Even the checkout chicks greet you with a smile in South Australia. My husband, David and I are heading down to McLaren Vale’s vineyards to get away from the stresses of building a house in Sydney. After picking up our hire car from the airport with apologies for us having to wait for three minutes and genuine conversation and interest from the person at the Rent-a-car place, the four-wheel-drive arrives and we’re off. Mclaren Vale is forty-five minutes by car from Adelaide airport. Set less than ten minutes’ drive inland from a coastline of jagged red cliffs topped with lush greenery sheltering turquoise waters and salt white sand. This scenery is mind-blowing. Why haven’t I heard more about the Fleurieu peninsula? Perhaps people are too busy drinking the array of wines to head to the beach.
Yet, it’s not beach weather. It’s winter and whilst the sun is out and the sky is a deep hue of blue, I’m looking forward to feeling blackberry with notions of chocolate in liquid form slide down my throat whilst my stocking feet perch in front of an open fire.
Accommodation at The Vineyard Retreat
Our accommodation is the divine The Vineyard in the Double Bay end of Mclaren Vale, Blewitt Springs. It’s not yet check-in time so on recommendation we head to Coriole Vineyard for a bite of lunch and tastings. Coriole, like every vineyard we visit, is vegan. We arrive at a postcard-esque stone house set overlooking grapeless vines, gnarly brown naked limbs that look more like nobbled walking sticks. Inside the ancient stone walls is just one other couple from Adelaide. The woman with blond hair tied back tightly and an Avalon style vibe – striped t-shirt, new loafers says “We’ll start with the Fiano.”
We follow suit. The white brims with a nutty texture with floral and honeyed notes, spice and tropical fruit flavours such as pineapple. It’s used mainly in southern Italy, particularly Campania or so my tasting notes tell me. They’re right and I’m in love. Coriole Fiano. We order a few bottles and join their wine club then settle down for lunch. I’ve never seen a twelve-hour roasted butternut pumpkin with fregola and bay oil so I order it – veganised without the ricotta.
It’s delivered by a jolly waitress. I tuck in surveying the – vineyards to the left and a cottage garden to the right alive with sprays of yellow, pink and lavender. I could while away a long afternoon here but we make the most of our time heading off to Beach Road winery before checking into the Vineyard retreat.
Panoramic views of naked vineyards
As we drive along Whitings Road slowing down every few houses and peering out looking for numbers, we see a sign pointing into the Vineyard Retreat and our villa, Highland. A cute villa with a wrap-around verandah is perched high above the road. It is one of five villas that owners Anthea and Stu Cross rent out. I call Anthea and she rushes out of her home to greet us. We follow her on to the balcony of Highland where my eyes drink in panoramic views of naked vineyards neatly organised and stretching to the horizon.
The Vineyard Retreat is set on 15 acres
“You must take some bubbles and head up to the spa”
I have an Airbnb back on the coast. I say, ‘if guests would only tell me when they’d broken a glass, I wouldn’t be angry’. I wouldn’t make them pay for it, it would just give me a chance to fix it for the next guest. Anthea nods in agreement and we bond over more stories. Anthea runs a tight ship and The Highland is spic and span with generous touches such as the two bottles of wine inside the fridge all-inclusive. One is my new fave, the Coriole Fiano. Of course, it is. Anthea and I have the exact same taste. Also in the fridge are local beers, soft drinks, mushrooms and tomatoes and other vegan treats. There’s a basket of more goodies on the island bench, chocolates, chips, local olives. Anthea has gone out of her way to meet our brief and it’s all included in the price. She leaves us to our wine and our fire. We have dinner booked but with such a well-stocked fridge there’s really no need for us to leave.
Like any good traveller, I’ve posted some pics of our accommodation onto social media. With the likes and the oohs and ahs, there’s a message from a friend who has recently stayed. “You must take some bubbles and head up to the spa. The views are to die for.” Anthea’s thought of everything. There are special glasses to take to the spa so they don’t smash into a million pieces. It’s dark now, but we decide to go in the morning.
Book a helicopter to land directly onto the Vineyard Retreat’s
In the morning I wake up to sublime views from our 1200 thread count linen and pillow top mattress. I make a tea and read the information in the compendium thoughtfully put together. There are restaurant suggestions, vineyards all that comes recommended and wine-tasting excursions, a private chef or scenic helicopter flights. The Vineyard Retreat has its own helipad so a helicopter wine tour sounds like my kinda luxury. You can book a helicopter to land directly onto the Vineyard Retreat’s helipad and heli hop some of the Vale’s cellar doors or even be dropped to a private beach on the peninsula with an ice bucket and bubbles.
There’s even a concierge service created group of tours. Simon, a local, connected and highly respected Concierge is on hand to help advise and personally curate experiences.
Fiano, Vermentino, Tempranillo and Sangiovese
I would like to do every tour. A weekend is not enough time to visit the more than fifty vineyards in this coastal grape-producing region. Although best known for Shiraz, I discover it was the Italians and Greeks who settled in the area so there are a number of Mediterranean varieties of grape which are well suited to the area including Fiano, Vermentino, Tempranillo and Sangiovese. There are also ultra-premium grenache and cabernet grapes. Over one-third of our cellar doors offer local produce as part of the tasting experience – from high-end, starred restaurants to casual platters – there are a wine and food combination to suit any taste and the cellar doors we went to were all vegan. Most charge around $5 to $10 for tastings but if you buy some wine they will usually take that off the price.
If you want to lessen the calories you can cycle around the vineyards but I’m happy with a chauffeur or a helicopter. Maybe a surf afterwards would be nice. Anthea will organise boards and racks. I’m sure she could organise me a thick wetsuit too. Maybe next time. The grapes are calling.
Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan stayed as a guest of The Vineyard Retreat.
The Vineyard McLaren Vale
165 Whitings Road
Blewitt Springs SA 5171
(9.00am to 6.00pm ACST)
P: +61 420 370 310
Minimum 2-night stay or 3-nights during Public Holiday weekends.
For more personalised information tips and advice, or to book this incredible holiday contact your local TravelManagers’ personal travel manager here.
