It’s a two-for-one: premium wines as well as Clare Valley’s trademark country hospitality at these five top cellar doors.
Ki-li-ka-noon – trust us, it's as fun to visit as it is to say. The winery was established by Peter Mitchell in 1979 and now, some 25 years down the track, it has entrenched itself in the community and proved itself an unmissable stop on any Clare Valley itinerary. After all, it has been named Australia's best winery multiple times by multiple industry heavyweights, so you really would be doing yourself a disservice by not visiting.
The rustic cellar door offers three tiers of tastings: 'Taste of Clare', 'Diversity of Clare', and 'Revelation Experience' – the last of which showcases six award-winning wines, including two that have been proclaimed Best Shiraz in the World at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Wine aside, the friendly staff are always welcoming and keen to chat all things Clare, while the grounds are worth a visit on their own.
What is it with these Clare Valley wineries having super-fun names? Kilikanoon! Skillogalee! Make no mistake, we're here for it, especially when the cellar door is as impressive as Skillogalee's. (Fun fact: Skillogalee is the name of a creek that runs through the property. What makes this a fun fact is that the creek is named after an Irish gruel, which ultimately spared a group of sick, hungry and weather-beaten explorers in the 1840s.) It's housed in a 19th-century settler's cottage and regularly features in Gourmet Traveller's Best Cellar Door awards, and once you visit, you'll understand why.
A log fire heats the rustic interior through winter, while warmer weather allows for long afternoons spent lounging on a beautiful wooden veranda overlooking the vineyards. Go for a tasting paired with artisan cheeses and charcuterie, then stay for a memorable lunch or an afternoon tea featuring what Skillogalee claims to be Clare Valley's best scones (and we have to agree).
