The Auswine Forum

I recently headed to the hills..Adelaide Hills, for a day's tasting. First point of call was Shaw & Smith. Interesting set up. As you enter a host(ess) introduces themselves and explains the process. They give you the option of one or more of the party purchasing a tasting flight, accompanied by a small cheese platter. We took up the offer but I presume if you don't you don't get to taste. You take a seat at one of the many tables (pleasant views, it will get better as the grounds develop). A flight of the current available wines is presented with printed tasting notes (personally I couldn't care less about the cheese platter while I'm tasting, my partner Lisa scoffed the lot!). The host(ess) is available for information if required otherwise you are left alone.

I must say I quite liked the idea. No part time uninterested staff trying to convince you of what you should be tasting (based upon their reading of the tasting notes, usually). No pressure to compliment what you consider to be an average drop. Of course, it is often a real pleasure (and one of my main reasons to go tasting) to discuss the wines with the winemaker, learn something new and occasionally get the opportunity to try something not usually available.

What's your idea of a good Cellar Door experience and have you examples you'd recommend (or not!)? Has anybody tried the Shaw & Smith experience and not liked it?

Cheers,

Mark

I've heard nothing but good things about Samuels Gorge in McLaren Vale. Coffee, view, mad winemaker, all the good stuff.

Wayno wrote:I've heard nothing but good things about Samuels Gorge in McLaren Vale. Coffee, view, mad winemaker, all the good stuff.

Agreed

small change

delightfully mad winemaker

great wines

Yes, great grounds at Shaw and Smith, but i won't be going back. Visited with two others about 3-4 years back and got passed on from one host(ess) to another before being offered a table. Finally sat down and thought we might get some service, but then the next host, one of the owners, turned his back on us and was warmly receptitive to a small bus load of ladies. We got up and left!

Interesting point , Deano. The one thing I didn't think was great at S &S was a very commercial feel. As I said it was very different from what I usually look for in a cellar door experience. I guess they are aiming at the tourist rather than the wine drinker. I'm speaking from inexperience but isn't this similar to the way many wineries in California heading?

Perhaps this will change not only the cellar door habits but also eventually the drinking habits of the more focussed(?) wine drinkers? After all, a winery has to make commercial decisions and the type of wine they make (targeted at their specific market) must also be balanced by their promotion and merchandising?

Cheers,

Mark

Longview near strathalbyn would probably be one of my favourite cellar doors ever. Gorgeous setting. and they do tapas on sudays (they have food available every other day too, but what better way to spend a sunday and enjoy their lovely wines!)

Most cellar doors have a friendly pet of some kind.
Strangest thing Ive seen when arriving at a CD. Was a 1/2 meter brown snake on a porch at a Clare Valley cellar door.
That got a few people jumping.

seanwines wrote:Most cellar doors have a friendly pet of some kind.
Strangest thing Ive seen when arriving at a CD. Was a 1/2 meter brown snake on a porch at a Clare Valley cellar door.
That got a few people jumping.

Awww....its a baby!

Well nothing like a nip or two to get over a shock.

cheers

Carl

It really depends what you're after.

If you're after a wide range of interesting wines I think that d'Arenberg is probably the go.

Friendly cellar doors? Plenty around, although I think that McLaren Vale is the best region for this. However, there are a few special places in the Barossa and in the Adelaide Hills:
Barossa
Charles Melton
Gibson
Henschke
Seppelt
McLaren Vale
Paxton
Fonthill
Hugo
Hugh Hamilton
Wirra Wirra
Dog Ridge
Foggo
Kay Brothers
Samuel's Gorge
Adelaide Hills
K1
Ashton Hills
Barratt
Longview

I love 'em all!

Tristram