Organics & sustainability in wine

Come on a journey of discovery as we guide you through the world of sustainability in wine on your own private McLaren Vale wine tour.

On this sustainability focussed wine tour, you’ll visit family-owned wineries who focus on sustainable, largely-organic growing practices in the vineyard, and keep the extra nasties out of your wine.

You’ll learn what it means to be organic and biodynamic, how it benefits the local ecosystems surrounding and supporting the vineyards, and how it makes for a better wine in the glass. What’s more, you’ll realise that these wines may not only be better for the planet, but are also better for your health.

From vineyard practices to winery management to what goes into making your wine, we’ll cover it all on this one-of-a-kind sustainable wine tour.

Sample TOUR ITINERARY

 

1   off to McLaren Vale

Your host will meet you at your Adelaide City or Glenelg accommodation where your journey will begin around 09:30am. All of our local guides are trained wine experts who will not only unlock the secrets of the McLaren Vale with you, but also help you to better understand all things sustainability in wine.
Your journey takes you South through the scenic hills, passing through the historic settlement of Clarendon enroute to McLaren Vale.

2   Gemtree – Being Biodynamic

Your introduction to sustainability in wine starts from the ground up with the Being Biodynamic tour at Gemtree. Here you’ll learn what it means to be biodynamically grown and how that benefits the vineyards and local ecosystems. You’ll finish your time at Gemtree by tasting through a selection of their fantastic estate grown wines in their cozy cellar door with views over the Vale.

3   hither & yon

Recently awarded as South Australia’s first certified carbon neutral winery, the Leask brothers of Hither & Yon have been thinking sustainability from way back. In their quaint cellar door you’ll hear their story and try from their range of alternative varieties that they’ve planted in order to combat the effects of a warming climate and limited water. “Now, more than ever, we believe regenerative agriculture is our guiding philosophy. Why? It is a dynamic holistic system which is down to earth, but also futurist.”

4   Seasonal Lunch at The Salopian

Operating out of a repurposed homestead built in 1851 and surrounded by McLaren Vale vineyard is one of South Australia’s favourite restaurants – The Salopian. Here you’ll enjoy a seasonal feast sourced primarily from their own organic garden and local farmers. With a firm focus on sustainable produce and reducing waste, you’ll taste the flavours that define the region and have made this one of South Australia’s best regional restaurants (all dietaries catered for).

5   oliver’s taranga

]With a strong focus on sustainable practices and minimal additions, Oliver’s make some of the best small-batch wines available in the Vale. By leaving out all the chemical processes and additions allowed in wine these days, the wines at Oliver’s Taranga are more natural, easy-drinking, and better for you than most of what you’ll find on the shelf at the big-chain liquor stores.

After a full day of wine touring throughout McLaren Vale, we’ll have you safely back in your Adelaide accommodation around 5:30pm.

6   McLaren Vale Biodiversity Project

While Small Batch Wine Tours is a climate-positive business through the help of our friends at Ecologi, we also like to support local initiatives at a grassrooots level. As part of your experience, we’ll make a contribution to the McLaren Vale Biodiversity Project – a local project focussed on engaging the community to protect and enhance the biodiversity and sustainability of the McLaren Vale’s region.

Of course, if you’d like to make an extra contribution to the MVBP or Ecologi then you can do so at their websites.