Yep, it is possible to have your wine and drink it too at South Australia's best child-friendly wineries. From kid friendly wineries with playgrounds, to kids' cheese flights and even a cellar door with a wildlife park, South Australia is dotted with wineries where grownups can enjoy a guilt-free glass or two. Here's our guide to the best family friendly wineries near Adelaide and beyond.
1. Kimbolton Wines, Fleurieu Peninsula
While you sample the best Kimbolton Wines, your little ones can take part with their own kid-friendly version. Pint-sized palates can taste their way through a cheese and cordial flight, complete with a set of colouring pencils and activity sheets. Less than an hour from Adelaide, idyllic surrounds complete Kimbolton Wines claim to being one of the best family friendly wineries. Head to the rooftop deck and soak in views across Langhorne Creek's vineyards or while away the afternoon with a regionally-inspired platter playing lawn games below.
2. Z Wines, Barossa
It's a family affair at the Barossa's Z Wines, both for you and the owners. Run by sister duo Janelle and Kristen Zerk, fifth generation Barossa locals, it's here that another child-approved platter and some seriously good wine awaits. Complete with apple juice, orange juice and milk paired with smoked fritz, fairy bread, cheddar cheese and pretzels, Z Wines' tasting plank for kids is so good you might just be tempted to trade in your own wine and cheese... But their award-winning Grenache and Shiraz will stifle any notion of that. Located in the heart of Tanunda, a visit to the family-owned cellar door is best paired with a trip to the Barossa Valley Chocolate Factory and Barossa Bowland which await just minutes away.
3. Woodstock Wines, Fleurieu Peninsula
When a winery comes paired with a wildlife sanctuary, you know you've discovered one of the best family friendly wineries in South Australia. Among the vineyards, McLaren Vale's Woodstock Wines has dedicated three hectares to conserving native flora and fauna. The natural scrubland is home to Long-nosed Potoroos, Brush-tailed Bettongs, Red-necked Wallabies, Swamp Wallabies, Tamar Wallabies, emus and kangaroos which you can bottle feed on weekends. You might even catch a glimpse of rehabilitated koalas, which are released on site by conservationists. The casual dining restaurant is family-friendly with pizza, grazing platters and share plates, while the Mediterranean-inspired wine will keep grown-ups more than happy.
4. Barristers Block Wines, Adelaide Hills
Sprawling grass, a huge sandpit, farm animals and lawn games… Barristers Block Wines tops the child-friendly winery charts. Pull up a seat under a shady tree and enjoy a few guilt-free hours tasting your way through signature Adelaide Hills cool-climate wines while the rest of the family are busy making the most of the surrounding gardens. Hungry? Barristers dishes up wood-fired pizzas, including plenty of child-friendly options. Afterwards, earn some extra brownie points with the kids by taking a quick stroll down the road to Melbas Chocolate Factory.
5. Down the Rabbit Hole, Fleurieu Peninsula
Nestled between vineyards and orchards, Down the Rabbit Hole is an idyllic setting for a family afternoon sprawled in the sun. Throw down a picnic rug on the lush lawns and sip wine as the kids explore and make friends with the resident chickens and alpacas. Take a few family snaps in front of the vintage double decker bus which doubles as a tasting room or sit down for a wholesome, organic lunch in the Mediterranean-style cellar door. They'll top up your glass wherever you roam and have the whole family feeling right at home.
6. Gemtree Wines, Fleurieu Peninsula
Worried your kids will be too loud at a winery? Gemtree Wines have the perfect solution. Head inside the McLaren Vale cellar door, grab a bottle or two of their organic, biodynamic wines and a local produce picnic pack, then wander down to the picnic area AKA a family haven for wine-deprived parents. Here, you'll find plenty of tables, barbecues and a playground nestled among tranquil bushland. Explore the Gemtree Eco Trail which winds through restored native vegetation bursting with wildlife, say hello to the resident emus, cast your eyes to the treetops for a chance to spot koalas which are often rehabilitated on site and enjoy a few blissful hours of wine time while the kids let loose on the playground.
7. False Cape Wines, Kangaroo Island
On Kangaroo Island with kids in tow? Head straight for False Cape Wines, a new cellar door where you can sample and buy their minimal intervention wines that honour sustainable and time-honoured wine practices. With a deck that looks onto the Terra Rosa soils of limestone on the banks of the Willson River flat, False Cape Wines' cellar door has an idyllic Australian setting. There's plenty to keep your little ones happy too, including an enclosed lawn area, nature playground and kids' menu.
8. Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre, Riverland
Pack up the car and take the family on the ultimate weekend getaway filled with nature, adventure, and of course wine. Tucked on the banks of the Murray River in the Riverland, Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre is set among an impressive wetland environment just outside Barmera. Here, you can take the family for a stroll down scenic walking trails, enjoy a spot of bird watching and discover native wildlife. Top it off at their cellar door with lunch and a glass or two of their fruit-driven innovative wine. The kids' menu has plenty of options, including a kids' tasting paddle. Start planning with our Riverland itinerary.
Family friendly activities in Adelaide
Running out of ideas for activities to keep the whole family entertained? From adventure parks and national parks to chocolate factories and fruit picking, check out our guide to the best family friendly things to do in Adelaide.
