'I was just in Tuscany but honestly, this local beachside wine region is better (and cheaper!).'

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Not to brag, but I spent six weeks in Italy this summer.

It was fabulous and exciting and romantic, but it was also expensive. And a little bit tiring.

But most of all, it's far away. Far, far away.

Watch: My top seven Europe travel essentials you won't regret packing. Post continues below.

While going through my Tuscany camera roll post-holiday (FYI we stayed at Borgo Argenina in Chianti, couldn't recommend it more), I ended up scrolling back further to my 2023 wedding in McLaren Vale, South Australia.

McLaren Vale's beautiful golden landscape and endless vineyards make it a no brainer for weddings.

And maybe I'm biased, but you can't tell me this doesn't look like a Tuscan villa.

Image: Supplied.

Image: Supplied.

If you're from Adelaide, you've likely spent a lot of time in McLaren Vale.

Barossa Valley gets a lot of (well-deserved) hype, but the combination of genuinely world-class wine, nearby beaches and a quick 45-minute drive from Adelaide CBD makes McLaren Vale a popular destination for weekends away, day trips and wine tours, end-of-season holidays, festivals and long lunches.

Plus, you can immerse yourself in Italian-inspired food, vino and design for a lot less than a plane ticket to Europe.

Whether you're a local looking for staycation inspiration, or plan to travel from interstate (or even overseas!), read on for a quick guide to eating, drinking and enjoying your way through Mclaren Vale.

McLaren Vale accommodation.

A literal dream. Image: CABN.

McLaren Vale is a small region; there are plenty of Ubers and taxis (or even e-bikes and bike hires), so you can stay within a 10-15-minute drive from wineries of your choice and be completely fine.

You could even stay in Adelaide's CBD or eastern suburbs (anywhere near the bottom of the freeway or near Burnside Village shopping precinct) and Uber, taxi or book a McLaren Vale mini bus to and from the area.

If it were me going in the next few months, I'd be booking one of the stunning McLaren Vale boutique accommodation and luxury off-grid tiny home options.

Two places I've had sitting in my Instagram saved folder since forever are:

• CABN X McLaren Vale (from $545 per night) — if slow mornings and no phones sound like bliss, these off-grid elevated tiny homes bring the outdoors inside with secluded and fully private eco-cabins complete with luxury indoor kitchen and bathroom ammenities, plus an outdoor kitchen, private outdoor bathtub, wood-fired sauna, firepit and vineyard views.

• Rare Earth Retreats McLaren Vale (from $650 per night) - three fully self-contained and sustainably-minded luxury accommodations off grid at Mollydooker winery; think open plan living, floor-to-ceiling windows, big indoor and outdoor bathtubs, fireplaces, chic interiors and private courtyards and decks with views over McLaren Vale

Image: Instagram/@evaseeks

Image: Instragram/@marnykennedy

For couples or small groups, look for a McLaren Vale B&B, AirBnB, cottage and studio apartment in suburbs like McLaren Vale, McLaren Flat, Willunga, Tatachilla, Aldinga, Kuitpo, Kangarilla or Sellicks Hill.

On-site winery accommodation like The Vineyard Retreat McLaren Vale and Hotel California Road at Inkwell Wines is another option.

Families can find four and five-bedroom home accomodation on Stayz, Trip.com and Booking.com. McLaren Vale is close to the ocean, so you could look to rent neighbouring cabins at coastal caravan parks — try beachside suburbs like Aldinga Beach, Port Noarlunga, Sellicks Beach, Christies Beach and Moana.

Best McLaren Vale wineries.

Image: Instagram/@chalkhillmv

This comes down to personal preference, but generally speaking, it's hard to find a bad cellar door in McLaren Vale. My husband loves a McLaren Vale shiraz and craft beer, while I'm more of a gin and McLaren Vale pinot noir kind of girl.

The best bit is they're all super close to each other; some are even next door or across the street. The easiest way to build an itinerary is to find places you like the sound/look of, then get up Google Maps and group them together to get the timing right with minimal backtracking.

You've probably heard about the d'Arenberg Cube… it's worth a visit to see it, but if you want to relax and socialise, there are better options (in my opinion).

Here's a list of places we've been several times over the years tick all the 'is this Tuscany or South Australia' boxes, plus a few words on the vibe:

• Chalk Hill and Never Never Gin - A winery, top-notch gin distillery and Italian woodfire pizzas in one big, open space with uninterrupted views and plenty of atmosphere. Recommend booking a table for each area one after the other

Image: Instagram/@chalkhillmv

• Alpha Box & Dice - Very cool wine bottle labels; shabby chic, tin shed set up with antique lounges and outdoor seating

Image: Instagram/@alphaboxdice

• Maxwells - Right across the road from Alpha Box & Dice is a more commercial yet completely stunning winery cellar door; upmarket and sleek with a dash of rustic charm, does a great cheese platter and you can do a picnic and explore their giant maze

Image: Instagram/@neatsipsfortifiedfestival

• DOWIE DOOLE - Delicious wine and all the vistas of a traditional cellar door, but in fitted out 'Tasting Pod' shipping containers; think of it like wine tasting tiny houses

Image: @DOWIE DOOLE.

• Paxton - A relaxed, family-style winery farm (that still feels polished) with manicured lawns, stone and golden gardens a la Chianti

Image: Instagram/@paxton.wines

• Mollydooker Wines - This place doesn't have to try very hard; it has personality, offers McLaren Vale views, and makes unmatched red wine, plus they also do plenty of music events and tasting evenings in the summer months (it's also where that stunning accommodation I mentioned before is!)

Image: Instagram/@mollydookerwines

• Coriole Vineyards - Maybe the most Tuscany-coded winery of the lot; a cellar door and restaurant sit in the middle of a property on top of a hill, my favourite area to sip is by the huge gumtree out the back, but take photos out the front

Image: Instagram/@coriole

• Down the Rabbit Hole - Famous for its blue double decker bus bar, but finding a free rug outside on the sprawling lawn with tonnes of cushions listening to live music and chatter is a lovely way to spend an afternoon

Image: Instagram/@downtherabbitholewines

Best McLaren Vale restaurants and cafes.

Lots of the McLaren Vale wineries like Chalk Hill and Down the Rabbit Hole have their own restaurants.

There are plenty of options for food:

Pizzateca is the ultimate McLaren Vale long lunch booking with Southern Italian food made by Nonna, great gluten-free pizza bases, incredible drinks (including Limoncello shots to finish your meal), high vibes and an iconic photo wall.

Will never stop coming here! Image: Supplied.

For pub grub, can't go past the McLaren Vale Hotel or Victory Hotel on Sellicks Hill. Little Wolf Osteria at Mitolo Wines and d'Arry's Verandah are solid foodie options.

The Willunga Farmers Market is on every Saturday 8am til midday, otherwise I love Manna McLaren Vale for breakfast and coffee.

Best beaches near McLaren Vale.

At the time of publishing (Oct, 2025), some of South Australia's beaches are impacted by an Algal bloom.

Look out for foamy or discoloured water, and make sure you check SA Gov websites for updates before going swimming.

If it's safe to do so, I highly recommend adding beach time to your McLaren Vale trip. In Tuscany, you won't find a beach for hours, but in McLaren Vale, you can go from vineyard to the coast in 15 minutes.

Me having a splash at Silver Sands Beach, Aldinga. Image: Supplied.

Silver Sands at Aldinga Beach is a popular stretch that's flat and allows you to drive your car onto the sand to set up for the day. Port Willunga and Port Noarlunga beaches have reefs you can snorkle, but my all-time favourite to visit early in the morning or at dusk is Maslin's Beach.

Yes, it's a local nudist beach (the no-clothes part is right at the very end), but if you're game, it's one of the most beautiful beaches you'll visit — yellow sand, ultra blue water and surrounding red cliffs.

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Feature image: Supplied.