Top cellar doors to visit in Clare Valley
The Clare Valley - world renowned for rizza, but heaps on offer for intrepid vino-lovers, including mofo favourite shiraz, cab sav and much, much more.
So for the Clare-curious amongst you thinking about taking in the delicious views (and yeah, a few wines too), here’s the spots we head to - enjoy.
clos Clare
clos Clare will be familiar to lovers of Clare Valley riesling - and they’ve gone to new heights since brothers Sam and Tom Barry (who is also the third generation winemaker at Jim Barry) took ownership of the Florita vineyard. Tastings are available weekends by appointment at their cellar door in the Warilto Homestead building originally constructed in 1892. No restaurant - this is purely about enjoying the delights of their Clare Valley riesling, grenache and shiraz.
45 Old Road, Watervale SA 5254. Open Saturday - Sunday.
Jim Barry
Jim Barry was by all accounts the first qualified winemaker in the Clare Valley back in 1947, and his eponymous winery is still going strong today - third generation Tom Barry doubling up as winemaker here as well as clos Clare. The cellar door is open Monday - Saturday and offers immersive tastings as standard, with the opportunity to book on to a premium tasting of vintages no longer available to the public and tour the vineyards too. Boutique accommodation is also available if you’d like to make it a weekend thing.
33 Craig Hill Road, Clare SA 5453, Monday - Saturday, bookings required.
Kilikanoon
Open daily, there’s a host of options for tasting mofo-favourite producer Kilikanoon - from 30 minute choose-your-own-adventure tasting flights, all the way to their “Revelation” tasting; an hour and a half spent tasting the best current and museum releases selected by their chief winemaker, culminating in the esteemed Revelation Shiraz. With multiple blocks of vines spread throughout the Clare, tasting Kilikanoon’s range is an opportunity to experience the breadth of terroir the region has to offer, and see how it finds expression in the wines.
30 Penna Lane, Penwortham Via Clare Valley, South Australia. Open 7 days.
Paulett
Family-owned and concentrating on small batch production, Paulett’s cellar door also took out a Tripadvisor “Best of the Best” award in 2022. That feels about right - a glorious tasting here allows you to sip through their range whilst also taking in knockout views over the vines. Plus, the option of also pairing to canapes focused on regional specialties and native ingredients, prepared by their Bush DeVine restaurant on site; we recommend staying for lunch too, considering they were awarded a Chef's Hat in the Good Food Guide 2024. Serial overachievers, Halliday rated them five “red” stars as well - bookings essential for this one.
752 Jolly Way, Polish Hill River SA 5453, open 7 days.
Pikes
We’re not in the business of picking favourites, but Gourmet Traveller in 2022 named Pikes as the Cellar Door with Best Food in 2022, and the Good Food Guide also awarded their “Slate” restaurant a Chef’s Hat in 2020, 2021, 2022 and *drumroll* 2023. Should we talk about the brilliant wines now too? Pikes renowned “Traditionale” riesling is a reference point for anyone that’s serious about Clare Valley rizza - you’ll kick off a tasting here with a glass, plus the option of tasting four more wines from their range. One not to miss.
233 Polish Hill Road, Sevenhill, South Australia 5453. Cellar door open 7 days, restaurant Thursday - Sunday.
Reillys Wines
Intimate and attentive tastings in heritage stonewalled cellar door, what’s not to love? Reillys showcases their estate grown Clare Valley faves on tasting (including sparkling, whites, reds and fortifieds), plus a restaurant open Thursday - Monday, with an indulgent long lunch service available at weekends. There’s also the option to book into their listed accommodation too, if you feel like making a weekend of it.
Corner Leasingham Road & Hill St, Mintaro, Clare Valley SA 5415, open 7 days.
Skillogalee
Skilly have been knocking out classic Clare Valley wines for the last half century - riesling, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, gewürztraminer, chardonnay, and muscat. Pure wines with sustainability and minimal intervention at the focus, focused on expressing the fantastic terroir of their vineyards. Open 7 days, their cellar door is housed within an 1850s stone settlers’ cottage, with their restaurant offering a seasonal menu showcasing local produce paired to the wines. Picnic baskets and platters are also available if you’re feeling like eating al fresco in the valley.
23 Trevarrick Rd, Sevenhill SA 5453, open 7 days.
O’Leary Walker
Five-star Halliday rated, the cellar door at O’Leary Walker showcases the label’s stunning small batch, vegan friendly wines - with fruit sourced not just from the Clare but also premium sites in the Adelaide Hills too, and including more esoteric varietals like grüner veltliner and pinotage. A range of tasting flights are available overlooking their stunning Watervale vineyard - and kids also have the option of tasting their own “flight” of three Fleurieu Milk Company flavoured milks with paired snacks. There’s also food options to suit both small and large appetites - from grazing platters available at the cellar door for a light option, through to their onsite restaurant (rated as one of the region’s best), focusing on the best and fairest seasonal fare from across the state.
7093 Horrocks Highway, Leasingham, South Australia 5452, open 7 Days.
If you want to brush up on the need-to-know Clare Valley info, our 1-0-1 guide is the perfect intro the region.
ps. make sure to check the winery websites we've linked above for up-to-date info on openings and bookings, especially around the holidays.
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