Here's what’s open in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast today. A great way to support local.
Gin and Spirit Trail
Wine isn’t the only drink that makes a splash in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast. A community of trailblazing distillers also bring an impressive collection of craft spirits to the table.
1) Angove Family Winemakers, McLaren Vale
Top-drawer brandy is a beautiful thing. Angove Family Winemakers is a fifth-generation family winemaking business and has been producing its benchmark St Agnes Brandy for 95 years.
Must try: The new St Agnes Brandy flight experience at the Angove McLaren Vale Cellar Door in the heart of the family’s historic, organic and biodynamic Warboys Vineyard. Taste three treasures from Australia's oldest continually operating craft distillery - the Bartenders Cut (eight-year-old), XO (15 year-old) and XO Imperial Blend (20-year-old).
2) Settlers Artisan Spirits, McLaren Vale
This popular distillery door is an essential stop for tasting more than a dozen locally-made boutique gins. Non-juniper fans can explore Settlers’ whisky, rum, vodka and liqueurs.
In addition to pre-booked spirit tastings for individuals or groups, the distillery door offers gin and cheese pairing sessions, cheese platters and cool cocktails.
Must try: Enjoy a Gin Masterclass where you can create your own gin recipes and bottle your favourite blend to take home.
You can have fun exploring the different tastes, flavours and combinations of their 12 different botanicals used in the gin making process. You will get to create your own gin recipes as well as bottle your favourite one in a 200 ml bottle to take home.
The classes are small, intimate and lots of fun!
3) Never Never Distilling Co, McLaren Vale
An architecturally-designed back to back award winning distillery door with uninterrupted views of McLaren Vale is the spiritual home of Never Never Distilling Co.
Never Never owners George Georgiadis, Sean Baxter, and Tim Boast know a thing or two about gin, so make sure you taste the team’s line-up of juniper-forward gins including the Southern Strength Gin which won the World’s Best Classic Gin at the 2019 World Gin Awards.
Must try: Their Dark Series of experimental gins including Ginache made with Never Never’s award-winning Triple Juniper Gin and Grenache using grapes picked from Chalk Hill’s Slate Creek vineyard. It sold out fast but the team kept a few bottles aside.
The cocktail menu is also a must – a distillation of the region itself – showcasing creations designed to celebrate local produce such as the Olive Oil Martini made by infusing the Never Never Triple Juniper Gin with Lloyd Brothers late picked Verdale and Kalamata olive oil. (Image Credit - SATC)
4) Neat Spirits and Fortifieds, McLaren Vale
Discover Neat Spirits, a small and relaxed distillery serving refreshingly different gins, vodkas and cocktails. Find a spot on our huge lawn area in one of our famous lime green armchairs, and unwind with an Appletini Crumble cocktail or Raspberry Tart Gin. Neat is located halfway along the Flat to Vale cycle and walking trail – the perfect refreshment pitstop!
Must Try: Neat’s Sunshine Citrus Gin is a summery burst of ruby red grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin and yuzu.
5) Salopian Inn Gin Bar, McLaren Vale
One of McLaren Vale’s most beloved restaurants also has an exceptional Gin Bar.
Pull up a stool at the bar and check out the Salopian’s encyclopaedic list of about 150 different gins from around Australia and the globe. You will definitely need a drink after reading the dizzyingly diverse gin menu but a local tip -take guidance from sommelier and drinks guru, Alex Marchetti.
Must try: The Summer Gin (a bespoke collaboration with Kangaroo Island Spirits) delivering a fresh style with hints of saltbush and mint, making a cracking G&T to sip at the beach on a hot summer’s day.
6) Ginny Pig Distillery, McLaren Vale
Our visitor centre welcomes Ginny Pig Distillery to its cellar door specialising in Gin. Their products are all handcrafted using all natural ingredients and hand made right here in South Australia. Recently winning the Best London Dry Gin for 2022, with their Botanic Gin.
Must try: The Botanic Gin, homemade with natural ingredients is a must!
7) McLaren Vale Distillery, Blewitt Springs
McLaren Vale Distillery is home to a delicious single malt whisky, but also make gin and fortified wines.
Must try: Awarded Brand Innovator of the year in 2018 by Icons of Whisky, the tasting room offers a Barley to Bottle experience hosted in the distillery where you are seated next to the large copper stills and talked through the process of whisky making.
