Iconic and outstanding houses in McLaren Vale.
McLaren Vale trades restraint for ripeness, building wines of dark fruit density and warm spice that push against the cool-climate restraint its neighbors prefer.
Save these houses, build your route through McLaren Vale, and navigate when you're there.
Region DNA
The character of McLaren Vale
Based on 2,567 wines with structural data
Style profile
Broad range with a recognisable character
FEM score distribution
Based on 261 rated wineries in this region
Flavor territory
Most frequent primary flavor groups
Style breakdown
Wine style frequency · Bar length = relative count
Top grape varieties
Varieties ranked by number of wines · Number = wine count
Most representative winery
The estate whose wines are closest to the regional average — the truest expression of McLaren Vale
Angove
VisitMcLaren Vale wineries worth the stop
The 12 best critic-rated producers in McLaren Vale with a cellar-door address, ranked by their highest critic score. Check opening hours and book tastings ahead.
- 01d'Arenberg
Osborn Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Critics' peak 96 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 02Mollydooker
23 Coppermine Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Critics' peak 95 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 03S.C. Pannell
60 Olivers Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Critics' peak 95 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 04Bekkers
212-220 Seaview Road, 5171, Australia
Critics' peak 95 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 05
- 06Yangarra
845 McLaren Flat Rd, Kangarilla SA 5157
Critics' peak 95 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 07Kay Brothers
57 Kays Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Critics' peak 94 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 08
- 09Dandelion Vineyards
191 Chaffeys Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 10Noon
Rifle Range Road, 5171, McLaren Vale, Australia
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 11Classic McLaren
796 Main Road, McLaren Vale SA 5171, Australia, Australia
Critics' peak 93 · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator · Wine Enthusiast
- 12De Lisio
Chalk Hill Road, 5171, McLaren Vale, Australia
Critics' peak 93 · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator · Wine Enthusiast
McLaren Vale is a wine region in Australia, home to 574 producers tracked on Femente, 45 of them rated 90+ on the critic index. Its vineyards are led by Shiraz/Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grenache, producing Australian McLaren Vale Shiraz and Australian Cabernet Sauvignon wines with notes of Black fruit, Oak, and Red fruit.
McLaren Vale — good to know
- What grape varieties are grown in McLaren Vale?
- The most planted varieties in McLaren Vale are Shiraz/Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and Chardonnay, based on the wines Femente tracks across the region.
- What wines is McLaren Vale known for?
- McLaren Vale is known for Australian McLaren Vale Shiraz, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, and Australian Red Blend wines and flavors of Black fruit, Oak, and Red fruit.
- How many wineries are in McLaren Vale?
- Femente tracks 574 producers in McLaren Vale, of which 45 are rated 90+ on the critic index.
- Where is McLaren Vale?
- McLaren Vale is a wine region in Australia.
McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale trades restraint for ripeness, building wines of dark fruit density and warm spice that push against the cool-climate restraint its neighbors prefer. The region's winemakers embrace the heat rather than fight it, letting shiraz and grenache fatten on the vine until they sing with licorice and leather.
Producers in McLaren Vale
- Yangarra — critic
- Gemtree — distinction
- Maxwell — distinction
- Geddes — honest
- WhiteFeather — undiscovered
- Blackbilly — distinction
- Marius Wines — honest
- d'Arenberg — critic
- The Black Chook — distinction
- Wirra Wirra — distinction
- Cascabel — distinction
- Vintage Longbottom — distinction
- Dandelion Vineyards — distinction
- Loaded Barrels — honest
- Backyard Cellar — honest
- Lengs & Cooter — distinction
- Penny's Hill — distinction
- Kay Brothers — critic
- Family Owned-Au — undiscovered
- Better Half — honest
- Q Wines — undiscovered
- Noon — distinction
- Parous — undiscovered
- Fox Creek — distinction
- Woodstock Wine Estate — distinction
- Haselgrove — distinction
- Chalk Hill — distinction
- Lazy Ballerina — undiscovered
- Mollydooker — critic
- Bondar — distinction
- Latitude — undiscovered
- De Lisio — distinction
- Genders — distinction
- Heirloom Vineyards — distinction
- Rudderless Vineyard — honest
- Patritti — honest
- Davey & Browne — distinction
- Willunga Creek — undiscovered
- Tir Na N'og — distinction
- Sister's Run — distinction
- Dog Ridge — honest
- Reis Creek — honest
- The Old Faithful — distinction
- Curtis Family Vineyards — honest
- Dyson — undiscovered
- Doc Adams — honest
- Koltz — distinction
- Alpha Box & Dice — distinction
- Classic McLaren — distinction
- Aphelion — critic
- DB 24 — undiscovered
- Sellicks Hill — honest
- Ivybrook Farm — undiscovered
- Jarressa Estate — undiscovered
- Ministry of Clouds — distinction
- Graham Stevens — honest
- Stable Tales — undiscovered
- Sabella — undiscovered
- Joelle — undiscovered
- Lloyd Brothers — honest
- Adelaide Winemakers — undiscovered
- S.C. Pannell — critic
- Hither & Yon — distinction
- Dominic Versace — undiscovered
- Luca Vineyards — undiscovered
- Samuel's Gorge — distinction
- Tinlins — undiscovered
- Alpha Crucis — distinction
- Willunga Slate — undiscovered
- Vigna Bottin — honest
- Mccarthy's Orchard — undiscovered
- Loom SV — undiscovered
- Enfant Terrible — honest
- Marlargo — honest
- J&J winery — undiscovered
- Hancock & Hancock — distinction
- Alluca Vineyards — undiscovered
- Sylvan Springs — distinction
- H&L by Hastwell & Lightfoot — undiscovered
- Bekkers — critic
- NV — undiscovered
- Dead Arns — distinction
- Bec Hardy — distinction
- 21 Brothers — undiscovered
- Shaw Family — distinction
- Down The Rabbit Hole — honest
- Twelve Staves — distinction
- Creepers Cut Out — undiscovered
- Branson Road — distinction
- Chateau (R Wines) — undiscovered
- Chapel Hill — distinction
- V.Mitolo and Son — honest
- Scarpatoni — undiscovered
- For Two — undiscovered
- Micheal Fragos — undiscovered
- No 71 — undiscovered
- Somos — distinction
- Hidden Fire — distinction
- Rose Kentish — honest
- Telegraph Station — undiscovered
- Big Easy Radio — honest
- Wits End — distinction
- Walton Valley — undiscovered
- Sherrah — honest
- Hunt City — undiscovered
- Marsc — honest
- The 5OS Project — distinction
- Noogoora — undiscovered
- Taranga Estate — undiscovered
- Samson Tall — honest
- Aurora — honest
- Blewitt Springs Wine Co — honest
- Two Pairs — undiscovered
- Rusty Ranch — undiscovered
- FAT’n SKINNY by H&L — undiscovered
- Paralian — distinction
- Linger — undiscovered
- OX Hardy — distinction
- Oscars — undiscovered
- Back Beat — undiscovered
- M & C Wine Co — undiscovered
- Hastwell & Lightfoot — distinction
- Shirvington — distinction
- Battle of Bosworth — distinction
- Fiasco Paradiso — undiscovered
- Balance Nation — distinction
- Larnook — undiscovered
- Wave Of The Day — undiscovered
- Thomas K. Hardy — undiscovered
- Shingleback — distinction
- Ivyburn — undiscovered
- 2 Mates — undiscovered
- Thomas Goss — distinction
- Ulithorne — distinction
- Dowie Doole — distinction
- Second Nature — undiscovered
- Coriole Vineyards — distinction
- Jim Jim — honest
- Willunga 100 — distinction
- Cape Barren — distinction
- Cradle Of Hills — undiscovered
- Beach Road — honest
- Oliverhill — distinction
- Serafino — distinction
- The Hedonist — distinction
- Vasarelli — honest
- Chapel Hill — distinction
- Simon Hackett — distinction
Restaurants in McLaren Vale
- SIDE HUSTLE
- The Fish Man 漁人
- The Stirling Hotel
- Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant
- Tapanappa Wines
- Ballet Wine Bar
- LVN Restaurant
- The Cremorne Hotel
- Spread Delicatessen & Bar
- Bandit Pizza and Wine
- Allegra
- A Prayer For The Wild At Heart
- Ammos Greek Bistro
- 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗢 𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗢
- Penny Blue Restaurant
- Pizza e Mozzarella Bar
- Longplay Bistro
- sofia bistro
- Sodewa Sake Bar Adelaide
- La Louisiane
- VietMenu | Vietnam Restaurant
- Leigh Street Wine Room
- Shotgun Willie's
- Mother Vine
- Africola ©©©©©©©
- 2KW Bar and Restaurant
- OZIN
- Magill Estate Restaurant
- Hellbound Wine Bar
- Christos Restaurant & Bar
- Luma Riverfront Bar & Eatery
- 20 Chapel
- Restaurant Botanic
- Anchovy Bandit
- Fratelli Italian Deli
- Nosso Café
- HanoiTaste
- 55 North - Manly
- Café y Arte - Terraza Mediterránea
- HENSCHKE