Winter in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast
Winter is a great time of year to enjoy McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast, and the season to experience some of South Australia’s best festivals and events.
Only 40 minutes south of Adelaide, come for an event, then stay a little longer. A bite to eat, wander through a gallery, book a cellar door tasting, follow the coast, settle in by the fire or turn it into a relaxed weekend away.
Make more of your visit Explore winter events
Make more of your winter visit
Cosy cellar doors and winter reds
McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast is one of Australia’s most recognised wine regions, and winter is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy it. Settle in at a cellar door, taste your way through bold reds, book a long lunch or find a fireside spot with vineyard views.
Long lunches, cafés and local food
Build your winter day around good food. From restaurants and bakeries to casual cafés, seaside dining, vineyard lunches and regional produce, there are plenty of places to eat before or after an event.
Gin, beer and spirits
Discover local breweries, taprooms, distilleries and relaxed drinks experiences across McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast. It’s an easy way to add another stop to your winter itinerary.
Explore breweries and distilleries
Art, galleries and village wandering
Winter is a beautiful time to slow down and explore the creative side of the region. Visit a gallery, browse local shops, discover public art or wander through one of the region’s historic villages.
Coastal walks and scenic drives
Balance your winter event with fresh sea air. Follow Route 31 Coastal Drive, walk the Witton Bluff Base Trail, visit Port Willunga, explore Port Noarlunga or rug up for a quiet beach walk.
Explore Route 31 Coastal Drive
Stay the night
Turn your winter event into a weekend. Choose from vineyard retreats, beach houses, cosy cottages, caravan parks, boutique accommodation and places to stay close to cellar doors, cafés, beaches and trails.
Featured winter events
From major art exhibitions to fireside dining and month-long celebrations of food, wine and art, winter still brings plenty of reasons to visit McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast. Explore the events below, then build your visit around wine, food, gin, beer, nature, coast and culture.
Fleurieu Food Festival
Warm up winter with a month-long celebration of local food, wine and regional flavours, including vineyard feasts, farm-fresh experiences, long lunches, hands-on workshops and chef-led dining events.
Make more of your visit: Plan a winter food trail, book a long lunch, visit a winery, stop by a brewery or distillery, or stay the weekend.
Winter trip ideas
Not sure where to start? Use these simple winter ideas to build your visit around an event.
For friends and groups
Choose a music, food or brewery event, add a cellar door or long lunch, then stay overnight so no one has to rush home.
For couples
Pair an art exhibition or winter event with a slow lunch, wine tasting, scenic drive and a cosy place to stay.
For families
Look for family-friendly events, then add a bakery stop, playground, short walk, beach wander or relaxed casual dining.
For food and wine lovers
Start with a winter event, book a long lunch, visit a cellar door, stop by a distillery or brewery and finish with a night in the vines or by the coast.
Looking ahead to spring
Winter is just the beginning. As the seasons shift, McLaren Vale continues the celebrations with Grenache & Gourmet, returning from 18 September to 5 October 2026.
Expect Grenache, local food, long lunches, cellar door events and immersive wine experiences across the McLaren Vale wine region.
Plan your winter weekend escape or stay a little longer.
Close to Adelaide
McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast is around 40 minutes from Adelaide, making it an easy choice for a winter day trip, long lunch, live event, art experience or weekend away.
Start at the Visitor Centre
Drop into the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre for local advice, maps, visitor guides, regional produce, art and ideas for making more of your visit.
Winter events in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast: FAQ's
What winter events are on in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast?
McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast hosts a range of winter events, including food and wine festivals, live music, art exhibitions, brewery events, long lunches and seasonal experiences.
Is McLaren Vale good to visit in winter?
Yes. Winter is a great time to visit McLaren Vale, with cosy cellar doors, long lunches, winter reds, art events, food experiences, galleries, breweries and accommodation close to the vines and coast.
Can I visit McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast as a day trip from Adelaide?
Yes. McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast is around 40 minutes from Adelaide, making it ideal for a winter day trip, event outing, long lunch or coastal drive.
What can I do before or after a winter event?
Before or after a winter event, you can visit a cellar door, book a long lunch, stop by a brewery or distillery, explore a gallery, walk along the coast, follow Route 31 Coastal Drive or stay overnight.
Are there winter events for couples, friends and groups?
Yes. The region has music events, food and wine experiences, art exhibitions, brewery events, long lunches and accommodation options suited to couples, friends and groups.
Where should I stay for a winter weekend in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast?
You can stay in vineyard retreats, beach houses, boutique accommodation, cosy cottages, caravan parks and self-contained stays across McLaren Vale, Willunga, Aldinga, Port Noarlunga, Christies Beach and nearby coastal villages.
Sitemap
Sitemap
Secure your spot in the next McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast Visitor Guide.
Renowned as one of South Australia's most sought-after visitor guides, we are excited to reach out to you regarding an advertising opportunity with the next edition of the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast Visitor Guide, now celebrating its 10th year of success.
Guide Fast Facts:
- Minimum 70 000 copies printed
- Online version available here
- Major tourism marketing initiative for our region
- In circulation for over 2 years
- Distributed along the Great Ocean Road (Melbourne to Adelaide Touring Route)
- Stocked in Adelaide CBD accommodation, attractions, hire car companies, cafes and the SA Visitor Information Centre network
The guide is designed to not only draw visitors to our picturesque region but also to inspire them to extend their stay and explore more. This directly translates into increased foot traffic and revenue for local businesses like yours.
By featuring in the guide, you'll be positioning your company at the forefront of an audience eager to experience the best of what McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast has to offer.
Key documents:
Please note the deadline for bookings is Friday, 19 April 2024 and final artwork is required by Thursday, 16 May 2024
The previous edition's spots were filled well before the deadline, so get in quickly to secure your spot! An invoice for payment will be sent to you upon securing your space.
For any questions or additional information, please contact Tristelle Ruiz on 0403 167 867 or Emma Beckett on 0476 904 082 or email –
We are looking forward to the opportunity of working together and to another successful edition showcasing the best of McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast.
Festivals and events
Festivals and events
Whether summer, autumn, winter or spring, the region is bursting with national, state and local year-round events.
Experience the internationally renowned food and wine, eclectic mix of arts and culture, as well as the spectacular nature and great outdoors.
Here’s your quick guide to the upcoming festivals and events.
TICSA Accreditation
SUPPORTING YOUR TOURISM BUSINESS TO BECOME ACCREDITED
Give your business a mid year boost.
We have partnered with the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia (TiCSA) and are proud to offer a limited number of tourism businesses the opportunity to become accredited through the Quality Tourism Accredited Business (QTAB) Program FOR FREE.
To further support our local tourism industry, the program provides great tools & resources to assist in creating and updating business policies and procedures to ensure ongoing sustainability and best practices. We want you to thrive!
You bring your time, energy and passion and we’ll bring the support.
To assist you through the accreditation process, we are also offering:
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One-on-one business mentoring (up to four x 1-hour sessions) through the Southern Business Mentoring Program
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Digital audit and one-on-one consultation to ensure your digital presence is reaching your target audience
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Access 30+ business development tools, templates and resources
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Kick-off networking session with program participants and TiCSA
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Face-to-face customer service workshop
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Free ReviewPro account to track, benchmark and monitor your online reputation.
