Barrister's Block

We were lucky enough to time our visit to Barrister's Block to see the freshly reopened cellar door, and found that Jan and her team have truly created something very special in the old dairy shed. 

Before embarking on the tasting I was tempted by the delicious looking lemon cakes, priced at $2.50 each. My elder son and I enjoyed these together whilst looking out the deer and geese through the cellar door window. They were also pizzas and platters for sale too.

The cellar door is really beautifully decorated offering a plethora of seats options to sit back, relax and enjoy a drink and a bite to eat in. We sat on the fun cow hide seats at the bar, where Jan was happy to bring a high chair out so we could feed our younger son at the same time. It was a lovely and relaxed atmosphere at the bar and we felt quite at home. With 7 wines on the tasting list you can enjoy trying a little of everything. I particularly enjoyed the pinot noir and surprisingly, given I'm not normally a fan of red sparkling, I found their Sparkling Blush to be most enjoyable! After the tasting we made our way over to the chesterfield sofas, dubbed Henry's corner after the owner's father, and flicked through some of the old 'Wine Companion' guides and discovered how the winery got it's name!

If you are looking for somewhere to stay in the area they have a B&B on site, the Vignerons Retreat. As it was very wet on our visit we did not explore the grounds but with the rustic hayshed, an outside seated area under cover, they are clearly well set up come rain or shine! We promised our sons we'd bring them back again when it's dry so they could enjoy feeding the on site animals.

I would absolutely recommend the Barrister's Block for families and indeed anyone who is looking for a vibrant and fun Adelaide Hills winery dining destination.

141 Onkapringa Valley Road, Woodside, SA 5244

www.barristersblock.com.au

Golding Wines

I discovered Golding wines on a cold and wet Friday in July and I am jolly glad I did. It's a very hospitable and comfortable cellar door, which can keep you entertained and out of the rain for as long as you want it to.

The winery is located up in the picturesque Lobethal area of the Adelaide Hills. Founded in 2002 it's a relatively new player in the SA wine market. They have three ranges: The Market, The Single Vineyard and Portrait Series, all reasonably priced and available to try at the cellar door.

We found Golding Wines to be most excellently set up for families meaning you can enjoy a peaceful and informative tasting session- not an easy combination in the Hills with kids! My husband and I were hosted by Jared at the bar, whilst my elder son happily made his way through the extensive basket full of toys, playing safely right by us. If you require them they have very nice baby changing facilities.

My favourite of the wines was the sparkling, The Last Hurrah, a Pinot Noir Chardonnay blend, which in my opinion would be a welcome addition to any party. I also particularly enjoyed The East End which was a light Provençal style Rose.

Golding Wines is growing in popularity as a wedding venue, offering a lovely function room which extends on to a courtyard overlooking the vines.

On a gloomy day like we visited their lovely log fire is most inviting. If you are spending the day tasting in the Adelaide Hills then Golding Wines is a must do stop for the family.

52 Western Branch Road, Lobethal, SA 5241

www.goldingwines.com.au

Adelaide Wine Regions

South Australia is the engine room of the Australian wine industry producing around half the countries wine output. Adelaide, our home for the year, is perfectly situated in the middle of some of the states best wine areas.