Before the d’Arenberg Cube rose from the McLaren Vale landscape, the word ‘iconic’ was most often used around here to describe Hugh Hamilton’s cellar door. Draped in vines, this circular hilltop eyrie opens-out to impressive 270º views across the Hugh Hamilton estate. It’s a top spot, made all the more dramatic by the winery’s looong driveway, lined with pointy Tuscan conifers.
On the wine front, they’ve had some fun here inventing kooky wine names: the Trickster, the Black Sheep, the Strutter, the Mongrel, the Intruder, the Ratbag, the Villain… It mightn’t be immediately obvious what’s inside the bottle (anything from merlot to mourvèdre), but drinking wine is supposed to be about having fun, right? It’s easy for wineries to take themselves too seriously – an allegation you could never level at Hugh Hamilton. There are almonds to crunch on, olives to suck on, and non-alcoholic shiraz for the kids. Book ahead; tasting fees redeemable with purchase.
