Hindmarsh Island Cellar Door

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Posted 2022-03-28 by Karen Ross ⇒ follow

I'd heard mention of a cellar door, on nearby Hindmarsh Island, that offers a range of Australian boutique wines. It's open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, so I set off last weekend to investigate further.

I followed the signs from Randall Road and found myself at Coorong Quays Marina. The cellar door is located inside the office building.

I met with Bob Harrison, who along with his wife, Eileen, has run his business for decades. They specialise in private and corporate tastings and wine education. I'm a keen fan of learning and wine, so I figured I had come to the right place to enjoy both.

Australian Boutique Premium Wines are sourced from small wineries, mostly in South Australia, with a focus on the McLaren Vale wine region.

For a time, Bob and Eileen owned a vineyard, at McLaren Flat. Some of their current wines originate from there and are labelled accordingly.

My most recent wine variety of choice is chardonnay. Eager to learn more about this wine, I asked Bob about the difference between wooded and unwooded chardonnay. His explanation was easy to understand and further illustrated with a sample of each to taste.

Further demonstrating my zeal for learning, I asked whether the deep pink hue of the Cheeky Blush rosé meant it was a sweet wine. My favourite rosés, from southern France, are generally paler in colour and definitely not sickly-sweet. Bob told me that a little information can sometimes be a bad thing and patiently explained that wines should taste of their fruit. Cheeky Blush is made from grenache grapes with no added sugar and my subsequent educational tasting determined that it is definitely fruity, not sweet.

I was then tempted to try Delight, a creamy liqueur that lives up to its name. I can imagine it served over crushed ice as a frappé.

Bob blends fortified wine himself and discussed the maturation process of his liqueur tawny. I decided to save the practical learning (tasting) for my next visit. I plan to promote this educational opportunity and go back soon with a small group of friends.