Australia's finest wine-producing region is arguably South Australia’s Barossa Valley, which lies northeast of Adelaide.
But closer, in fact, to the city is the wine region around McLaren Vale in the Fleurieu Peninsula which is less than an hour away by coach or car.
This is Fleurieu Peninsula wine country.
More than 50 wineries
In the McLaren Vale area alone are more than 20 wineries. If you include Reynella, Willunga and Langhorne Creek in the region, there'd be more than 50.
Fleurieu Peninsula wine country is particularly suited to the growing of grapes suitable for red wine but the popularity of whites has seen a veering towards its production.
Go by car with a group
The best way to visit the McLaren Vale wine country is probably by car and with a group.
If planning a day of wine tasting in the Fleurieu Peninsula, it is best to have a designated driver who doesn’t drink or who will partake of wine minimally. (Driving while inebriated is a crime and there are breathalyser units which can pull up drivers for testing.)
Or go on an organised tour
Alternatively, one could simply book a wine tour of McLaren Vale from Adelaide and leave the driving to the pros. Drawbacks to this are a fixed route and inflexible timetables.
A tour offering greater flexibility is a winery bus service which drops off and picks you up along a designated route. You can stay as long or as short as you wish at any stop. Just don’t miss that last trip.
There are camel tours, too
Other trips to try: Go by bicycle or motorbike or ride a camel. Yes, there are camel tours available on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Next page: Fleurieu Peninsula Beaches
