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At these wineries in South Australia, fine wine doesn’t just improve with age – it’s enhanced by unique experiences, too.
Here, we reveal our favourite wineries in South Australia for connoisseurs who crave a little more.
1. Discover Alternate Realities at the iconic d’Arenberg Cube, McLaren Vale
Mention McLaren Vale and many people will immediately picture the impressive d’Arenberg Cube. An incredible feat of architecture, this one-of-a-kind winery is a visual representation of the complexities of winemaking.
Along with immersive and experiential wine encounters, the cube is home to an Alternate Realities art gallery on the ground floor and a second-floor Salvador Dalí exhibit of Surrealist sculptures and artworks. The contemporary tasting room on the top floor is where you can soak up unbeatable views across the vineyards and rolling hills of McLaren Vale, glass in hand.
Where fine wine is, good food follows. Head to the Singapore Circus Café for Asian-inspired dishes and light bites (like an orange, black sesame and miso cookie) with a side of mind-bending art, or d’Arrys Verandah, for seasonally inspired degustations in a 19th-century homestead.
2. Take a scenic helicopter flight, McLaren Vale
Take your winery experience to new heights with a bird’s-eye view over the whole McLaren Vale region by helicopter. Watch as the Fleurieu Peninsula’s patchwork greenery, coastline, beautiful beaches, cliffs and vineyards unfold – you might even be lucky enough to spot frolicking dolphins in the surf. Include a winery stop and a long, lazy degustation lunch and you’ve got a day with a real sense of occasion.
3. Weave through the vines on a Seppeltsfield Segway tour, Barossa
Add a dose of fun to your Barossa experience on a Seppeltsfield Segway tour. Consider this your backstage pass to parts of the estate otherwise inaccessible to guests, taking a trail through heritage-listed sights, 19th-century architecture and tranquil gardens, with stunning vineyard vistas along the way. An expert guide will give you the full lowdown, including Segway training, a helmet and safety vest, making the experience suitable for beginners and seasoned Segway fans alike.
4. Join an extra virgin olive oil masterclass at Vasse Virgin, Barossa
Located on the Seppeltsfield estate, Vasse Virgin is Barossa’s answer to all-natural, handmade skin and body products. Dedicated to passing their knowledge on, Vasse Virgin run a handful of workshops, including a 45-minute extra virgin olive oil masterclass. Learn absolutely everything you’ve ever wanted to know about EVOO from highly trained staff, from the oil-making process to discovering what ‘extra virgin’ really means, spotting faults in oils and selecting the best oil for your home cooking. At the end, you’ll be presented with a 250ml bottle of Vasse Virgin olive oil to take home.
You can round off your experience with a wine tasting at the Seppeltsfield cellar door. After all, you’ll need to find the right wine to pair with your EVOO-enhanced home cooking.
5. Be vined & dined at the two-chef-hatted restaurant of St Hugo, Barossa
Part of Barossa’s rich wine heritage, St Hugo’s roots date back to the late 1800s. Named after Hugo Gramp (grandson of legendary Barossa winemaker and Jacob’s Creek founder Johann Gramp), St Hugo prides itself on providing guests with one-of-a-kind experiences from the fruits of the land, not only when it comes to wine, but dining, too.
Its restaurant, the recipient of two chef hats in the AGFG awards 2025, draws from the onsite kitchen garden and local providers for its seasonal menus. From Franklin Harbor oysters to the signature lamb fillet with kalamata caramel, cucumber and herbs, every dish is designed to work in harmony with the accompanying St Hugo wines.
6. Tour Australia’s only onsite winery cooperage, Barossa
Gain an insight into the important task of barrel-making at Yalumba cooperage – Australia’s only onsite winery cooperage and one of just five in the world. Your experience begins with a short introduction to the winery and its owners, the Hill-Smiths, before a rare look at barrel-making, something which has been perfected here over 100 years.
Depending on the time of year, you’ll see coopers hard at work preparing or maintaining the barrels, ready for Yalumba’s finest wines. Afterwards, it’s off to the tasting room, where a Yalumba ambassador will introduce you to five iconic wines from the portfolio.
7. Taste your birth year vintage at Seppeltsfield’s Centennial Cellar
For a truly unique experience (or an unforgettable gift for a gourmand), you can’t go past Seppeltsfield’s ‘taste your birth year’ experience. Drawing from its vintage Tawny collection dating back to 1851, you’ll be invited to sample your birth year blend straight from the barrel, while you learn the craft behind its creation from a knowledgeable educator.
