Clare Valley Wine Tour. Local Guide, Clare Valley pickup, & lunch
Description
Most visitors come for the wine. My aim is that you'll remember the Clare Valley. I'll collect you from your Clare Valley accommodation for a relaxed day visiting boutique family wineries and some of the better-known names. Between cellar doors we'll travel the back roads and through the old towns that give Clare much of its character. I'm Charles, your local Valley guide. I know these roads, the cellar doors and many of the people behind them. Whether you're a wine enthusiast or simply know what you enjoy, I'll help you get to know the Clare Valley beyond what's poured into the glass. With no more than six guests, there's no bus and no rush. Wine tastings and a generous charcuterie lunch are included, with plenty of time to settle into the day. Clare is a region that rewards slowing down. That's exactly how we'll explore it. Finish the wine. Keep the memories. Also visiting the Barossa? I can collect you from there.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Tour this Historic winery, first planted with grapes in 1851 and still owned by the Society of Jesus.
Visit this small family owned winery - or a similar operation to discuss small scale winemaking.
Visit here or a similar operation to stop for lunch and try some wines
Look around Auburn or a similar Colonial Village. We may do a winetasting too!
Look into the past if we decide to go to Mintaro. Great wines live here too!
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please advise us of your local Clare Valley accommodation. We shall collect you from there and return you after the tour. General times are 10 am to 4.30 pm.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(69)
We had a fabulous day with Charles. Visited many fantastic wineries and met the great people who welcome guests to their places Charles provided many interesting stories about the area which was very enjoyable Would highly recommend this tour
The people behind the cellar doors are a big part of what makes the Clare Valley such an enjoyable place to explore. Every winery has its own character, and the stories of the region help connect the places as we travel between them. You certainly met some good people and tasted plenty of good wine along the way. A very good Clare day!
Well Charles was EXCELLENT he new so much about the history of Clare none of us new, if you want a winery tour to remember he is the man, thanks for a fab day Charles speaking on behalf of all four of us
Thank you for the generous review, and I’m very glad you all enjoyed the day. Groups of four are the way to travel! It was a pleasure showing you around the Clare Valley. There’s something special about travelling with good friends, and it made for a relaxed and enjoyable tour all round. I’m pleased the mix of wineries and a bit of local history added to the experience. That’s what I aim for on a Clare Valley wine tour, not just the tastings, but a proper feel for the region. Thanks again for choosing Valley Wine Tours. It would be a pleasure to host you again if you find yourselves back this way.
A wonderful day of varied cellar doors with fascinating information from Charles on the wines, the district, their histories and local colour. Travelling in comfort down many byways.
It was a pleasure spending the day with you both in the Clare Valley. Travelling the back roads often reveals the real character of the region, and I’m glad you enjoyed that side of the day, including meeting Lloyd along the way. With your experience of wine regions, it made for some great conversations throughout. I hope the Clare Valley was a highlight of your time in Australia while visiting family in Sydney.
A wonderful day with very varied cellar doors and fascinating details on wines, the region, its history and local colour. Charles kept us thoroughly entertained and informed throughout the day. A very comfortable easy going experience.
It was a pleasure spending the day with you in the Clare Valley. The mix of cellar doors, local stories, and a few of the region’s quieter corners always makes for an interesting day, and I’m glad that came through. Keeping things comfortable and easy going is a big part of the experience, so it’s good to hear you enjoyed that side of it as well.
Our group of 5 really enjoyed Charles’ tour. His deep knowledge of the history of the region, and wealth of interesting stories greatly added to the experience. Charles was attuned to our group’s tastes and interests and moulded the tour to suit, contributing to our wine experience. Highly recommended.
It was a pleasure showing your group around the Clare Valley. I enjoyed the way the day came together, shaping the wineries and stops to suit your interests as we went. The region has such a rich history and plenty of stories behind the wines, so I’m glad that added to the experience. A relaxed Clare Valley wine tour with the right mix of places always makes for a memorable day.
Charles was a fantastic guide for our day tour of Clare Valley vineyards. We loved the history and stories about Sevenhill the oldest vineyard and had a fantastic tasting experience there with the highlight being Brother John’s Cabernet Savignon. Then on to Pikes for a brief whizz through their extensive list before an excellent lunch at Paulette Wines. Charles gave us a driving tour through Auburn and Mintaro including the impressive Martindale Hall before our final stop at Jim Barry. I had been really looking forward to this and it did not disappoint. Delicious wines, lovely scenery and a genial guide made for a truly memorable day.
It was a pleasure showing you both around the Clare Valley. I’m glad you enjoyed the mix of history and cellar doors, from Sevenhill and its Brother John May stories through to Jim Barry, which is always a special stop. The drive through Auburn and Mintaro, with a look at Martindale Hall, adds a nice sense of place to the day. I hope the Clare Valley will be a highlight of your travels before heading on to Sydney for Easter.
A great day out. We visited 4 different wineries, sampled plenty of wines. Lots of scenery and history to be enjoyed, thanks to our wonderful host Charles. Big thanks for the photos documenting of our adventure. Excellent!
It was lovely spending the day with you both in the Clare Valley. While the Flinders trip had to wait, I’m glad the valley provided a good alternative with plenty of scenery, history, and welcoming cellar doors. Exploring the wineries at a relaxed pace, with a few stories along the way, makes for a rewarding day. I hope the photos bring back a few good memories of your Clare Valley adventure.
Charles took us on a Barossa Valley day tour and his knowledge of the region was invaluable and a big part of why the experience was so great. Instead of taking us to the big hitters like Penfolds or Jacobs Creek, we were introduced to some great family wines with a warm welcome and humble service. The hospitality we experienced from Charles and the venues we visited was excellent. Thank you Charles for a great first experience of what Barossa Valley has to offer.
It was a pleasure introducing you to the Barossa Valley. The region is at its best when you step beyond the well-known names and spend time with the family-owned wineries that give the Barossa its character and warmth. I’m glad the local stories, hospitality, and relaxed pace shaped your first experience of the valley in such a positive way. Sharing those smaller cellar doors is always something I enjoy.
The tour was superb. Charles is extremely knowledgeable, personable and a joy to be around. We learned a great deal about the area, the history as well as the wines. The wines and wineries differ, but they were all the same in respect of their courtesy and their eagerness to inform and engage. We had a truly wonderful day that we will never forget. A****
It was a pleasure spending the day with you in the Clare Valley. Sharing the local history, wines, and stories with guests who are genuinely curious about the region always makes for a great tour. The Clare Valley wineries have a wonderful way of welcoming visitors, and I’m glad that sense of generosity and engagement came through across the day. Knowing the experience will stay with you as part of your road trip memories is very rewarding
Charles was awesome. The day started with some great local sites and knowledge. 10am pick up dropped back at 4pm. 5 wineries including lunch. The tastings where very generous some allowing us to taste 6 - 8 wines. Charles really knows his stuff and some intimate hidden gems that other don't get to experience. We've done wine tours and tastings all around the world. Clare Valley must be the most hospital wineries we've visited and we're so glad we found this tour to experience it. Extremely good value. Small group tour. (4-5ppl max). Thanks Charles! 👍🥂
What a great day to share. I really enjoyed hosting your shared Clare Valley wine tour and meeting such an easygoing group. Starting the day with local sights, then settling into the cellar doors at a relaxed pace, is exactly how the Clare Valley shines. It was great to hear how the region compared with wine tours you’ve done around the world, and I’m glad the generous tastings and smaller, lesser-known wineries stood out. Travelling on two wheels (I can see why you bought that Indian) and then slowing things down with a small group wine tour is a pretty special combination. Thanks for joining me.
