Pictured: Karrawatta
This spring, a McLaren Vale favourite is back, as Grenache & Gourmet returns for another year. This 18-day festival brings foodies and wine lovers a packed schedule of immersive experiences, one-off collaborations, and phenomenal Grenache, all just a short 40-minute drive from Adelaide.
McLaren Vale is famed for its Grenache and the undeniable ability of the variety to produce wines that are vibrant, elegant, and brimming with character.
Grenache is a versatile grape variety that makes exquisite wine for every time of year, whether you’re sipping Grenache Rosé on a sunny afternoon, savouring its white wine expressions, Grenache Gris or Grenache Blanc, or enjoying the elegant depth of red wine, Grenache Noir.
In 2025, Grenache & Gourmet encompasses 32 events across three categories, Sip & Savour, Learn & Explore, and Relax & Unwind, making sure every festival-goer finds something suited to them. Whether you want to jump into a paired tasting flight overlooking the vines, kick back and relax at a long-table paddock-to-plate feast, or dive into masterclasses with winemakers, this McLaren Vale wine and food festival has tonnes of experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
The Sip & Savour category will see Wirra Wirra highlight the very best of their Grenache, perfectly paired with a Harry’s Deli tasting menu, and Yangarra team up with Shadow Baking in an event they’re calling ‘Aged & Glazed’, where you can try award-winning Grenache with equally amazing pastries. Plus, Red Poles is hosting a cabaret night of all things wine, food, and entertainment, and Nick Haselgrove wines are pairing Grenache with gyoza for a relaxed evening by the fire on International Grenache Day.
For those looking to get stuck into the variety, the Learn & Explore category is for you. You can adventure through a curated route with SA eBikes, get in on a masterclass or two at stunning spots like Serafino, Chapel Hill, and Gemtree Wines, or enjoy an informative tasting at Beresford Estate, d’Arenberg, or Patritti. For an extra special deep dive into the variety from the growers’ perspective, Juxtaposed Wines’ long-table lunch, The Winemaker, The Farmer & The Chef features the stories of Wayne Smart, current patriarch of one of McLaren Vale’s most famous Grenache-growing families. Over multiple duck courses, carefully matched to Juxtaposed Grenache, guests will immerse themselves in stories of old vines and new vintages, of family heritage, of taking risks, and of staying true to the land. This is no ordinary lunch; it’s a storytelling journey.
And if you’re there to kick back and relax, you’ll want to get in on the Relax & Unwind events, like A Fireside Tasting at Ace of Trumps by Karrawatta, Wood, Fire & Vines at Paxton Wines, or Grenache on the Grass at Willunga 100, where you will enjoy their multi-award-winning Grenache alongside a charcuterie board or BYO picnic.
But it’s collaboration that makes this year extra special. McLaren Vale’s winemakers, chefs, and growers are teaming up like never before to deliver one-off experiences created exclusively for the festival. You can savour the iconic Maxwell multi-course tasting menu expertly paired with incredible wines and stories from Bondar, Maxwell, and Thistledown at Grenache Stories: A Culinary Journey Through Grenache. Or sip award-winning Grenache side-by-side with some of the region’s iconic Grenache producers at The Grenache Collective. These events are designed only for that day, that table, that moment.
So whether you’re a long-time Grenache fan or this is your first time discovering the variety, McLaren Vale’s Grenache & Gourmet festival is the perfect opportunity for anyone who loves food, wine, and extraordinary experiences.
This is your chance to taste the very best of McLaren Vale! Tickets and full event details are available now, and with events already selling out, you’ll want to grab yours before they go.
Grenache & Gourmet
When: Friday, September 19th to Monday, October 6th
Where: Around McLaren Vale
For more information, click here.
