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 Spirits at d'Arenberg Cube , McLaren Vale
Make a day of it and enjoy a full gin tasting at The Cube overlooking panoramic view across the picturesque McLaren Vale region.
Must try: Enjoy a 30 minute wine tasting. 30 minute gin tasting and a self guided tour of the d'Arenberg Cube.
You can choose between two gin flights and enjoy their extensive range that includes sloe and pink gins as well as a plethora of flavoured gins to satisy your taste buds.
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.
