The Auswine Forum

I know, there has been plenty of posts with suggestions for what to visit in Clare, but 1) it has been awhile 2) I don't care...

I am just curious because in the Barossa especially and also McV there are a bunch of new/innovative guys showing up... I am going to head through Clare the start of May- apart from all the old classics, anything new I should look out for?

Also if anyone has ever driven the Birdsville track, let me know, because that will be my route to Clare

Interesting way to get to Clare Sam?
Are you being dropped off somewhere in central Australia, coming from Brisbane? I am intrigued.
My lad recommends Shut the Gate, I enjoyed Wines by KT and Naked Run (particularly Rieslings), Pauletts wine flight with food is excellent, dinner at the Watervale Hotel was very good, I hear Slate restaurant at Pikes is nice. An old fave, Crabtree is having a bit of a renaissance.
I am just starting to buy a little bit of Adelina, next door to Wendouree, the Shiraz Mataro is excellent and very good Riesling and Shiraz.

Have a good trip
Cheers Craig

Depends on how much time you have. I'd recommend:

Paullets. I was there for lunch a couple weeks ago, was fantastic. Separately, the wine flights/ food pairings are great.

Kilikanoon - if Peter is on at the cellar door, he is a cracking host and you're in for a good one. Next to this is Penna Lane, they too have very good Riesling and Cabernet.

Sevenhill Cellars (if you have not been), worth a visit. They have had a new winemaker for a few vintages now, doing some good things.

Sussex Squire near Clare. Single vineyard wines. Mark and Skye are great hosts. Dan Wilson helps out with the winemaking. Shut the Gate near here is good too.

Pikes - clearly excellent wines, a bonus is the brewery too. Slate is a long lunch proposition.

Try ringing Col at Adelina. Being vintage time, he should be around the winery. Awesome little cellar door area. Fantastic wines.

Jim Barry - I do like their wines. I think you need to book now to visit.

Watervale Hotel is a standout. Great food and wine list.

Seed in Clare, relaxed upstairs dining, or more serious downstairs. Seed have a great deli downstairs too, plus other wines of interest for purchase.

Iindi in Clare- Awesome Indian and very good wine list too.

For light lunches on the go. Watervale General Store or there is a small Vietnamese place in Clare, only open on weekdays.

Have fun

Clare does tend to be a bit more traditional, not quite so many innovative new producers flocking in.

I can't recommend the Watervale Hotel enough for meals. It's a lovely spot and the lunch I had there post-renovation perhaps a year ago was fantastic.

I haven't visited Adelina myself but that sounds like a great idea. Good and interesting wines. Some of the best labels in the business too.

Pike's is a good visit and the brewery is right there too if that interests you. (CVBC is good too if you like beer, they have a cellar door along with Jeanneret. Not huge on Jeanneret wines though). I also like Mt Horrocks, the wines tend to be a few dollars more but they are good. I found Sussex Squire that Matt mentioned to be quite traditional "Aussie reds", not really my thing.

Thanks for the suggestions folks, appreciate it

phillisc wrote: ↑Thu Apr 21, 2022 9:43 am Interesting way to get to Clare Sam?
Are you being dropped off somewhere in central Australia, coming from Brisbane? I am intrigued.

We definitely aren't taking the quick route Craig- We are driving from Sydney to Adelaide, but via Birdsville... I wanted to do something a bit different to normal, should be a good road trip.

throw in my 2 cents.
KT wines are excellent in auburn. Always try to get there.Grenache mataro my fave. really good.
Mount horrocks as well. pretty close to each other.
I stayed in the merry moose in penwortham in august last year it was very good. I'll be going back with friends.
Fire raging, vino flowing all that jazz.
Nice central spot.

13th - 22nd May 2022 is gourmet weekend up there so grosset probably be open.
The aforementioned 2 wineries and Grosset all very close in Auburn .

on The CV just pulled the trigger on some land up there recently.
Fantasies of my own place up there have now become a slight glimmer of a reality.

Scotty vino wrote: ↑Fri Apr 22, 2022 10:50 am throw in my 2 cents.
KT wines are excellent in auburn. Always try to get there.Grenache mataro my fave. really good.
Mount horrocks as well. pretty close to each other.
I stayed in the merry moose in penwortham in august last year it was very good. I'll be going back with friends.
Fire raging, vino flowing all that jazz.
Nice central spot.

13th - 22nd May 2022 is gourmet weekend up there so grosset probably be open.
The aforementioned 2 wineries and Grosset all very close in Auburn .

on The CV just pulled the trigger on some land up there recently.
Fantasies of my own place up there have now become a slight glimmer of a reality.

Well done to you, at least you won't have paid some of the crazy prices seen in the Vale of late ( my long term preference being between the capital and the south coast).
Let us know when you need a hand with the harvest, I have recently found a "Roger Pike experience" replacement in the BV. It was a lot of fun.
Cheers Craig

Hi Sam, are you on Wendouree's mailing list? If so perhaps you could 'respectfully' call them and ask for a visit. I did, admittedly quite a few years ago but it was such a memorable visit. No tastings, mind. Cheers.

If I was heading to Clare, I'd be looking to book a tasting with Koerner.
I've enjoyed their Rieslings and are making some interesting wines I'd like to try.

I've been impressed with Naked Run rizzas recently.

paulf wrote: ↑Fri Apr 22, 2022 1:55 pm If I was heading to Clare, I'd be looking to book a tasting with Koerner.
I've enjoyed their Rieslings and are making some interesting wines I'd like to try.

Yes agree, the tasting with Johnno at the Koerner CD pop up at the Magpie and Stump Hotel in Mintaro a couple of years back was excellent.
Cheers Craig

paulf wrote: ↑Fri Apr 22, 2022 1:55 pm If I was heading to Clare, I'd be looking to book a tasting with Koerner.
I've enjoyed their Rieslings and are making some interesting wines I'd like to try.

I just had a look at these guys... it is $20 per head for tasting which is only waived if you buy 6 bottles PER HEAD ... considering their wines are mostly $45 or $50 that is pretty out there.

By comparison as best I can see Shut the Gate and Sussex Squire don't charge at all for tastings. Or at least their websites don't mention it.
KT wines also doesn't mention a fee. Pike's require a booking but tastings are free (the normal riesling and four other wines of your choice).
Kilikanoon charges $10-20 with a choice of level, but redeemable against any purchase. Seven Hills likewise.
Mt Horrocks is $10, refundable with any purchase.
Jim Barry is $20 refundable with a $100 purchase. (not including the Armagh)
Adelina doesn't offer tastings (as suggested would need to call and ask politely to see if they were around)
Paulett's are $10 with $5 refundable for purchases of $50

Gosh it is confusing these days!

sjw_11 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 22, 2022 8:19 pm

paulf wrote: ↑Fri Apr 22, 2022 1:55 pm If I was heading to Clare, I'd be looking to book a tasting with Koerner.
I've enjoyed their Rieslings and are making some interesting wines I'd like to try.

I just had a look at these guys... it is $20 per head for tasting which is only waived if you buy 6 bottles PER HEAD ... considering their wines are mostly $45 or $50 that is pretty out there.

By comparison as best I can see Shut the Gate and Sussex Squire don't charge at all for tastings. Or at least their websites don't mention it.
KT wines also doesn't mention a fee. Pike's require a booking but tastings are free (the normal riesling and four other wines of your choice).
Kilikanoon charges $10-20 with a choice of level, but redeemable against any purchase. Seven Hills likewise.
Mt Horrocks is $10, refundable with any purchase.
Jim Barry is $20 refundable with a $100 purchase. (not including the Armagh)
Adelina doesn't offer tastings (as suggested would need to call and ask politely to see if they were around)
Paulett's are $10 with $5 refundable for purchases of $50

Gosh it is confusing these days!

In comparison to your likely fuel costs for your trip, these costs are literally nothing .

The visitor information centre stocks most Clare Valley wines at CD pricing. Grab a bottle and head to Spring Gully lookout at Sunset. Stunning views over the Blyth Plains.

Look out for producers such as Gertie, Kenny wines, Naked run, kirrihill from the visitor information centre.