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How To Do Adelaide Right, According To A Winemaker
For visitors, there are a lot of parallels between Adelaide and a big country town. Though you’ll never hear a local refer to the foodie city as such a thing, for an outsider — especially one from another capital — Adelaide possesses everything that is delightful about a big country town: luxuriously wide streets, charming sandstone buildings, friendly locals.
The thing that puts Adelaide in a league of its own is the bounty it boasts. There are the Adelaide Hills to the city’s east, where you’ll find old-worldly B&Bs and plenty of restaurants and cafes nestled within the area’s lush greenery, McLaren Vale to the city’s south, Clare Valley to the north and the Barossa in the north-east. There are vineyards and wineries around every bend and no shortage of eateries making the most of the region’s spectacular produce — it’s little wonder the road trip oft-travelled by foodies from the region’s south to north is known as the Epicurean Way.
In the spirit of immersing ourselves in all things food and wine in the South Australian capital, we’ve tapped into someone who knows the region inside out for their picks on where to eat, drink and stay on an Adelaide sojourn.
Ben Riggs of Mr. Riggs in McLaren Vale — a winery renowned for its rich yet complex wines — is something of an expert on Adelaide’s epicurean delights, and here he gives us the ultimate insider’s guide.
A visitor’s first stop in Adelaide should always be… The Adelaide Central Markets for a coffee and breakfast, or lunch at Lucia’s followed by a wander through the amazing food and produce stalls.
Before you set off to explore McLaren Vale, leave your bags at one of these hotels: Sofitel’s new hotel is exceptional and is in such a convenient spot near Leigh and Peel Streets with great restaurants and bars all around. Crowne Plaza is another newish hotel in the west end of the city, making it perfect during the Adelaide Festival and Fringe, and of course the Mayfair Hotel is in a beautiful building and is exceptional.
At the Mr. Riggs cellar door, visitors can expect… We offer a very different experience in that we have an organised tour around the winery which is responsible for the making of 32 different brands, giving the visitor an in-depth look at how our wines are made, including tasting fermenting red and white wines during harvest and unbottled wines all year round.
Which Mr. Riggs wines are must-haves while in Adelaide? We have an interesting range, with the Mr. Brightside Picpoul and Valerie Pinot Noir being two of my favourites at the moment. One of our excellent McLaren Vale Shiraz – such as The Bolter, The Gaffer or J.F.R – all show what we do best in McLaren Vale.
Stop for a bite on the road at… As we are only about 35 to 45 minutes from the city I would recommend holding out till you get here and if you choose the scenic route via Clarendon, a delicious coffee at the general store in McLaren Flat is too good to miss. Should you arrive later and are ready for lunch, the choices are incredible, ranging from the most spectacular views and excellent food at The Star Of Greece to one of the most iconic pubs in Australia, The Victory Hotel, which happens to have one of the best cellars in the country. If fine dining is required, Maxwell’s Restaurant is fast becoming the benchmark in Australia. It strikes a great balance between food that’s fascinating to look at while also being delicious. Last but not least, the McLaren Vale Pub has exceptional pub food, great service and is in a lovely venue.
You can’t visit Adelaide without checking out these vineyards and distilleries: I’m biased to all things McLaren Vale of course! With something like 70 places to visit, the options are unending. Samuel’s Gorge is a must, with a beautiful 1800s olive press at its centre, stunning views of the Hills and fantastic service. McLaren Vale Distillery on Chapel Hill Road has some amazing fortifieds, brandies and whiskeys to taste and is one of the most beautiful properties in the district. Wirra Wirra is one of the busiest places in McLaren Vale for a reason — it boasts great wines and a beautiful property that’s definitely worth a look.
For an afternoon tipple, pull up a stool at… Chalk Hill Never Never distillery has a great bar with an excellent snack food menu and a stunning view.
You can never go wrong with a dinner at… There are so many great choices of restaurants here! Although, I would choose the Salopian Inn for dinner. It serves delicious dumplings, steamed buns and stunning steaks from a busy open kitchen, where you can see the head chef Karena — who’s always calm and controlled — lead a team to produce incredible food. You will love it!
In need of a nightcap? Go here: Nightcaps aren’t our greatest strength sadly, with licensing difficulties getting in the way, but Hey Juj and The General wine bar would be two of my picks.
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