Counting down to Stage Five of the Tour Down Under held in McLaren Vale, we celebrate “50 THINGS TO DO IN MCLAREN VALE”:
#1 – Sunrise walk on the beach at Port Willunga - might even see some dolphins
#2 -Explore the wilderness of the Onkaparinga Gorge National Park - wedge tail eagles, native fauna, rugged cliffs and calm billabongs
#3 -Test your artistic talents with an art class at Red Poles
#4 -A cold Vale Ale at the Salopian Inn must form part of your day, especially on a 31 degree day like we have today
#5 -Let Sharon & David at Fino in Willunga tempt you with local fare crafted with care and attention that has earned many an award
#6 -Lose yourself in Doug Govan’s cellar at The Victory Hotel. A greater collection of wine is hard to find.
#7 -Set yourself a task of trying at least 6 of the 20 unique single block McLaren Vale Scarce Earth Shirazes. Each one reflecting the terroir of a special parcel of McLaren Vale.
#8 -A hot flat white,the morning’s paper and tasty pastries at Blessed Cheese are the best start to the day.
#9 -Immerse yourself in history in Chapel Hill’s Chapel built in 1865, while there taste a few wines, take in some contemporary South Australian art and enjoy the view over vineyards, through the Gorge and out to sea.
#10 -How long have you got? So much to see, smell and taste at the Willunga Markets. Fresh baked bread, seasonal fruit, vegetables, olives, cheese, better allow a several hours as you will need a coffee as well….on every Saturday morning rain, hail or shine!
#11 -Mark Lloyd’s passion for McLaren Vale is evident everywhere you look at Coriole. Delicate cheeses, flavoursome olives and oil and fine wine, even poetry is sometimes heard amongst the vines.
#12 -Line Willunga Hill and share in the peloton’s pain as they compete for the coveted Skoda King of the Mountain title.
#13 - A fresh salad, great sandwich or a wholesome meal in order. Grab a spot under the umbrellas at Market 190.
#14 - Who is the 2011 McLaren Vale Bushing King or Queen? A honour bestowed each year on the maker of the top wine at McLaren Vale’s wine show, there have been over 40 of them of the years, so plenty of royalty to track down…in 2011 it was S.C.Pannell for his 2010 Tempranillo Touriga
#`15 - Horace Trenerry painted throughout McLaren Vale and it is now the home of the Fleurieu Art Prize, the world’s richest landscape art prize. Not surprisingly the region is blessed with myriad galleries. Get on the Fleurieu Arts Trail and experience them all
#16 - Bring your board. If you ask nicely one of the locals will point you in the direction of some good breaks. Gull Rock is a favourite.
#17 - The boys at Wirra Wirra like their big toys, like watermelon launching catapults. The latest edition is a serious BBQ. Bring your meat and I am sure they will let you burn a chop, as they pour you a glass of wine.
#18 - The McLaren vale region is passionately committed to the environment and its preservation. Check out Gemtree’s wetlands, a great example of the work being done in the region to embed sustainable practices. After all as it is often said, we do not inherit the world from our parents, we borrow it from our children.
#19 - A cooking class with Rebecca Stubbs at Chapel Hill’s Retreat will teach you a thing or two about McLaren Vale produce, top it off with a glass of award winning wine.
How about starting on Feb 12th – Andale! Andale! Epa! Epa! Epa!
Come learn a piñata of flavours; Smoked peppers, corn, tamales, moles complete with tequila and the optional worm
#20 - The squid is caught that morning, dusted with flour and on the plate with a squeeze of lemon at The Star of Greece. Nikki will bring it to your table as you begin to while away your afternoon staring out across the Guld St Vincent.
#21 – Crazy hair, big dogs, hidden cider, rustic surrounds and cracking wines. Say hello to Justin at Samuel’s Gorge and let him pour you one of his wines and tell you one of his tales.
#22 - Driven on a beach before? Take the car down onto Sellicks Beach and drift along with waves on one side and rolling hills on the other. Look out for fisherman and the odd game of beach cricket.
#23 - In 1838 John Reynell founded the McLaren Vale district, marking the start of the South Australian wine industry. Today over 65 cellar doors operate in the region. Spoilt for choice? Might not get to them all this trip but come back.
#24 - Did you know only two monuments exist in the world honouring individuals and their contribution to the world of wine. One in north eastern France pays hommage to a monk who put bubbles in wine, the other right on Main Street McLaren Vale acknowledges the major contribution Thomas Hardy made to McLaren Vale, South Australia and Australian wine. Look out for it, it is a piece of our history.
#25 - Fancygetting your togs off? Head to Maslins, Australia’s first nudist beach, never know what you will see! Stick around for the nude Olympics held annually and you may get the title of ‘Best Bum’.
#26 - There is always scope to learn more isn’t there. David & Tori at The Producers in McLaren Vale will teach you to make cheese, press oil and put bubbles in wine. Book in for an entertaining lesson
#27 - Grab your snorkel and have a look at the wreck of the Star of Greece, just off the McLaren Vale coast. The worst maritime tragedy in South Australian history,
today a haven for fish, coral and other delights. Look out for noahs!
#28 - Hamlets butcher in Willunga, purveyor of the most flavoursome smalll goods, grab a variety with a loaf of crusty fresh baked bread, a bottle of McLaren Vale’s renowned Grenache and watch the peloton flash by.
#29 - Time to rest your head? Book out Chapel Hill’s Retreat and have it all to yourself. First class accomodation, local food, fine wines, contemporary art, vineyards, national park and the sea – Quintessential McLaren Vale.
#30 - Its obvious, bring your own bike and follow the peloton along as it makes it way through quaint villages and past uniform vines, rolling hills, rugged cliffs, white beaches and azure seas.
#31 - Drive your car right onto the beach at Aldinga and sip on a glass of Rose as the sun goes down
#32 - Richness is not only found in wine in McLaren Vale. Need a chocolate fix drop into Brace Girdles.
#33 - Grab your reef shoes and wander out onto the aquatic reserve at Aldinga
#34 -Put your lycra on and ride the shiraz trail
#35 - The almond is not a nut – no excuse not to call in to the Almond Train
#36 - Rare and exotic fruit trees you will find at Perrys
| #37 - Plant your own tomatoes and basil – go see Hillside Herbs |
| #38 – What is McLaren Vale’s white wine? Come and discover what the winemaking team at Chapel Hill think it is. Bodhi and the Chapel Hill Cellar Door team will guide your journey of discovery. |
| #39 - There are bushvine Grenache vineyards in McLaren Vale that are over 100 years old.Seek out the fruits of their labour & antiquity at the myriad wineries that pay hommage to this great variety. |
| #40 - Like geology and history? Grab a copy of McLaren Vale’s unique geology map, track down the erudite and irascible Philip White and marvel at his vocabulary as he recounts the history of McLaren Vale from the prehistoric to the current day, including all its foibles, successes and celebrations. |
| #41 - Still more McLaren Vale Scarce Earth wines to discover, continue your exploration of this variety and its unique regional expression. |
| #42 - Grab the camera and capture the beauty of McLaren Vale through its lens. So many angles, locations and light to manipulate. Late afternoon is perfect as the crisp, clear light comesin horizontally and illuminates the region. |
| #43 - Charter a flight and see McLaren Vale from the sky. A bird’s eye view highlights the geographic uniqueness and identity of the region from the hills to the sea. |
| #44 - A couple more cleansing ales eminate from McLaren Vale, seek out Goodiesons and Swell Beer Company, great thirst quenchers in the heat of the day. |
| #45 - Bring the kids and build a sandcastle – the white sands of Sellicks, Port Willunga, Maslins to name but a few of McLaren Vale’s great beaches are the perfect blank canvas on which to design your masterpiece. |
#46 -Shiraz, Shiraz, Shiraz, Shiraz, Shiraz almost half of McLaren Vale’s famous wine is made from this variety. Have you tried them all?#47 -6 generations and 170 years, you’d reckon a few tales would lurk in that history. Go to Olivers Taranga and ask Corrina what McLaren Vale means to her.#48 - got a sweet tooth?Check out Medlows Fine Gels in the heart of McLaren Vale & its interactive confectionary showcase. Need to indulge in the unique soft texture of these fruit bombs after that tongue twister.
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