This year’s Spring Affair in Mclaren Vale has been fantastic and yet another memorable experience, perfectly planned for the Labour Day long weekend in South Australia. The extra day off means no excuses and all the reason you need to go all out and make the most out of the public holiday to recover. Since we were not planning on missing out on anything, we decided to come when it started at 10.30 am on the dot. The day was young with a cloudy weather forecast, but that didn’t stop us in enjoying this event.

Our itinerary began at Coriole Vineyards which was nothing short of breathtaking. Located up on the hill, you get to see the beautiful panoramic views of neighbouring vineyards. The land looks as though it is covered in a carefully woven green blanket as we took it all in with a deep breath of fresh air, like literally. With the DJ playing some chilled tunes in the background, people started to spread their picnic blankets on the grass and lined up for their choice of wine. Some food stalls also offered options such as popcorn-chicken or cauliflower. We made our way inside as the wind started to approach and got comfortable with a glass of Shiraz sitting right next to the warm fireplace. It was blissful, but hey, look at the time. We forgot that time flies when you’re having fun! It was time to move on to our next destination.

Maxwell Wines was next on our destination, celebrating their ‘Sparkling Spring’, the crowd was already there when we arrived. There was also a DJ playing our favourite RnB hip hop songs but what we were so excited about was the fact that Pizzateca was there! We had to order their salami pizza, and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect time for lunch and we washed it down with their new Sparkling Mead. Now warmed up, we were ready to dance!

Third and last on, our destination was Penny’s Hill. Taking place in front of the original 1888 stables, this open and ample outdoor space was ready to accommodate the huge crowd. Featuring Madmen Gin, we were excited to experience their newest flight gin tasting. With Sooki Lala and Chopping Board Catering taking care of our appetite, there was also Mr Donuts and a Coffee truck for those who needed a strong caffeinated pick me up. We couldn’t pass up the mushroom arrancinis and sweet potato fries from Chopping Board Catering. It wasn’t exaggerating when we said they made such delicious food, made fresh and hot straight out of the oven- exactly what we needed. Our last drink was Penny’s Hill Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, and it was the perfect end to our Spring Affair journey. Not forgetting that it’s always more fun with a photo booth and make it more memorable with your family and friends.

Yes, the weather was a little gloomy, but there was not a single person that day that wasn’t having fun as far as we could tell. It was evident that we were all there to celebrate spring, and by the end of the evening, everyone just got on their feet and danced the evening away.

We loved the Spring Affair, and we love Mclaren Vale. We cannot wait to attend next time, but in the meantime, we will make sure to visit these wineries to get us started for next year!

Words by Dee Pene from Adelaide Food Authority