Posted on Google
Zane Brown27 September 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Great day highly recommended, Matt was awesome.Posted on Google
Libby Hutchinson17 September 2026What a wonderful day we had with Matt for our wine tour of the McLaren Vale area. Matt had thoughtfully chosen three excellent wineries- all offering unique experiences and our lunch was lovely as well. Matt was very knowledgeable and we very much enjoyed the day.Posted on Google
Daniel Byrne11 September 2026We had a sensational day out with Matt. He picked us up from our accommodation in a very comfortable van and we visited 3 wineries that were all a bit different and gave us a unique perspective of wine-making in the Barossa. Every aspect of the day was 5-star and we would strongly recommend to anyone looking for a memorable experience.Posted on Google
Stephen Brown9 September 2026Matt was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide. Car very clean and tidy. Thoroughly enjoyed our day. Can highly recommend Small Batch Wine Tours.Posted on Google
Cecelia Gzell30 August 2026Thanks to the team at Small Batch wine tours. We had a fabulous day in the Barossa, went off the beaten track and learnt a lot. I would highly recommend!+4Posted on Google
Alfred Tan24 August 2026We had an absolutely incredible experience with Small Batch Wine Tours at Barossa Valley! Planning a wine tour with a young kid can be daunting, but Matthew Kurko crafted a brilliant, family-friendly itinerary that kept our child in mind from the very start.Our guide, Tom, was exceptional. The tour felt wonderfully intimate and flexible, allowing us to move at our own pace. Tom is incredibly informative and knowledgeable about the region and the entire winemaking process. He went above and beyond when our little one got hungry—his exceptional flexibility shone through when he kindly stopped by a shop to buy my kid a donut to rein in the hunger pangs.If you want a highly customised, personal, and world-class wine tasting experience, we cannot recommend them enough!Posted on Google
Paul Shotts11 August 2026The "small group" for our Barossa Valley Uncorked tour turned out to be just the two of us. Matt was excellent, worrying about every detail for our comfort, and so full of knowledge about the area, the wineries and the personalities involved. Each of the three wineries we visited were special, but in different ways, and we tasted some excellent wines. According to Carol, our lunch in Vino Lokal in Tanunda was the best meal we ate in our six week visit to Australia. From my point of view it was definitely in the top three!Posted on Google
marmar McCulloch19 July 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We had a lovely experience. The wineries were well chosen by our guide and the lunch delicious. Tom, our guide for the day was very personable and knowledgeable. We had a fantastic day and would recommend this to anyone who enjoys an intimate experience. Well done.Posted on Google
Steven Rushworth8 June 2026We had an excellent day touring the McLaren Vale with Small Batch Wine Tours. Our guide/ driver Craig was fantastic . The van was very comfortable. We got to enjoy some fine wines and fabulous food. We were blessed with beautiful weather and got to enjoy the Autumn colours of the McLaren Vale.+6Posted on Google
Rose Poole29 May 2026Loved it thanks Graig fabulous day so informative interesting people at each winery recommend it to anyone
Adelaide Hills Wine Tours
Small Batch Wine Tours runs two Adelaide Hills experiences, and both are private — there is no shared tour in the Hills. One is a relaxed, customisable day exploring the region's sparkling, whites and red wines, with lunch at a proper country pub and time to explore Hahndorf. The other is built around the most exclusive experiences and wines in the Hills: exploring the vineyard and winery at Shaw + Smith, and a private tour of Penfolds Magill Estate winery, that finishes with masterclass of their flagship range - including current release Penfolds Grange.
Completely Private
Max six guests
All tasting fees
Taxes and tips
Restaurant lunch
Door-to-door service
Nothing to pay on the day
More about the Adelaide Hills, and who runs these tours
The Adelaide Hills sit about 30 minutes east of the city, up over the Mount Lofty Ranges, this is the state's cool-climate region — the one place near Adelaide where the whites and the lighter styles lead. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Grüner Veltliner do well here, sparkling is a genuine strength rather than a sideline, and Pinot Noir does well in the cooler sites. It's a greener, higher, more folded landscape than the Barossa or McLaren Vale — orchards and market gardens between the vineyards, stone villages like Hahndorf, and lookouts over the city — with a mix of family-run producers and a small handful of larger names, Shaw + Smith and Penfolds among them, that serious wine people may know.
Every one of our tours has been designed by Small Batch Wine Tours' owner Matthew Kurko — a trained sommelier who was born locally and has been immersed in these wine regions for nearly thirty years. He still guides, now with a team of wine professionals beside him drawn from sommelier, winemaking, international wine sales and WSET wine backgrounds. A few other things stay constant: groups never exceed six people, and we depart with just two. Every price includes tasting fees, a sit-down restaurant lunch with wine, bottled water onboard, all taxes and tips, and door-to-door transfers in our Mercedes vehicles from your central Adelaide, Glenelg or Adelaide Hills accommodation, including Mount Lofty House and Sequoia Lodge. Nothing extra is paid for on the day except wine you choose to take home.
Swipe the table sideways to compare both →
| Adelaide Hills Wine Experience $980 pp | Pinnacle: Adelaide Hills $2,400 pp | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Private | Private & Exclusive Access |
| Built for | Your input, our expertise | Those who expect only the best |
| Wineries | Wineries chosen to suit your personal tastes | Shaw + Smith; Penfolds Magill Estate |
| Lunch | Stanley Bridge Tavern | Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard |
| Runs | On demand | Not Saturdays |
| Ages | Children on application | 18+ |
| View tour → | View tour → |
Prices are per person in Australian dollars for a two-person departure, all taxes and booking fees included. Both tours are private, so the per-person price comes down as your group grows.
The Adelaide Hills Wine Experience
Who it's for. You want the day to be yours: your own knowledgeable guide, your own vehicle, an itinerary built around your interests, with no compromising for strangers. You prefer whites or sparkling more than than powerful red wines, or or would like to explore this cool-climate region. You'd might want a relaxed, scenic day in wine country close to the city, without having to venture too far, rather than a long drive out. Families with children can ask about this one; it's the only Adelaide Hills tour where under-18s can be considered.
What the day looks like, and what it costs you
How the day might look. We collect you from your Adelaide or Glenelg accommodation around 9:30am (Hills accommodation such as Sequoia Lodge or Mount Lofty House, 9:45am) and climb into the ranges, stopping at the Mount Lofty lookout for the view back over the city. The day starts with a flight of premium sparkling at Deviation Rd, one of Australia's finest sparkling producers, with their still wines on hand if bubbles aren't your thing. From there it's Shaw + Smith - the Hills flagship winery - for cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinots. Relax over a casual lunch at the Stanley Bridge Tavern — a proper updated country inn, run by foodies from the Adelaide wine trade — and some time to explore quaint Hahndorf hstorical village. Lastly, stop into Murdoch Hills for a look at a more modern take on Hills wines. Remember, this is just a suggestion and, depending on the feedback you give us during the booking process, the wineries we visit may be completely different. Either way, you're back in Adelaide around 4:30pm; Hills and Glenelg drop-offs around 4:00pm.
Why the price. You have a professional wine guide and a Mercedes to yourselves for a full day, with an itinerary built around what you actually drink. Our guides are trained to pay attention to your feedback through the day, to steer your choices at the cellar door, and to look for the tweak that perfects your tour. All tasting and tour fees are inclued, so there's nothing more to pay on the day - just sit back and releax. The price drops per person as your group grows.
What it isn't. You're not going behind the scenes into a winery, walking a vineyard, or sitting down with a winemaker — that's what the Pinnacle buys you. It also isn't a chauffeur service with a wine list attached. Tell us what you love and what you've already tried, what you'd like to get out of the day and we'll build an itinerary around it — but the judgement about running order, timing, and who's actually pouring on the day is ours, and it's most of what you're paying for.
The Pinnacle: Adelaide Hills
Who it's for. You love Penfolds wines or what to find out more about this iconic wine brand. You want to go behind the scenes at one of the world's most iconic wineries and try their flagship range. You'd rather do a deep dive into two of the regions best than explore a variety of styles during a care-free relaxing day. You'd prefer a proper restaurnat lunch than a casual meal at an iconic pub. While you're in Australia you want to experience its most iconic wine brand.
What the day looks like, and what it costs you
How it goes down. Pick-up is 9:20am from Adelaide (Sequoia Lodge or Mount Lofty House, 9:45am). The day starts in the vineyard at Shaw + Smith — an exclusive experience among the vines and in the facility at the Adelaide Hills' flagship winery, followed by an intimately hosted tasting of their most highly prized wines. A relaxed lunch with matched wines follows at super scenic Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard Restaurant, one of South Australia's most stunning regional restaurants. Last, and the reason most guests book this day: the private Ultimate Penfolds Experience at Magill Estate. Tour the working winery and underground tunnels where Grange was developed in total secrecy. Finish with a privately hosted masterclass of Penfolds' flagship wines — including the current release of Penfolds Grange. You're back in Adelaide around 5:15pm, Hills accommodation around 5:30pm.
Why the price. This is the Pinnacle of Adelaide Hills touring. The Shaw + Smith vineyard experience was developed for Small Batch Wine Tours clients, and the private Penfolds masterclass is not available to the general public. The current-release Penfolds Grange is $1000 a bottle, and you'll finish the day with a pour of this iconic wine. You're going behind the scenes with two of the most sought-after names in Australian wine in a single day, with your own guide and vehicle throughout.
What it isn't. It's not a "see the Hills" day — it's two top-level producers visited intimately, with a long lunch between them. It doesn't run on Saturdays, it needs more lead time to book than the Wine Experience because both halves are by arrangement. If you want more variety, and time to explore the Hills more broadly, The Adelaide Hills Wine Experience is the better fit.
just a few OF OUR FAVOURITE adelaide hills WINERIES…
Frequently asked questions
Is an Adelaide Hills wine tour worth it if I've never done one?
Of course! Tasting wine at boutique tasting rooms is the best place to try new things, ask questions, and learn more about what you like and why — or what you don't like and why. The Hills is a particularly good first region if you lean towards whites, sparkling or lighter reds. Being private, the day bends to whatever you're curious about - so we can delve deeper into specifics and cater to your interest. Most first-timers come away understanding more about why they like what they like, and often find they like more than they first thought.
Is there a shared Adelaide Hills tour?
No — the Adelaide Hills is private touring only. Both Hills days are your own party in your own vehicle, and the per-person price comes down as your group grows.
What makes Small Batch different from a larger tour?
Six guests maximum, departing with as few as two — and in the Hills, it's only ever your own party. At that size you'll find you're interacting with and becoming part of the experience, not just looking out the window spacing out to a voice crackling over the PA.
Is lunch included on your tours?
Yes — a sit-down lunch is included on all our tours. On The Adelaide Hills Wine Experience it's a casual pub lunch at the Stanley Bridge Tavern - a real hidden gem; on the Pinnacle it's a multi-course lunch with matched wines at one of the region's best restaurants. Real seasonal dining, matched wines, amazing vistas - not a shared platter or a limited choice from a restricted menu.
Which wineries will I visit?
While The Adelaide Hills Wine Experience has a default or suggested itinerary - Deviation Rd, Shaw + Smith, and Murdoch Hill - we do ask you some questions during the booking process to learn more about your interests and level of expertise. Based on the feedback we will tailor your itinerary to meet your needs. The Pinnacle, howver, is a set itinerary - Shaw + Smith's vineyard and winery experience, an amazing restaurant lunch, and private behind the scenes at Penfolds Magill Estate. While there may be an alternative lunch option chosen on the day due to availability, the winery experiences don't change.
Is transport included?
Yes — door-to-door transfers in our Mercedes touring vehicles from your central Adelaide or Glenelg accommodation, or from your Adelaide Hills accommodation including Mount Lofty House and Sequoia Lodge. The Hills is a big region, so if you're staying somewhere else within it, please reach out before booking and we'll confirm whether or not we can pick you up from your location.
Do I pay for anything on the day?
No — all listed inclusions are part of the tour price. The only thing you'll spend money on is wine you decide to take or ship home.
Can I ship wine home?
Wineries can ship wine domestically, often including it for free for purchases of a dozen or more. International shipping is possible through Get Freighted, a dedicated international wine shipping business. Contact the team at Get Freighted for more information.
Can I book a private tour on a specific date months ahead?
Yes, and for the Pinnacle you absolutely should: it doesn't run on Saturdays, and both the Shaw + Smith vineyard experience and the Penfolds masterclass are by-arrangement bookings with the wineries — so booking earlier is better. The Adelaide Hills Wine Experience runs daily and is easier to fit in, but over the October-to-April peak, book as soon as your dates are set.
Are children allowed?
The Pinnacle is strictly 18 and over. The Adelaide Hills Wine Experience is the one Hills tour where children can be considered, on application — please send through an enquiry before you book.
