Before the Clare Valley Wine Region came into being, there was Sevenhill – a Jesuit colony revolving around the imposing 1875 gothic revival St Aloysius Church. The Jesuits arrived here from Austria in the mid-1800s, fleeing religious persecution. In 1851 they signed a deal for 100 local acres, named it after the seven hills of Rome, and set to work building a church, shrine, crypt and college… and planting grape vines. Sevenhill’s first wines were produced in 1858 – and the Clare Valley Wine Region has never looked back.
Today, check your piety at the historic cellar door, where you can sip your way into five of Sevenhill’s best shiraz, grenache, merlot, riesling, pinot gris and/or cab sav bottles (tastings $10 to $20, redeemable with purchase). Afterwards, crack open the goods fridge and build yourself a local grazing platter – brie, feta, ham, salami, quince paste, marinated calamari, tomato chutney, beetroot relish, caperberries, olives, riesling jelly – then head for the lawns. There’s a free self-guided history tour, too, if you fancy a stroll.
