Sydney, Uluru and which wine area?
Jul 2, 2019, 9:14 am
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
After researching all of the recommendations given here, we have our initial list of wineries to visit:
Henschke
Rockford
Torbreck
Two Hands
Tscharke
Charles Melton
A late possible addition would mean going to McLaren Vale. A friend, who owns a large wine shop and distributor, has recommended that we visit D’Arenberg.
Henschke
Rockford
Torbreck
Two Hands
Tscharke
Charles Melton
A late possible addition would mean going to McLaren Vale. A friend, who owns a large wine shop and distributor, has recommended that we visit D’Arenberg.
Jul 2, 2019, 9:38 am
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
I’ve been spending quite a bit of time researching the suggestions given here plus additional planning. Also, had two TATL trips since my last visit here.
We’re entering the final stretch of planning for our trip to Australia. So far:
First 3 nights will be in Sydney. (Getting over jet lag, touring Sydney)
Three nights in Uluru.
Four nights in Adelaide and surrounding area.
Last three nights in Sydney before returning to MSY. (possible visits to Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley)
We still have to plan the Adelaide portion. We arrive in Adelaide at 8:00 P.M. on a Wednesday evening flight. I thought we would spend that first night there. That leaves us three remaining nights.
First possibility is to make Adelaide our base and take a day trip to McLaren Vale and return to our hotel. Next day , do the same to Barossa and visit some wineries. Return to Adelaide. Our last day, we would tour Adelaide.
Second possibility is to stay the first night in Adelaide. Second day, make the trip to McLaren Vale and spend the night. Third and fourth day, go to Barossa, spend two nights and on the last day drive direct to ADL for our flight to SYD (11:00 A.M.).
Should we consider giving up a day in wine country to tour Adelaide? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
We’re entering the final stretch of planning for our trip to Australia. So far:
First 3 nights will be in Sydney. (Getting over jet lag, touring Sydney)
Three nights in Uluru.
Four nights in Adelaide and surrounding area.
Last three nights in Sydney before returning to MSY. (possible visits to Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley)
We still have to plan the Adelaide portion. We arrive in Adelaide at 8:00 P.M. on a Wednesday evening flight. I thought we would spend that first night there. That leaves us three remaining nights.
First possibility is to make Adelaide our base and take a day trip to McLaren Vale and return to our hotel. Next day , do the same to Barossa and visit some wineries. Return to Adelaide. Our last day, we would tour Adelaide.
Second possibility is to stay the first night in Adelaide. Second day, make the trip to McLaren Vale and spend the night. Third and fourth day, go to Barossa, spend two nights and on the last day drive direct to ADL for our flight to SYD (11:00 A.M.).
Should we consider giving up a day in wine country to tour Adelaide? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Jul 2, 2019, 10:13 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,144
After researching all of the recommendations given here, we have our initial list of wineries to visit:
Henschke
Rockford
Torbreck
Two Hands
Tscharke
Charles Melton
A late possible addition would mean going to McLaren Vale. A friend, who owns a large wine shop and distributor, has recommended that we visit D’Arenberg.
Henschke
Rockford
Torbreck
Two Hands
Tscharke
Charles Melton
A late possible addition would mean going to McLaren Vale. A friend, who owns a large wine shop and distributor, has recommended that we visit D’Arenberg.
Jul 2, 2019, 10:58 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Might I suggest a booking at Penfolds' Magill Estate?
It may be right up your alley. Really good food, and pairings that astound. For the $$$ you can sample some amazing wines.
https://www.penfolds.com/en-us/visit...ate-restaurant
We had an overnight in Adelaide on the way to Kangaroo Island the next morning. Booked dinner at Magill.
It may be right up your alley. Really good food, and pairings that astound. For the $$$ you can sample some amazing wines.
https://www.penfolds.com/en-us/visit...ate-restaurant
We had an overnight in Adelaide on the way to Kangaroo Island the next morning. Booked dinner at Magill.
Jul 2, 2019, 3:58 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,027
Both are good options
Visiting & staying in the Barossa and a day trip to McLaren Vale would be my preference, compared to driving to/from Adelaide
For option 2 McLaren Vale is to the south of the airport. Barossa (north of the city) to the airport, means going through the city. Swapping the days for Barossa & McLaren Vale would make driving to the airport a little simpler/quicker. But Adelaide is not a big city and the airport is close to the city centre (6km to the west).
Plesse do not drink & drive. Drivers can be breath tested for alcohol at any time
Edit
OP's other thread---> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dini...s-regions.html
Visiting & staying in the Barossa and a day trip to McLaren Vale would be my preference, compared to driving to/from Adelaide
For option 2 McLaren Vale is to the south of the airport. Barossa (north of the city) to the airport, means going through the city. Swapping the days for Barossa & McLaren Vale would make driving to the airport a little simpler/quicker. But Adelaide is not a big city and the airport is close to the city centre (6km to the west).
Plesse do not drink & drive. Drivers can be breath tested for alcohol at any time
Edit
OP's other thread---> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dini...s-regions.html
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Jul 2, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Jul 2, 2019, 4:29 pm
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ocea...ne-area-2.html
We will make plans with a wine tour guide, probably with one of the recommended ones in this thread. 99.9 percent chance we won’t drive ourselves.
Jul 2, 2019, 10:01 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SYD, Australia
Programs: VA Silver, QF FF, Priority Club
Posts: 923
If you do go to the Hunter Valley, I’d recommend:
1) McLeish Estate and their semillons (2014 is especially good)
2) Tamburlaine
3) Brokenwood
The Hunter is known for whites, reds are decent but their whites are probably better overall than the reds (YMMV and personal tastes considered)
1) McLeish Estate and their semillons (2014 is especially good)
2) Tamburlaine
3) Brokenwood
The Hunter is known for whites, reds are decent but their whites are probably better overall than the reds (YMMV and personal tastes considered)
Jul 3, 2019, 1:04 pm
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
Our focus will be primarily reds, although that wouldn’t prevent us from purchasing an outstanding white. We currently have a large amount of whites: Austrian, German, a little bit of Swiss and some odds & ends Thanks for the additional winery suggestions. Brokenwood is definitely on our list and I’ll research the other two.
Going back to my earlier post, is touring Adelaide worth one of our 3 full days in that area? Or, should we spend all 3 days in the wine areas?
Going back to my earlier post, is touring Adelaide worth one of our 3 full days in that area? Or, should we spend all 3 days in the wine areas?
Jul 3, 2019, 7:44 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
Programs: AA Exp|VA Platinum
Posts: 15,504
Our focus will be primarily reds, although that wouldn’t prevent us from purchasing an outstanding white. We currently have a large amount of whites: Austrian, German, a little bit of Swiss and some odds & ends Thanks for the additional winery suggestions. Brokenwood is definitely on our list and I’ll research the other two.
Going back to my earlier post, is touring Adelaide worth one of our 3 full days in that area? Or, should we spend all 3 days in the wine areas?
Going back to my earlier post, is touring Adelaide worth one of our 3 full days in that area? Or, should we spend all 3 days in the wine areas?
I agree with Mwenenzi, no point visiting Adelaide. It's a pretty boring part of the world.
Jul 4, 2019, 12:15 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
Programs: AA Exp|VA Platinum
Posts: 15,504
I'm a bit confused on why the OP's two threads were merged. Anyone clicking on this thread purportedly about Australian wine regions will find the first couple of pages are about Uluru and Kings Canyon.
Jul 4, 2019, 10:59 am
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
I’m as confused about this as you are. I specifically started the wine thread in the Dining forum so that it would be easier for others to find info about Australian wines. I’ve been frustrated when I’ve tried searching for something specific in a forum only to be met by a generalized topic with thousands of posts to wade through to attempt to find what I was looking for.
Jul 4, 2019, 2:21 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,027
Agreed. Having a separate thread on Australian wines & regions was a good idea. Not mixed up with general Aussie travel questions. Thread is disjointed now and does not read well (confusing)
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Jul 4, 2019 at 10:19 pm
Aug 1, 2019, 2:14 pm
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
I communicated with all 3 of the ones mentioned here and found some interesting results. I would recommend that anyone who does this in the future, do your homework. There are some minor differences and then there are some MAJOR differences.
This is what we found for our purposes:
Life Is A Cabernet includes pick up and return to our Adelaide hotel, private tour, lunch, tasting fees, taxes and our choice of wineries to visit.
Barossa Valley Tours includes everything above, EXCEPT, lunch and tasting fees. It is about AU$ 10 cheaper per person than LIAC.
Small Batch Wine Tours includes exactly the same as LIAC. HOWEVER, it is more than double the cost of either of the other two.