Late winter brings many joys to McLaren Vale.
Almond trees spring to life with white petals blanketing the ground like confetti. Soursobs create fields of green and yellow. Budburst amongst the vines.
And, local outposts of the annual South Australian Living Artists Festival – SALA. SALA runs in 2014 from 1-24 August – so be quick there is just one day left!
A magnificent day trip can be had by combining two things this region does so well, art and wine. Here is one suggested itinerary for a lovely, arty, winey day out & about in McLaren Vale.
First stop, all the activity and gorgeousness to come requires fortification. Time for a snack / lunch. Head for Port Willunga Beach, by way of Old Aldinga. Here you can stop in for a gourmet country pie, pasty, sandwich, cake (the vegan vanilla slice is legendary for a reason) coffee and award winning sourdough, at Home Grain Bakery. An added bonus is service with a smile. Grab it to go and trundle on the few minutes down Port Rd to Port Willunga.
…with a pie in hand! Photo: Willunga Wino
Next, take a quick walk on the beach at Port Willunga, pie in hand. Visit the most photographed feature of the Fleurieu, the old jetty. Play hide & seek in the old fishermen caves. For the energetic, take the clifftop walk to the north of the beach. Or explore the ruins of the old police house on the path perpendicular back from the centre of the beach.
Looking south along Port Willunga Beach. Photo: Willunga Wino
Nature’s beauty in pastry and coastline will by now have put you in the mood to admire some fine art. Hardy’s Tintara winery on Main Rd McLaren Vale is a short 10 minute drive away. Housed in one of the historic buildings onsite is the exhibit called “The Pleasure of All Things“. A market is held in conjunction with the display of works on the weekend.
Seaweed sculpture. Photo: Willunga Wino
A selection of beautiful metal sculptures are installed on the lawns, in the shade of huge eucalypt trees, and backing on to the rolling hills of a vineyard.
Falling eucalyptus leaf sculpture. Photo: Willunga Wino
Falling eucalypus leaf sculpture. Photo: Willunga Wino
Butterfly sculpture. Photo: Willunga Wino
Moving into the building, there are a variety of different media used in the artworks. Some are sculptures, jewelry, textiles, landscapes, modern art, and glassware. Quite a variety in one place and plenty to interest anybody. One that took my eye was this glass blown heart, presented on a silver platter. It was near a number of other glass sculptures musing on the theme of love.
Amazing glass heart sculpture. Photo: Willunga Wino
Main street makes way into vineyards within a few hundred metres. Close by is Maxwells, which is hosting an outdoor sculpture exhibit for SALA.
Welcome wagon. Photo: Willunga Wino
The animal sculptures particularly caught my eye – and stole my heart. They were quite unique as they were life sized and from a distance, looked real!
Grazing sheep sculptures. Photo: Willunga Wino
Life sized horse. Photo: Willunga Wino
Nest of eggs. Photo: Willunga Wino
Barbed wire “Wild Thing” sculpture. Photo: Willunga Wino
Sit Ubu, Sit. Good Dog. Photo: Willunga Wino
There are two wine-dogs at Maxwell’s – German Short Haired Pointers – making the dog sculptures very appropriate.
Dogs – stay out of the garden! Photo: Willunga Wino
Should be almost enough. Photo: Willunga Wino
You may even be lucky enough to see a sculpture of the more mechanical kind like we did.
Work of art. Photo: Willunga Wino
Ellen St restaurant onsite at Maxwell’s has a new menu and new chef, and great reviews. Their grenache is also well worth stopping to taste.
Newly opened cellar door S.C Pannell is high on a hill offering great views over the rolling vineyards.
Quite a view. Photo: Willunga WIno
We sampled the grenache blends that were all quite different and great to taste and compare.
Tinto blend. Photo: Willunga Wino
A wonderful day of art, nature, and beauty in McLaren Vale.
