With plenty on the agenda we were didn’t linger too long before getting up and on with our day. The first order of business was picking up our rental car. In a major contribution to our step count, we walked to Hindley Street to the car rental office. We stopped off for coffee and a croissant in Rundle Mall, which has looked largely the same over the years, with the exception of some new sculptures. I did like the pigs!
One of the things that has long frustrated me about renting cars is the cumbersome process of paperwork that prevails, so this time I tried using Sixt, because they have an app and promised simplicity in their advertising. This was largely delivered except the attendant was a bit hard to understand. Nonetheless, we got our car – a Jeep. I had requested a Mitsubishi, but apart from having the blinkers on the left-hand side and the wipers on the right, it was largely acceptable. Our first stop was the Willunga Farmers market.
We followed the GPS in the car to the ‘correct’ location, but quickly found that the markets had been moved post-COVID, but no-one had advised the GPS unit in our car. A friendly local pointed us in the right direction which really set the tone. The stall holders where all very welcoming and the markets had a great community feel.
We only had one day in McLaren Vale and anyone who knows me knows of my preference for the area’s wines. We wanted to visit a few wineries, but ones I wouldn’t normally buy from. Deb did a google search on ‘pretty wineries’ and we started at ‘Sampson Tall’
A smaller winery with a great family feel and a friendly dog, Sampson Tall produce some great wines. We took a couple with us and organised some to be sent home. The current owners have done a great job completing the church restoration and giving the place some real character.
Next stop was lunch at the Bec Hardy winery. Bec is the sixth generation of the well-known Hardy family who’ve been making wines in this district since the late 1800s. The restaurant bearing her name was no disappointment. We had an amazing meal of Mac-Cheese cubes, Deep fried Broccolini with beetroot hummus, pork belly and an amazingly light gnocchi. (Pics Below!)
After rolling out of Bec Hardy’s on our full stomachs, we were recommended a couple of other scenic wineries. Our next stop was the Berg Herring winery which is on a hill overlooking Sellicks Beach. It was pretty busy by the time I’d sorted a few user issues with the flash camera gear I’m using this trip, so we didn’t sample any more wine.
With time getting away on us, we wanted to visit an art installation called ‘The Cube’ at the D’arenberg winery. They have a gallery space currently filled with works paying homage to the Salvador Dali who had a unique way of looking at the human form. The Cube itself is quite very modern and also contains some visual art installations as well as a restaurant.
Our last winery stop for the day was Samuel’s Gorge. It is an amazingly scenic winery on top of a ridge overlooking vineyard on one side and a National Park on the other. They have some good wines – an especially pleasant Tempranillo that is seeing me through writing this blog. With their 5 PM closing time ticking over, we bought some more wine and left.
So that wrapped up the winery touring for the day. I had’t really been to McLaren Vale for a long time and I noted how much more land was under cultivation than 25 years ago. As we drove past the vineyards and the neatly trimmed vines I thought that for a crop that has little nutritional value, we really do take good care of the vines.
Lastly we quickly drove to Maslin Beach for a couple of quick photos before returning to todays home base.
Until tomorrow
Rob's "Beats Working" Blog 