A few weeks ago, I was telling a friend about a winery I once visited in South Australia. She listened as I described the various wines and the irresistible selection of cheeses, meats, bread, and other provisions that our party grazed on all afternoon. What seemed to most enthral her was the natural beauty we were surrounded by. The cellar door was perched on a lush green hillside.

From the balcony, one could see rows upon rows of century-old grapevines—leaves green and heavy with ripening fruit. The estate’s buildings had been fashioned from sandstone generations ago, giving the place a sense of weight and history. Lush ivy scaled the walls and brightly coloured plots of lavender, marigolds, foxgloves, and poppies coloured the well-tended garden beds. To look out across the landscape—dotted with cypress trees and olive groves— one could mistakenly think they had been dropped in the middle of the Tuscan countryside.

While this all sounded delightful to the ears of my friend, she nevertheless lamented: I don’t really know anything about wine. I don’t even like wine that much… I’m not sure if it’s really my thing. Could I just go to check out the gardens? To which my response was: of course!

For those who have never set foot in a cellar door, the whole “wine world” can feel intimidating. But there’s really nothing to be nervous about. I believe cellar doors and wineries are little sanctuaries for life’s everyday joys and pleasures—there’s something for everyone (even if you’re not the biggest fan of wine!)

Here are four reasons I love visiting wineries that are separate from actually tasting wine.

1. If you love learning, winery cellar doors tend to double as a sort of laid-back classroom (where your tutor permits the odd tipple). But in all seriousness, the staff tend to be uber-passionate people who know a lot about winemaking, food, viticulture, and sustainability. They live and breathe wine, and love sharing their knowledge with visitors.

2. If you love food, you’re in good company at a winery. Most cellar doors offer some kind of fare to enjoy alongside wine. Sometimes this comes in the form of a lengthy five-course degustation, and other times as a rough-and-ready ploughman’s platter. Either way, you’re going to be eating something utterly delicious as what you’re consuming has been hand-picked by people who make a living off paying close attention to flavour.

3. If you love nature! Winemakers have great respect and appreciation for the natural world. Some wineries boast hectares of estate vineyards to marvel over, while others lure you outside with well-tended gardens and al fresco seating. Either way, it’s great to get outside and soak up some vitamin D.

4. If you love good conversation. There’s something about sharing a new experience that facilitates some great yarns.

Add music, sunshine, food and drink to the mix, and you may find a couple of hours have passed in the blink of an eye.

Need to see for yourself? Join us at Witches Falls next week on the 18th of September for Food Truck Sunday. Indulge in some gourmet Peruvian and Latin food while grooving out to some live music! We’re crossing our fingers for some true spring weather on the day!

Cheers,
Alexandra Douglas and the Witches Falls Winery team