The Old Vine Aldinga Review

It’s been a while since I’ve been to The Old Vine.

Since then, the place has changed ownership, into the safe hands of Rob formerly from Blessed Cheese.

The lovely Old Vine Aldinga cafe restaurant. Photo: Willunga Wino

Under this new ownership, a close collaboration with the also onsite Fall From Grace wine bar has been formed. Friday nights are full of fun with music, indoor outdoor seating, and pizzas plus extras from Rob’s wood fired pizza oven in the courtyard.

Welcome. Photo: Willunga Wino

Inside the heritage building, the interior is modern and includes cafe, indoor, and verandah.

Sleek modern interior. Photo: Willunga Wino

The garden setting is a charming place to dine.

Beautiful garden dining. Photo: Willunga Wino

Head up the garden path, and you will come upon the Old Vine onto the Fall From Grace wine bar.

Hollyhocks in the garden. Photo: Willunga Wino

While there is a main menu at lunch time, at around the $25 a dish mark, there are also keenly priced lunch specials.

Lunch Specials menu. Photo: Willunga Wino

Pair your lunch with one of the offerings on the compact by-the-glass wine list.

Parous Heathcote Fiano 2014 ($9 a glass) has a lovely straw colour, it’s clear, bright and properly chilled.

There’s a touch of sweetness to the full mouthfeel, balanced nicely with soft acid. Overall it is bright, clean, juicy lemon and peachy keen, just perfect for food.

Parous Heathcote Fiano 2014 ($9). Photo: Willunga Wino

Or you could opt for the Ulithorne McLaren Vale GSM 2012 ($10). The components of a GSM – Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro each bring an element of interest.

G-renache: bright, raspberry red fruit aromas;
S-hiraz: broadens mid palate with a mouth coating black fruit and black pepper profile;
M-ataro: adds meatiness and savoury flavours.
The Ulithorne has red and purple fruit on the nose – sweet raspberry framboise leaps out. Just a touch of meatiness from the mataro adds a bit of complexity.

Just as you’d want on the palate, there are powdery tannins, and lasting acid juiciness.

Ulithorne McLaren Vale GSM 2012 ($10). Photo: Willunga Wino

There are piadinas and there are piadinas.

This is a brilliant version.

Freshly made, thin, crisp flatbreads, with a thick filling of pumpkin, herbs, dukkah and feta. Sliced into wedges, and piled high on the plate, this is a great value serve for $11.50.

Pumpkin, Feta, and Dukkah Flatbread ($11.50). Photo: Willunga Wino

Mr Wino’s mushroom, prosciutto and provolone was equally impressive.

Mushroom Flatbread ($11.50). Photo: Willunga Wino

In case the flatbread wasn’t enough for our lunch, we also ordered a serve of the pearl couscous, carrot, sumac and herb salad.

Seriously this delicious dish had wow factor.

Saltiness form the preserved lemon, tang from the sumac, sweetness from the roast carrots, yield from the couscous and freshness form the mint, rocket and other herbs.

Pearl Couscous, Carrot, Sumac and Herb Salad. Photo: WIllunga Wino

On the way out, be tempted by the quality pantry items for sale. Chipotle in adobo, tomatillo salsa, as well as Middle Eastern and Italian goodies, plus some homewares.

Great foodie gifts and groceries. Photo: Willunga Wino

The Old Vine has had a complete transformation, with helpful and knowledgeable wait staff, delicious, keenly priced, interesting food offerings, and a clever wine list.

What’s not to love?

We can’t wait to return to check out the full a la carte menu.