TO GO WITH AFP STORY “Lifestyle-Australia-wine,FEATURE” by Madeleine Coorey Vineyards are shown in this photo of the McLaren Vale wine region east of Adelaide in South Australia on March 6, 2008. World-beating winemaker Michael Fragos sees his South Australian vineyards as the perfect spot to grow grapes — the soil, climate and afternoon sea breeze are all ideal. The only problem is the lack of water in one of the country’s driest states, a hurdle that he and other McLaren Vale vignerons have overcome by using treated waste water to irrigate the deep green vines. AFP PHOTO / Madeleine COOREY (Photo credit should read madeleine coorey/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Australia has 65 formally recognized wine regions scattered across six states. They embody a wide range of styles, climates and even cultures. There’s the jammy, full-bodied Shiraz of the Barossa Valley. The crisp and refreshing Semillon of Hunter Valley. The cool-climate Pinots of Tasmania. They’re all sensational in their own right. But no other appellation does vibes quite like the McLaren Vale.
Located just an easy 45-minute drive south of downtown Adelaide, the Vale is a coastal community catering to oenophiles, gourmands, art-lovers and hipsters in equal measure. For the wine fans, there are multitudes of Cellar Doors showcasing the brilliant Shiraz and Grenache that proliferates here–the product of ancient limestone soil, as well as some of the oldest continually-producing grape vines in the world. Each of them hold their own distinct style and personality, with something for everyone, not just in the glass, but in the atmosphere.
If you want something experimental and unabashedly playful, head to Alpha Box & Dice, where unconventional renderings of Nero d’Avola and Tempranillo are generously poured within a heritage-listed barn. If you want live music and a picnic, head Down The Rabbit Hole. Organic Chardonnay and a luscious Sangiovese-Cabernet blend are always stars of the show, regardless of who is holding the mic. And if you crave traditional elegance backed by stunning scenery, Fox Creek is your first stop–producers of one of South Australia’s most renowned fruit-driven Shirazes.
Of course, fans of fine art will begin their journey instead at The d’Arenberg Cube–a five-story Rubik’s Cube disguised as a functioning building and gallery. It holds a tasting room, an eatery, Dalí sculptures and unfettered views of the surrounding Willunga hills. After its completion in 2017, the markedly modern structure helped hoist McLaren Vale upon the international map as a tourist destination. That evolving global status is sure to accelerate in the months ahead, after United Airlines just introduced the first ever direct service from North America to Adelaide in December of 2025.
But it’s not as if the place is going to turn into Napa Valley overnight. Quite the contrary; so much of the charm
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