showcase their wines and get vital feedback from the public. One such event was the Garden of Eden dinner, held while Fall From Grace was still in McLaren Vale. This dinner saw winemaking superstars from Aphelion, Berg Herring, Year Wines, Koltz Wines and Brash Higgins in attendance.
Fall From Grace is much more than just a wine bar though. It can be just as much an educational experience for patrons and wine connoisseurs. The backstory of each wine is just as important as the label or taste, and Gill recognised that wine could tell a story. This care and attention have made Fall From Grace a must-visit location for anybody who wants to experience minimal-intervention wines, as well as a golden destination for the South Australian wine industry’s next generation.
The business has recently passed to a new owner, a well-known figure and juggernaut within the wine community, Margot Muir. She took ownership of Fall From Grace at the beginning of April this year. The community-minded spirit of this incredible business is still going strong and is absolutely worth a visit.
Fall From Grace can be found at 206-208 Port Rd, Aldinga.
For more information on their business, visit their Facebook page here.
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