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    Samuel's Gorge

    4.5 (13 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Samuel's Gorge Photos

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    Rustic charm
    Tresna L.

    If you go to McLaren Vale and don't visit Samuel's Gorge you're a bloody idiot. Seriously. I'm not inclined to ever accuse anyone of idiocy but this may just be the exception. The experience you will have at Samuel's Gorge is different to cellar doors you have visited in the past. Stroll on in, grab a glass from the old olive oil press and then look around for someone holding a bottle of wine. Introduce yourself, shake hands even, and then start drinking wine. By the end of the tasting you'll have some new friends - of both the human and grape variety. It's warm, welcoming and casual. A must visit.

    Mema S.

    There are many wineries on offer to sup from in the bacchanalian region of McLaren Vale and when doing impromptu tours with visiting internationals am invariably asked by staff of whatever winery I'm at "where to next?" If I then respond "I don't know" I am invariably asked, sometimes in hushed tonnes because they're not supposed to suggest competitors "have you been to Samuel's Gorge yet?" This is because Samuel's Gorge wine is wine for winemakers. This boutique winery is the baby of down-to-(fertile)-earth winemaker Justin McNamee and his gang of grape grapplers. They are so focused on cultivating the perfect wine that on my last visit I was informed that all staff do not wear colognes or even deodorant so as not to be distracted from achieving the perfect nose. This winery is not about money, it's about wine, and you have to buy Samuel's Gorge wine at the cellar door or online, and the release is extremely limited, so get in quick. Many covet their bottles of Samuel's Gorge wines and I've had friends from overseas insist on returning there of all the wineries in the region. Set atop a hill in beautiful wine country, the winery have releases annually, usually around ANZAC day. Winery tours, a band, tasting tents, and nibbles are provided on these special days. Release days are always extremely pleasant and equally as popular so bookings are essential. I'd also advise getting there early to stake out your patch of grass and really have an opportunity to taste the wines properly. Tastings on any day are always nice here though. On a colder day warm yourself by the stove or the barrel room, or warm up with wine along with friendly, easy going and knowledgeable staff. Nowadays when asked by a winery "where to next?" I answer "Samuel's Gorge" to approving nods.

    The Samuel Gorge entrance.

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    6 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Go for the view, but the coffee was bitter and the wine a tad overpriced at $40 a bottle.

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    12 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Samuel's Gorge

    p. You can pick a seat inside, grab a table outside, or even taste while looking over the great view of Onkaparinga Gorg

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    Mollydooker Wines

    Mollydooker Wines

    4.8(8 reviews)
    2.1 km
    $$

    This was our first stop on our private wine tasting tour of McLaren Vale…read more This place has an interesting story and logo having been started by a bunch of left-handed folks. Their logo is a left-handed boxer. They also have a bit of whimsy in their labels with most of the varieties having an association with one or more members of the family. We enjoyed meeting the friendly folks and tasting their great wines. Some of our favorites were Blue eyed boy and carnival although all of the six or so we tasted were great. They have some distribution in the states (unique among the wineries we visited) and a warehouse in California for ordering through a website. We also had a quick peek into the winery itself with a guide. We had to don fluorescent orange safety jackets in compliance with safety regulations even though there was no activity underway in the place. We did get to try some wine in the tanks getting ready for final blending and bottling. Definitely a high point of the six wineries we stopped to visit during our visit to the area.

    This is one cellar door with a view for sure! I really would love to return to this cellar door…read moreduring the summer months to sip a glass of wine and take in those almost 360degree views of the Adelaide Hills & Onkaparinga Hills. This cellar looks almost like someone's home. It probably once was and has now been converted into a Cellar door. There is a cute little gas fireplace upon the entry. Check out the photos. Very inviting for sure! It has a very simple layout and tasting room towards the back. Throughout the cellar door you will find cardboard cut outs and posters on display of the various characters and art pieces for the wines. Each have their own story. Be sure to ask about them. There are a lot of wines here to try! So, be sure to set aside a bit of time to try them all. What is first attractive about the wines is the thought and stories attached to the imagery. I am a sucker for cute art, so you won me there! As for the wine, I think my favourite was The Maitre D, Cab Sav. It had a lovely deep berry smell and was quite smooth to drink. Priced right and is my recommendation here. I really wanted to try the Velvet Glove (with a really cool Velvet Label), but it was unavailable for taste. Dang!

    Photos
    Mollydooker Wines - Fair to say I had to be rolled out of this vineyard due to consuming as much of this delicious spread. Definitely got my money's worth!

    Fair to say I had to be rolled out of this vineyard due to consuming as much of this delicious spread. Definitely got my money's worth!

    Mollydooker Wines
    Mollydooker Wines

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    Alpha Box & Dice - Cellar door, come shed full of quirky memorabilia and vintage fun

    Alpha Box & Dice

    4.1(9 reviews)
    4.4 kmMcLaren Vale
    $$

    The first thing you notice about this place is the odd collection of unusual items all about the…read moretasting room (that's "cellar door" in Australian) including quirky furniture, an old piano and two vintage pinball machines over in the corner. This is a place with personality. Their wines also had lots of personality. In fact the three wines we tasted were all interesting mashups of Spanish, Italian and French varietal - blends that were quite unique and had personality. For example, Blends with Grenache, Shiraz, and Tempranillo, barberra+cab, Viognier+Sauvignon Blanc. All were interesting and quite one of a kind. We've tasted wines in Napa, Sonoma, France and Italy and never come across anything quite like these wines. Interesting blends and a really quirky winery make this a place that deserves a stop on your wine tasting itinerary in McLaren Vale.

    Now I know my ABC's, won't you come and drink with me?…read more Aiming to produce a wine for every letter of the alphabet, and with a philosophy of producing "wines without boundaries - regional, varietal or stylistic," these guys hit the nail on the head in my books. They produce small batch, unusual varietals that you wouldn't be used to but that are still temperate to the Vale wine region. Justin Lane is the winemaker apparently, but someone else can give you the spiel on here about that stuff. As you may be able to tell, I am a bit of an Alpha Box & Dice groupie so when I rocked up to see their shed covered in funky sign writing, full of old knick knacks, skulls, pinball machines and tattooed cellar door staff I wet myself a little with excitement. The labels aren't just winester cool, they deliver the whole package! My group of friends and I were very encouraged by staff to try all of the wines available, and by the 5th or boldly flavoured, smack your lips blend I had to tap out. A lot of the wines we bought at the time (a year ago) are now sold out (favs included the Rebel Rebel Montepulciano and Enigma Barbara) and they are now onto another 4 or so by the looks of their website. So my recommendation? Get to this cellar door if you fancy something different, boutique and limited edition (all of Kanye's favs) in the Vale.

    Photos
    Alpha Box & Dice - Wines by the alphabet

    Wines by the alphabet

    Alpha Box & Dice
    Alpha Box & Dice - Relaxed seating area in an old vintage setting inside cellar door

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    Relaxed seating area in an old vintage setting inside cellar door

    Samuel's Gorge - wineries - Updated July 2026

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