Wirra Wirra Vineyards
255 Strout Road, McLaren Vale, South Australia, 5171
Established in 1894, McLaren Vale’s Wirra Wirra Vineyards are a South Australia institution—but one with a sense of fun. Besides the cellar door, deli, and everything you’d expect from a working winery, there’s a giant bell, a medieval siege machine for hurling watermelons, and a Flintstones-style boundary fence known as “Woodhenge”.
The basics
Most travelers visit Wirra Wirra Vineyards from Adelaide, about an hour’s drive away, on a trip taking in a few wineries. Given South Australia’s strict drink-driving laws, exploring with a driver and guide makes sense—plenty of tours visit here. Experiences on offer range from wine tastings, winery tours, wine and cheese pairings, and Shiraz and chocolate pairings. The most in-depth visit includes lunch, a winery tour, and tastings of biodynamic wines and the estate’s finest bins.
Things to know before you go
Wirra Wirra Vineyards are famed for their Church Block red blends, so it’s a good choice for fans of big, bold reds.
There’s a restaurant where you can enjoy lunch and a gift shop where you can buy wine.
Tastings and tours can last from 45 minutes to 3 hours.
The winery is wheelchair-accessible.
How to get there
Wirra Wirra Vineyards sit in the heart of McLaren Vale, about a 30-mile (45-kilometer) drive south of central Adelaide. They’re a 30-minute walk from the nearest bus stop, so your best options are to self-drive or join a tour.
When to get there
The Cellar Door is open for sales and tastings 10am–5pm Monday through Saturday and 11am–5pm on Sundays and public holidays. Harry’s Deli is open 10am–4pm Monday through Saturday and 11am–4pm on Sundays and public holidays. The winery closes on Good Friday and Christmas Day. Book in advance if you’re visiting on weekends or public holidays.
McLaren Vale’s quirkiest wine experiences
Greg Trott, who reinvigorated Wirra Wirra Vineyards during the 1960s, wasn’t the only McLaren Vale winemaker with a sense of the unusual. The d’Arenberg Cube, a monochromatic structure that looks like an opened-up Rubik's Cube, hosts an Alternate Realities Museum on the ground floor. Plus, the Down the Rabbit Hole Wines’ cellar door and restaurant are in an adapted double-decker bus with a glass roof.
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