5 ways to discover McLaren Vale this summer
Summer Vines returns for a third year with food, wine and music offerings spread across eleven days. Here are CityMag’s picks of the program to sip your way through the region.
The Summer Vines festival program, running from January 17 – 27, is designed to show off the best of the seaside region’s contemporary wineries and farm-to-table food culture.
Less than an hour’s drive from the CBD, here are CityMag’s picks of the program to explore the Mediterranean-inspired food culture in our own backyard.
A Donkey-Led Wine Adventure
This picture: supplied
You don’t need to go all the way to a Greek island for a donkey companion, you can have your very own equine-accompanied adventure at Journey Home Wines. Donkey’s Agatha and Winsome will happily accompany you through a scenic walk of the vineyards and even dutifully carry your snacks. Along the trail, morning tea and wine tastings are included.
The Donkey-led wine adventure is on Sunday, January 19 10am ‘til 12pm. Find out more via the Summer Vines website.
You might like
Dumpling Days
Yum! Picture: supplied.
It’s no secret CityMag loves dumplings and we’ll happily hop in the car for a good one. The O’Connell Street favourite LUCKY Dumpling & Noodle are setting up at the Woodstock Wine lawns for the Summer Vines festival across two consecutive Saturdays. There will be wines from Woodstock (duh), dumplings and live acoustic sets from local musicians, the lawns even have a playground for kids to play while you soak up the sun.
Dumpling Days is on Saturday, January 25 from 12pm ’til 4pm. Find out more and book a table via the Summer Vines website.
Chalk Hill Sensory Odyssey
Picture: supplied.
This wine tasting comes with a curated soundtrack tailored to each sip. The experience from Chalk Hill lasts about 75 minutes and includes a welcome drink and five wines to taste your way through. Each is paired with a piece of music that’s said to “enhance the wine’s character and complexity.” The Sensory Odyssey won the Innovative Wine Tourism Experience award at the 2022 Wine Tourism Awards, and the immersive tasting promises to explore how sound, smell, and texture shape your perception of a wine.
Subscribe for updates
Chalk Hill Sensory Odyssey is on Wednesday, January 22 with time slots from 10:30am. Find out more via the Summer Vines website.
e-TukTuk Wine Tour
Picture: supplied
Tour the region on an e-TukTuk for two or more passengers, with a TukTuk pilot peddling you through the scenic Shiraz Trail. The journey begins at Shirvington Wines and includes a wine tasting, a grazing plate, and a trek through other boutique wineries along the way.
The TukTuk tour is available at different time slots from January 17-27. Find out more on the Summer Vines website.
Sunday Sounds
Hastwell & Lightfoot cellar door, McLaren Flat. Picture: supplied.
Local musician Garry Stillwell will provide the soundtrack with classic hits from the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond filling the Oak room of Hastwell & Lightfoot winery and its surrounding lawns. Platters, wine, beer, cider and tastings are available to purchase on the day. The venue recommend bringing your own camping chairs or rugs to settle in for the afternoon.
Sunday Sounds with Garry Stillwell is on Sunday, January 19. Find out more via the Summer Vines website.