Adelaide Hills
One of the greatest advantages of Adelaide is its proximity to premium growing wine regions. The Adelaide Hills is the closest with just a 30–minute drive from the city centre. Even if you only have half a day to spare it is still possible to visit a number of boutique wineries without feeling rushed as they are all in close proximity to each other.
One of the most unique cellar door experiences, about 20 minutes from the city centre by taxi is to visit the hallowed home of Australia’s most famous wine Grange. They conduct a range of tastings and their cellar door staff have a genuine passion and huge knowledge about the wines and the history of the property. As far as conducted tours go it is a very good experience.
Utterly picturesque in any season the region used to be the food bowl of the city and remains famous for apples, pears and in particular cherries. In the apple season there are many road–side stalls that sell pretty good homemade apple pies and we just never seem to be able to go past them. The Adelaide Hills wine region has more than any other South Australian wine region resisted the winery restaurant and whilst some have opted for weekend food others like Shaw & Smith have opted to keep it simple with a good cheese plate. Many cellar doors like Bird in Hand also sell their own (or others) regional products such as olives and extra virgin olive oil.
For an informal dining experience The Lane Vineyards have recently added a restaurant to their beautiful cellar door. With wonderful vineyard views they serve simple rustic food, but we like the idea of a cheese plate and a bottle of John Edward’s terrific wine sitting out on their extensive terrace. To boast a bit this is a region that makes superlative premium wines the beauty being it is very hard to be disappointed.
In the Stirling area there are a number of galleries and antique shops, the most famous of these galleries Aptos Cruz Galleries always have interesting work and beautiful objects of desire.
If you have the time, walking the Heysen Trail is wonderful but remember to take water with you especially in the summer. The Cedars, the Hans Heysen museum gallery is an opportunity to visit the studio and garden of one of Australia’s most famous landscape painters.
For us there is only one dining destination in the Adelaide Hills and that is the Bridgewater Mill Restaurant and the superb cooking of chef Le Tu Thai. Reservations are essential on weekends.

BRIDGEWATER MILL RESTAURANT
Service at the Bridgewater Mill is not what it used to be. Their senior management do not seem to understand the need for service staff appropriate for the food of one of Australia’s finest chefs. There is nothing better than the superlative cooking of Le tu Thai and if you are lucky you might get their last remaining experienced service staff Leanne to look after your table read their review

For full Adelaide Hills winery and cellar door information especially check weekend only food arrangements
w www.adelaidehillswine.com.au

Penfolds Magill Estate Cellar Door
78 Penfold Road Adelaide South Australia 5072
t +61 8 8301 5569
w www.penfolds.com.au
w FOR FULL MAGILL ESTATE CELLAR DOOR INFORMATION

 

For a grazing lunch
Woodside Cheesewrights
Heritage Park 22 Henry Street Woodside South Australia 5244
t +61 8 8389 7877
w www.woodsidecheese.com.au
Woodside Cheesewrights have a reputation for making fine handcrafted cheeses and are regarded as some of Australia’s best seen on the menus of the country’s best chefs. Visiting their cheese cellar door is a great way to buy a picnic lunch. Open 7 days 10.00 am till 4.00 pm

The Lane Vineyards
Ravenswood Lane Hahndorf South Australia 5245
t +61 8 8388 1250
we have visited The Lane Vineyards about a year ago, and whilst we love the wines of the Esward’s family we were underwhelmed with the food and had numerous reports supporting our assesment.
A recent change of chef and another young chef whe had had an interest in we are getting very complimentary reports from diners who were previously highly critical. The Lane is a superb property and whilst we have always recommended them for cheese and wine, we suspect there is something good happening up there at the moment and it might be worth a good look.

The Organic Café
Shop 5, Druids Avenue Stirling South Australia South Australia 5152
t +61 8 8339 7131
Wholesome fresh food and VERY GOOD COFFEE
read their review

Pub
The Stirling Hotel
52 Mt Barker Road Stirling South Australia 5152
t +61 8 8339 2345
w www.stirlinghotel.com.au
Nice to sit outside on a sunny day for a drink.

Things to do
Aptos Cruz Galleries
147 Mount Barker Rd Stirling South Australia 5152
t +61 8 8370 9011

The Cedars
Historic Heysen Home
Heysen Road Hahndorf South Australia 5245
t +61 8 8388 7277

Heysen Trail
w FULL INFORMATION

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