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Spend a glorious full day in one of Australia's most celebrated wine regions on the McLaren Vale and The Cube Wine Tasting Tour — a guided food and wine adventure through the vineyards, cellar doors, and extraordinary culinary experiences of the Fleurieu Peninsula, just 45 minutes from Adelaide. From the jaw-dropping d'Arenberg Cube to an Italian-style shared lunch with wine pairing, craft beer and gin tastings at Beresford, and a structured cellar tour at the historic Wirra Wirra Vineyards, this is the most complete and rewarding McLaren Vale experience available as a guided day tour.

Key Highlights

  • Explore the iconic d'Arenberg Cube — a five-storey architectural marvel inspired by the complexities of winemaking, with a wine sensory room, virtual fermenter, 360-degree video room, and award-winning wine tastings
  • Enjoy an Italian-style shared lunch with wine pairing hosted by Chalk Hill Wines and Cucina Di Strada — one of the most celebrated lunch experiences in the McLaren Vale region
  • Choose your tasting at the Beresford Wine Tasting Pavilion — select from premium wine tastings, Vale Brewing craft beers, or 23rd Street Distillery craft gins and spirits
  • Visit Wirra Wirra Vineyards in their historic ironstone cellars — a structured tasting and cellar tour at one of McLaren Vale's most beloved and storied wineries
  • Enjoy coastal views along the southern metropolitan beaches and the McLaren Vale Information Centre for morning tea on the way to the wine region

About McLaren Vale & The Cube Wine Tasting Tour

The McLaren Vale and The Cube Wine Tasting Tour is the definitive guided introduction to one of Australia's greatest wine regions — a full day that balances world-class cellar door experiences, extraordinary architecture, and exceptional food with the relaxed, scenic beauty of the Fleurieu Peninsula countryside.

Departing Adelaide, the coach heads south along the metropolitan coastline, passing the southern beaches with scenic coastal views before arriving at the McLaren Vale Information Centre for morning tea (own expense) — a charming stop with local art exhibitions, regional souvenirs, and a cafe with views over the valley. The centrepiece of the morning is the extraordinary d'Arenberg Cube — a visually striking five-storey glass and concrete cube conceived by fourth-generation winemaker Chester Osborn as a physical representation of the puzzles and complexities of winemaking. Inside, five levels of immersive sensory experiences await — including a wine aroma room, virtual fermenter, 360-degree projection room, and an art-filled museum — all complemented by a guided tour and structured tasting of d'Arenberg's celebrated estate and limited release wines.

Lunch is a genuine highlight — an Italian-style shared feast hosted by Chalk Hill Wines and the acclaimed Cucina Di Strada at their vineyard setting, with dishes designed around the winery's handcrafted wines in a relaxed, convivial, family-style dining experience that perfectly captures the spirit of McLaren Vale hospitality. The afternoon continues with a visit to the Beresford Wine Tasting Pavilion, where guests choose their preferred tasting experience from premium wines, Vale Brewing craft beers, or 23rd Street Distillery craft gins. The final stop is the iconic Wirra Wirra Vineyards — tucked among the gum trees in their historic ironstone cellars with a legendary catapult and 3/4-tonne Angelus Bell in the grounds — for a tour of the cellars and a structured tasting of their quality wine range. Book your McLaren Vale and The Cube Wine Tasting Tour now on Thrillark and save up to 17%.

Inclusions

  • Full-day guided small group coach tour with expert local driver and guide commentary throughout
  • d'Arenberg Cube guided tour and structured wine tasting
  • Italian-style shared lunch with wine pairing at Chalk Hill Wines and Cucina Di Strada
  • Beresford Wine Tasting Pavilion — choice of premium wine, craft beer, or gin tasting
  • Wirra Wirra Vineyards cellar tour and structured wine tasting
  • Morning hotel pickup from selected Adelaide CBD hotels
  • Return to Adelaide Central Bus Station and selected hotel drop-offs

Exclusions

  • Personal expenses

Insiders' Tips

Take your time at the d'Arenberg Cube — the five floors of immersive sensory experiences are genuinely extraordinary and rushing through to get to the tasting means missing the best part. At Beresford, the gin tasting from 23rd Street Distillery is consistently voted the most surprising and enjoyable option by guests who have already tasted plenty of wine by the afternoon.

Additional Information

Duration
  • Approximately 8 hours
  • 9:15 AM to 5:15 PM
Child Policy
  • Children under 3 years are free of charge but with no seats provided.
Additional info
  • 09:15AM - Departs from Adelaide Central Bus Station or selected Adelaide CBD hotels
  • 05:15PM - End of tour and drop off at Adelaide Central Bus Station or selected Adelaide CBD hotels

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellation at least 72 hrs before the travel date for full refund

McLaren Vale & The Cube Wine Tasting Tour Frequently Asked Questions

What is the McLaren Vale and The Cube Wine Tasting Tour?
The McLaren Vale and The Cube Wine Tasting Tour is a full-day guided small group coach tour from Adelaide covering four of McLaren Vale's most celebrated food and wine experiences — the d'Arenberg Cube, an Italian-style shared lunch at Chalk Hill Wines, tastings at the Beresford Wine Tasting Pavilion, and a cellar tour and tasting at Wirra Wirra Vineyards. The tour departs at 9:15 AM and returns at approximately 5:15 PM, with hotel pickup available from selected Adelaide CBD hotels.
What is the d'Arenberg Cube?
The d'Arenberg Cube is a striking five-storey glass and concrete structure in the McLaren Vale vineyard of d'Arenberg, conceived by fourth-generation winemaker Chester Osborn as a physical representation of the complexities and puzzles of winemaking. Inside, five levels of immersive sensory experiences include a wine aroma room, virtual fermenter, 360-degree projection theatre, art installations, and a restaurant, all complemented by structured tastings of d'Arenberg's award-winning estate and limited release wines.
What is included in the Chalk Hill lunch on the McLaren Vale tour?
The Italian-style shared lunch at Chalk Hill Wines and Cucina Di Strada is a relaxed, family-style feast of seasonal dishes designed to pair with Chalk Hill's handcrafted wines, served at their vineyard setting in the heart of McLaren Vale. The lunch includes wine pairing and is one of the most consistently praised inclusions on the tour — guests with dietary requirements should advise the operator at the time of booking.
What tasting options are available at the Beresford Wine Tasting Pavilion?
At the Beresford Wine Tasting Pavilion, guests choose from three distinct tasting experiences — a premium wine tasting featuring wines from Beresford's estate and limited release range, a Vale Brewing tasting of up to five craft beers from their sessionable range, or a 23rd Street Distillery tasting of five craft spirits or three craft gins. The flexibility to choose between wine, beer, or spirits at this stop makes it a particularly popular and inclusive tasting experience.
What is Wirra Wirra Vineyards and why is it significant?
Wirra Wirra Vineyards is one of McLaren Vale's most historic and beloved wineries, established in 1894 and housed in beautiful ironstone cellars surrounded by gum trees, with the famous catapult and 3/4-tonne Angelus Bell among the most photographed features of any winery in South Australia. The tour includes a short cellar tour covering the winery's history and biodynamic practices, followed by a structured tasting of their quality wine range.
Is the McLaren Vale and The Cube Wine Tasting Tour suitable for non-wine drinkers?
The tour is primarily designed as a wine and food experience — the d'Arenberg Cube, shared lunch, and Wirra Wirra visits are all wine-focused. However, the Beresford stop offers the option of craft beer or gin tasting as an alternative, and the d'Arenberg Cube's immersive sensory museum experiences are genuinely engaging regardless of interest in wine. Non-drinkers should consider whether the tour's wine focus suits their preferences before booking.
How far is McLaren Vale from Adelaide and how long does the drive take?
McLaren Vale is approximately 45 minutes south of Adelaide by coach, heading through the southern metropolitan suburbs and along the coastline past Port Noarlunga and Moana beaches before arriving in the wine region. The scenic coastal drive forms an enjoyable part of the tour experience, with your guide providing commentary on the surrounding landscape, history, and wine region throughout the journey.
What happens if Wirra Wirra Vineyards is unavailable on my tour date?
Wirra Wirra Vineyards is unavailable on selected public holidays and between 25 December and 25 January, during which time the tasting is held at Woodstock Wine Estate — a substitute winery of comparable quality and character in the McLaren Vale region. The operator will advise of any itinerary changes and the substituted experience maintains the same quality and structure as the standard Wirra Wirra visit.
Is the McLaren Vale and The Cube Wine Tasting Tour suitable for children?
The tour is not recommended for children as it is specifically designed as an adult food and wine focused experience throughout the full day. Children aged 3 to 14 are technically permitted to travel on the tour but will not be able to participate in the wine tastings or the lunch wine pairing, making the experience less suitable and enjoyable for younger visitors than other guided tours from Adelaide.
Do I need to book the McLaren Vale and The Cube Wine Tasting Tour in advance?
Advance booking is strongly recommended as the small group format means places fill quickly, particularly on weekends and during South Australian school holidays and harvest season from February to April. Booking through Thrillark saves up to 17% on the standard rate with instant confirmation, and always advises any dietary requirements at the time of booking to ensure the Chalk Hill lunch can be prepared accordingly.

Ratings & Reviews

McLaren Vale & The Cube Wine Tasting Tour

USD 171.05

Insiders’ Tips

Take your time at the d'Arenberg Cube — the five floors of immersive sensory experiences are genuinely extraordinary and rushing through to get to the tasting means missing the best part. At Beresford, the gin tasting from 23rd Street Distillery is consistently voted the most surprising and enjoyable option by guests who have already tasted plenty of wine by the afternoon.

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