Accessible Provenance in the Adelaide Hills

For those who enjoy some indulgence with great food and fine wine, micro breweries, distilleries and dining, the easily accessible Adelaide Hills are a truly delicious destination.  Spend a flavourful weekend sampling this beautiful region and it’s easy to see why it attracts local and international visitors alike. 

Main street treats in Hahndorf

Hahndorf - Image via Michael Waterhouse Photography
Hahndorf – Image via Michael Waterhouse Photography

Just 20 minutes from Adelaide, Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. Its picturesque tree-lined bustling main street is a treasure trove of local providores, with many bakeries, pubs, smallgoods stores, restaurants and cafes to explore.  

A favourite breakfast stop is the light-filled Fred Eatery, a friendly cafe specialising in creative comfort food that’s heavy on Hills produce.  

Taste a variety of artisan cheeses at Udder Delights and enjoy some of the other experiences they offer including fondue, high tea and cheese making classes. 

Immerse in Hahndorf’s history at German Spoon, which specialises in authentic German Wurst and Schnitzels, locally sourced produce, and craft beers served in 500ml or 1 litre steins. 

You can sample local wines without leaving town, with several boutique winery cellar doors right on the main street. Book ahead for the Landhaus Saint and Sinner tasting den, a perfect spot for private tastings of current and vintaged Museum wines. 

Wine around the Hills

Enjoy some of the regions local wines. Image via South Australian Tourism Commission

Over 90 wine labels and 50 cellar doors call the Adelaide Hills home. Celebrate Chardonnay May over two weekends with cellar door tastings, long lunches and the let-your-hair-down “Chardy Party”.  

The Winter Reds weekend in late July each year is the best time to enjoy a cold, wintery weekend away and coincides with the festive German Club Christmas Winter Market with delicious Christmas food, wine and beer, plus stalls selling homemade gifts, products and Christmas decorations..  

The  Summertown Aristologist’s  cellar door a good place to get acquainted with ultra-cool natural wines from the Basket Range region, and one of the best wineries to visit in Adelaide Hills. 

Nearby Ashton Hills kickstarted the pinot renaissance in the eighties and still leads the way with elegantly perfumed cool climate wines, dispensed from a cosy cellar door that you’ll never want to leave. 

On your way back towards Hahndorf, stop off at The Lane vineyard for an Adelaide Hills winery lunch or dinner at the winery restaurant with stunning views over the adjacent vineyards. 

Meet the Makers

Explore Beerenberg Farm. Image via South Australian Tourism Commission

Each month locals and food lovers flock to the Stirling Market in search of fresh seasonal local produce, homemade pies, jams and preserved, cakes and biscuits, and local wines and oils.   

Mount Barker hosts the Saturday morning Adelaide Hills Farmers Market with fresh, seasonal, and local products, sold by the people who produced it. At this outdoor market you’ll find great coffee and a roster of local musicians entertaining the crowds. Double up on market fun with a 40-minute drive north through Onkaparinga Valley to the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market held in the Show Hall and adjoining grassed areas. 

The annual Hahndorf Christkindlmarkt is a magical European-style Christmas market over a weekend in December with gift stalls, entertainment, food and plenty of traditional festive season style.  

Explore Beerenberg Farm with the entire family for a day picking berries and discovering how jam is made.

Where to stay:

Immerse yourself in the Adelaide Hills at one of three Choice Hotels properties.  The Manna by Haus, Ascend Hotel Collection offers stylish modern accommodation right in the heart of Hahndorf. Pet friendly, with idyllic garden surrounds, The Studios by Haus, Ascend Hotel Collection are a great option for families.  The Lodge by Haus is a great base for exploring, with an award-winning onsite restaurant, heated pool, and BBQ facilities. 

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