The top McLaren Vale breweries and distilleries

Don’t forget to spend a little time discovering McLaren Vale’s growing brewery and distillery scene.

Craft beer and spirits with a local twist are staking a claim for the drink of choice in the McLaren Vale, and visiting the many distilleries and breweries is one of the best things to do in the region.

Follow this guide to discover new and old breweries and distilleries that locals love and are must-stops for visitors who want flavour notes paired with their afternoon tipple.

In short

When choosing one gin tasting stop on a McLaren Vale itinerary, make it Never Never Distillery for its superior masterclasses and convenience to Chalk Hill Wines and Cucina di Strada food.

McLaren Vale breweries

Whether you’re chasing a tropical lager with a view, or a locally brewed ale shared with friends, McLaren Vale serves up a drop for a Sunday session or celebration.

Vale Restaurant and Bar

Address: 128 Ingoldby Rd, McLaren Flat

Vale Brewing’s flagship venue with restaurant, bar and brewery has prime position atop the hills in Blewitt Springs.

Sample their range of lagers or opt for a pomegranate sour to match a sunny weekend arvo visit. The drinks menu also includes a good selection of McLaren Vale reds and gin, vodka and whisky by 23rd Street.

While drinks are front and centre, the venue is also known for its food offering and showcasing South Australian produce. For lighter bites, choose from the snack menu – Coffin Bay oysters or duck croquette with abalone and miso aioli. Or book ahead for dinner and the à-la-carte menu with Port Lincoln flathead and Fleurieu beef – make sure to ask for a prime vineyard view.

Take it to the next level and learn from their expert mixologists in a cocktail or gin blending masterclass.

Swell Brewing Co. Taphouse

Address: 168 Olivers Road McLaren Vale, South Australia

One of the state’s top family-friendly restaurants, Swell Brewing Co. Taphouse is a standout option for glorious afternoons spent with others

Relax with a pint – the Summer Session single hop ale is a fav with its light and refreshing taste – while the kids run free on the lush lawn or hunker down inside (ground floor and upstairs).

The menu delivers a great mix of easy-going pub-style fare like the famous Swell burgers and plenty of kid options.

For beer lovers, brewery tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the magic happens and grab a few takeaway cans like the Playa Zicatela Hazy Pale Ale to keep the good vibes going. It’s a weekend favourite, so bookings are highly recommended or arrive early to snag a spot.

Kick Back Brewing

Address: 11 Old Coach Road, Aldinga

Only around since 2021, Kick Back Brewing is one of those places that feels like it’s been part of the community forever. Gather around a share plate inside or settle out the back while the kids run free on the lawn – it’s easy, relaxed and very McLaren Vale.

The tap house brews its craft beer and seltzers on-site, with a core range that includes the popular Anchor Steady IPA, but the real fun is in the ever-changing specials. I’d recommend the ‘choose your own beer adventure’ flight – four tasters of whatever’s pouring fresh.

The food is far from an afterthought, with the kitchen turning out slow-smoked comfort fare made from locally sourced ingredients. Think nacho pork loaded fries, a spicy Nashville chicken burger and crispy fried cauliflower tacos. Check the website for weekday specials and to see what bands are playing out back.

It’s a top pick for families and larger groups (party platters are also available) so it’s worth booking ahead.

Goodieson Brewery

Address: 94 Sand Rd, McLaren Vale

Tucked away from the main tourist trail, Goodieson Brewery is a local favourite and one of the region’s originals, known for its traditional European-style beers. It’s the kind of place where you can slow down and savour a proper craft brew, whether it’s one of Jeff Goodieson’s award-winning classics or a seasonal special like a spiced Christmas ale, floral Maibock or cloudy raspberry wheat beer.

Set beside a creek and surrounded by vineyards, the back deck is a beautiful spot to while away a sunny afternoon, watching birds, sheep, chickens and the occasional kangaroo.

BYO a picnic or check their Instagram to see which food trucks are rolling in. Kids and dogs are welcome, but large groups should book ahead.

Shifty Lizard Brewing Co.

Address: 33 High Street, Willunga

The future looked uncertain for this much-loved Willunga microbrewery when it closed its doors in September 2025, but thanks to a family of Shifty Lizard regulars, the taps are flowing again.

A true local watering hole, the taphouse has an easygoing, social vibe that makes it perfect for a night out with friends. I love settling in over a plate of wings or loaded fries, paired with one of their signature brews – whether it’s the crisp West Coast IPA, the smooth Brewski Easy Ale or a refreshing Old School Lager.

If you’re after something stronger, their small-batch spirits are just as impressive, from the New World Dry Gin to the playful Sweet Pink Gin or the fruity peach and watermelon seltzers. Shifty Lizard is all about good drinks, good company and a guaranteed good time.

McLaren Vale distilleries

With award-winning gins, cocktails infused with native ingredients and single malt whiskeys, these McLaren Vale distilleries are sure to lift your spirits.

The McLaren Vale Distillery

Address: 725 Chapel Hill Rd, Blewitt Springs

A must-visit for spirit lovers — McLaren Vale Distillery is a boutique producer crafting exceptional single malt whiskies, gins, liqueurs and fortified wines.

The team here takes their craft seriously, blending a deep respect for the area’s heritage with an innovative approach that keeps pace with modern tastes. Their small-batch single malts show incredible attention to detail, often matured in casks that once held local wines, while their handcrafted gins and liqueurs showcase the same commitment to quality.

Surrounded by vineyards and natural beauty, the intimate tasting room is an ideal spot to linger over a guided flight or one of their curated cocktails, paired with a cheese or charcuterie board. You can also join a ‘Barley to Bottle’ experience to delve deeper into the distilling process.

Tastings are limited and groups of eight or more should book ahead.

Never Never Distillery

Address: 56 Field St, McLaren Vale

Housed within the Chalk Hill Collective establishment in McLaren Vale, Never Never Distilling Co. has earned its reputation as a must-visit for gin lovers.

With inventive flavours like oyster shell gin – infused with local oyster shells and offering notes of lime leaf, wax flower, sea salt and grapefruit – it’s clear why this distillery attracts the crowds come the weekend.

The Distillery Door experience is as refined as it is fun, with expertly mixed cocktails and beautifully presented tasting flights showcasing their award-winning Triple Juniper Gin and seasonal small-batch releases.

Visitors can take a guided tour to learn about Never Never’s unique three-stage distillation process or join one of their hands-on masterclasses. The Premium Gin Masterclass paired with South Australian oysters and an indulgent Italian street food feast is a standout.

With stunning vineyard views, Chalk Hill Wines next door, and Cucina di Strada serving up Roman-style street food, this is one spot where you’ll want to linger all afternoon – book a table to avoid disappointment.

Down South Distillery

Address: 40 Stonehouse Lane, Aldinga

Set in the former Agostino Wines location, Down South Distillery offers the full McLaren Vale experience – artisan gin flights, handcrafted cocktails and seriously good food, all surrounded by vineyard views.

Run by a passionate family team of distillers, the venue combines rustic charm with a relaxed, elevated atmosphere. Their approach to gin is all about craftsmanship and creativity, with each small-batch spirit designed to tell a story through flavour.

It’s the ideal setting to settle in for an afternoon, pairing a premium gin tasting with wood-oven pizzas (locals swear they’re the best in Aldinga) or freshly prepared seasonal platters. Reservations are recommended – the tables fill fast for good reason.

Settlers Spirits

Address: 58 Osborn Rd, McLaren Vale

The d’Arenberg Cube has a new addition with Settlers Spirits now calling this iconic McLaren Vale landmark home for its Distillery Door .

With 12 varieties to choose from, Settlers delivers one of the most expansive gin experiences in the region, ranging from the citrus-forward Yuzu Gin and tea-infused G & Tea Breakfast Gin to classics like the Rare Dry and the award-winning Old Tom. It’s a tasting journey that caters to every palate – from purists to the adventurous.

Settlers Spirits has long been celebrated for its craftsmanship and innovation, and the Cube setting takes the experience to another level. Tastings are available on Level 3 as a $20 upgrade to your d’Arenberg visit, with two gin flights to choose from.

For something special, book a hosted group experience that includes a guided walk through the Cube’s Alternate Realities Museum before heading upstairs for a private tasting.

Torquay’s Bells Beach is considered one of the best surf beaches in the world.

It’d be easy to think Australian surf culture was born around the right-hand point breaks of the Gold Coast and Byron Bay. These regions seem the epitome of how the world views Aussie surfers – bronzed (or burnt), languishing in warm water and sunshine. The reality is a lot different.

The rise of surf culture along Victoria’s coastline

surfers at Bells Beach in Australia — Surfers stand on the shore at Bells Beach, where the country’s biggest surfing competition is held each year. (Image: Getty/Filed Image)

True Aussie surf culture was born on the chilly waves of Victoria’s winters, when huge swells from the Great Southern Ocean hit cliff-lined beaches along the Great Ocean Road . These beaches were the ultimate proving ground – surfers from all over Australia arrived in panel vans and VWs to do battle with the biggest waves they could find.

Surfers take advantage of the huge swells from the Great Southern Ocean at Bells Beach. (Image: Tourism Australia/Cameron Murray)

There are surf breaks all along this very picturesque coast – but those around Torquay were most revered. The ultimate test of a surfer’s ability – and durability – however, was Bells Beach: Australia’s answer to Hawai‘i’s Pipeline. Just beyond, the breaks at Jan Juc and Winkipop beckoned.

an aerial view of surfers at Bells Beach — Hit the waves along the picturesque coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Torquay became surfing’s Silicon Valley: HQ for the entire Australian surf culture revolution. Four young locals worked out of their backyards in Torquay to create two of the world’s biggest surf labels – Rip Curl and Quiksilver , which soon became the region’s biggest employers.

surfers out at Bells Beach — Surfers out at Bells Beach, Victoria’s most famous beach. (Image: Tourism Australia/Cameron Murray)

Rip Curl started sponsoring the Bells Beach Pro in 1973 – and have done ever since. It’s been going since 1962 – making it the world’s longest continually run surfing contest. Held every Easter, it’s part of the world surfing tour. Spectators line its 30-metre-high cliffs to watch the world’s best take on enormous waves – it’s the ultimate coliseum for the sport and has inspired generations of Aussie surfers to join the list of heroes whose names are on its iconic bell.

Follow the waves through Victoria’s surfing heartland

Australian National Surfing Museum, Torquay — The Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Just behind Torquay’s main drag, you can see all that history on display at the world’s best surf museum – the Australian National Surfing Museum . Here you can take your time absorbing the 100-year-or-so history of Australian surfing and check out the 150-strong surfboard collection.

surfboards on display at Australian National Surfing Museum — The museum holds surfing memorabilia, including a room dedicated to the history of boards. (Image: Tourism Australia)

But classic Aussie surf culture can be observed in everyday life all over the Great Ocean Road and Torquay. Surfing dictates life here; no work is done until the big swells have come and gone. Just being here provides a window into 60-odd years of rebellion against convention; for no-one likes nine-to-five living on the Great Ocean Road.

surfing memorabilia at Australian National Surfing Museum — The varied displays celebrate the Bells Beach competition, surfing legends and Aussie surf culture. (Image: Tourism Australia)

There’s less panel vans and VW Beetles these days, but surf culture still rules life. Surfers run this coast; you’re better off keeping out of their way when they’re running down past you to face the biggest swells – then hear them swap stories at cafes, restaurants and bars all around you.

surfing at Bells Beach — The beach near Torquay is Australia’s answer to Hawai‘i’s Pipeline. (Image: Visit Victoria/William Watt)

The best breweries and distilleries in the McLaren Vale