Discover Some of South Australia's Most Underrated Wine Regions

People from across the world know about the Barossa and McLaren Vale, but South Australia is home to 18 wine regions, and most of them fly completely under the radar! Beyond the big names are pockets like the Southern Flinders Ranges, Currency Creek and Kangaroo Island, where the wine is just as good and the winemaker might be the one pouring your glass. Here are the underrated regions worth adding to your South Australian wine itinerary.

Beyond the Barossa and McLaren Vale

Mention South Australian wine and most people think of two places: the Barossa and McLaren Vale (maybe Adelaide Hills and a few others, too). And fair enough, they’ve earned that reputation. But those famous names are only part of the SA wine story!

South Australia is actually home to 18 official wine regions, and the state counts more than 3,250 vineyard owners, 680 wineries and 340 cellar doors in total (pretty impressive!). That leaves a long list of regions producing excellent wine without the fame.

Some of these are certainly small, standalone regions you’d only find if you went looking. Others are found near the well-known regions, easy to drive past if you don’t know they’re there. Either way, they’re worth the detour!

South Australia’s Most Underrated Wine Regions

In this guide, we’re going off the well-worn path to look at some of South Australia’s most underrated wine regions, the ones that don’t always make the highlight reel but do deserve a spot on your itinerary.

The Riverland

Chances are you’ve sipped on Riverland wine without ever knowing it, because found along the Murray River, this is the country’s largest wine grape region by tonnage, contributing about a third of the country’s total crush each year! Much of it ends up labelled simply “South Eastern Australia” on supermarket shelves, giving it a bit of a disguise. Meanwhile, behind the mask it’s literally the engine room of Australian wine!

But as well as the big-volume producers, the Riverland has a growing wave of boutique winemakers planting alternative varieties suited to the region’s warm, sunny climate. Angove in Renmark brings heritage and history, Banrock Station is about eco-friendly production, and smaller family operations like 919 Wines pour intimate tastings under gum trees. For something different, Mallee Estate pairs its award-winning cabernet and shiraz with a Greek-inspired taverna menu.

Where to stay: Berri Hotel

The Murray River curls right past the Berri Hotel, and the bistro and Balcony Bar both make the most of it, especially at golden hour when the water lights up for unforgettable sunsets. A solid base for a casual meal or a night’s stay, with a good taste of laid-back Riverland life built right in. Idyllic!

Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island isn’t really an official wine region at all, but that hasn’t stopped a small group of winemakers from turning it into one of the most memorable places in South Australia to hold a glass in your hand (often with seas views!).

Naturally, this is a place better known for its wildlife and coastline than vineyards, so the cellar doors here are more like a discovery than a destination. Start with Dudley Wines, right at the top of the list, with a clifftop cellar door just 12 kilometres from the Penneshaw ferry terminal, looking out across the Backstairs Passage to the mainland.

Nearby, False Cape Winery built its cellar door from recycled steel, jetty timbers and limestone on the banks of the Willson River, and runs the island’s largest vineyard using minimal intervention winemaking; very KI!

Bay of Shoals, just outside Kingscote, is known for its rosé and sparkling, with every wine made entirely on the island, from handpicked grapes to hand pruned vines. For something more unusual, Springs Road Wines pours out of a tin shed, run by former McLaren Vale winemakers who fell for the island and stayed.

Where to stay: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

Overlooking the calm waters of Eastern Cove in American River, the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge makes a solid base for exploring the island’s cellar doors. Rooms open onto sea or pool views, and the onsite Reflections restaurant serves up local produce with waterfront views over American River, good for winding down after a day of tastings.

Southern Flinders Ranges

North of the Clare Valley, where Rieslings run the show, the vines end and rugged red mountains appear, with a proper outback feel. The red dirt begins here, making for a spectacular backdrop to a bottle of wine at sunset! We have to admit, this is one of the smallest, quietest wine ‘regions’ in South Australia. Just over 20 grape growers and four cellar doors make up the region, so it’s easy to miss.

Most vineyards sit on the slopes of the ranges at 350 to 550 metres above sea level, where the altitude keeps things cool, even in the outback. Shiraz, merlot and cabernet sauvignon dominate the plantings, with riesling also earning a strong reputation here. Flinders Run is the one to try. Set among the hills at Baroota, the family-owned winery produces Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and other small-batch wines, with its cellar door offering a chance to taste the region’s wines right where they’re made.

Beyond the glass, this is gorge and hiking country, with national parks, wildlife and outback scenery. So although it’s not really a big wine destination in its own right, there’s plenty of reason to pull over on the way somewhere wilder.

Where to stay: Break Free Port Pirie

BreakFree Port Pirie is a comfortable and conveniently located accommodation option for visitors exploring Port Pirie and the surrounding Spencer Gulf region. The property offers a range of rooms, suites and villas, along with an outdoor swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, off-street parking and the on-site Angus & Co. Bar & Grill, making it a practical base for both short stays and longer visits.

Adelaide and Surrounds

So we know that Adelaide isn’t a wine region in the official sense, but it’s the closest thing to wine magic you’ll find in Australia.

From the CBD, you can be sipping shiraz in one region within twenty minutes and finishing the day in a completely different one. Few, if any, wine capitals in the world can claim that kind of proximity.

Although, having said there aren’t wineries nearby the city, right on the edge you will find Penfolds Magill Estate Cellar Door; a great option for a drop-in, with daily tastings at the historic home of Penfolds, plus vineyard views and the chance to explore one of Australia’s oldest wineries.

Then, right in the city sits the National Wine Centre of Australia, an iconic destination home to the largest tasting room in the country and the largest open air cellar in the Southern Hemisphere. Over 100 wines from Australia’s 65 regions are on offer to taste, making it an ideal starting point before heading out to the vineyards themselves, or a satisfying finish if you’ve run out of time to visit them all. The building is worth a look too, designed to echo the shape of a wine barrel and the skeletal form of winter vines. It might be cheating, but you can sample endless wines in one go here.

From there, wine country practically surrounds the city! The Adelaide Hills sit just a short drive into the ranges, McLaren Vale hugs the coast to the south, and the Barossa unfolds to the north, all close enough that a single day trip could realistically take in more than one.

Where to stay: Adelaide Royal Coach

Adelaide Royal Coach offers comfortable accommodation in Kent Town, just minutes from Adelaide’s CBD, making it a convenient base for exploring the city. Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi, limited on-site parking, an indoor heated swimming pool and the on-site Angus & Co. Bar & Grill, with a range of rooms available for couples, families and business travellers.