A
sk anyAdelaideHillslocal
whatmakestheregionspecial
andmostwillsayitsclose
proximitytothecity.“When
you’reintheHillsit feelslike
you’rehundredsofkilometres
awayfromanything,butit’sonly 20 minutes’
driveupthefreeway,” saysAaronFenwick,
co-ownerofTheSummertownAristologist.
TheAdelaideHillssitstotheeastofthe
cityandis oneof 18 wineregionsinSouth
Australia.“Itsphysicallocationandthefact
thatit getsa lotofrainarethemainreasons
it hasanedge,”addsFenwick.“It’slushand
green;it’sanabsolutelystunningplace.There
arevineyards,wineriesandmarket gardens
rightonyourdoorstep.”
Windingroadscanopied
withoaktreesandtowering
gumsconnectonequaint
towntothenext,eachwith
itsownpersonalityandcharm.
“TheHillsarefullofmagic
andromance.I didn’trealise
thatuntilweboughtour
propertyinMyloraboutfiveyearsago,”says
chef-restaurateurAndréUrsini.“Thewood
firesinwinter,thecabins,thegreenery.”
Nomatterthetimeofyear,theregion
is a feastfortheeyes– andstomach.“Each
area of the Hills is really different,” says chef“TheHills arefullof
magicandromance
...thewoodfires in
winter, thecabins,
the greenery.”EmmaMcCaskill.“Andeachseasonis sodistinct
- especiallyautumnwhenthetreesarecoloured
intenseredsandoranges.”
Fora weekendorweek-longescapeinSouth
Australia’smostscenicregion,theoptionsare
endless.“Whenyou’redrivingthroughtheHills
thereareplentyof‘pinchyourself’moments,”
saysFenwick.“Notjustwhenit’sclearandsunny,
butalsowhenit’sstormyandmistyandthesky
is thickwithclouds.”
StartbyweavingyourwayfromStirlingto
Hahndorf(Australia’soldestsurvivingGerman
settlement)whilepassingthroughthepicturesque
townsofAldgateandBridgewater.Orheadto
BasketRangeviaSummertownandUraidla.
Along the way,stopbyartisanalshopsand
paddock-to-platerestaurants,
ortakeyourpickfroma long
listofaward-winningwineries.
“TheHillsis anepicentrefor
winemakersasthereisn’tasmuch
traditionaroundthewinemaking
as intheBarossaValleyorMcLaren
Vale,”saysFenwick.“There’sa
realsenseoffreedomandliberty.”
Whetherit’ssippinglow-interventiondrops
atmyriadcellardoors,orrelishinganexclusive
diningexperienceina hiddenvalley,thereare
plentyofreasonstoputtheAdelaideHillsatthe
topofyourmust-visitlistthisyear.Here’sour
guide on where to eat, drink, stay and play.➤
PHOTOGRAPHY JOSIE WITHERS (TOM CAMPBELL) & MICHAEL WATERHOUSE (PICCADILLY VALLEY).130 GOURMET TRAVELLER