This was published 4 years ago
Six of the best places to eat and drink in the Adelaide Hills
By Kylie McLaughlin
LOST IN A FOREST, URAIDLA
Taking its name from the Cure song, a tiny church in lush surrounds of Uraidla has been transformed into a smash-hit pizza restaurant; its walls a canvas for stunning, modern artwork. This is partly the brainchild of Taras Ochota, the rock-and-roll wine producer from Basket Range whose wines dominate the menu while it charades as their cellar door. The list includes a line-up of Adelaide Hills minimal intervention wines (Gentle Folk, BK) and cocktails such as zippy margaritas. Their most popular pizza is a challenging street-food mash-up of banh mi, with cider-braised pork on a bianco base, topped with carrot and daikon. See lostinaforest.com.au
LOT 100, HAY VALLEY
This Hay Valley establishment houses five great Adelaide Hills producers and a massive open kitchen churns out everything from pizza to high-end, farm-to-table dining. With the distinct advantage of being in the middle of nowhere, it has green paddocks and gum trees as far as the eye can see. Aim to spend a day here, grazing on the "feed me" menu over matched beer, cider and wine, then follow with a tour and tasting from the stellar Adelaide Hills Distillery and Mismatch Brewery. Wines are from Vinteloper (who lost their vines in the Cudlee Creek fires); Hills Cider Company pour smashable cider, and Ashton Hills fresh juices for the designated driver. See lot100.com.au/
APPLEWOOD DISTILLERY AND UNICO ZELO, GUMERACHA
Growing up in Adelaide, Gumeracha was known for one thing: its giant rocking horse. My, have things changed. Opening in 2017, Applewood's gin distillery is an old cold store turned tasting room for the many flavours of its award-winning gin, created from Australian botanicals such as strawberry gum or blood lime. Their adventurous list of drinks are made with a focus on sustainability. They're also delicious, and a must-stop destination for gin lovers. Here, get stuck into a tasting experience with their gins, liqueurs, wines or all three - and then try really hard not to take home the whole set. See applewooddistillery.com.au
SUMMERTOWN ARISTOLOGIST, SUMMERTOWN
Recently hosting David Moyle as part of a rotating in-house roster of chefs, the Aristologist is so Adelaide Hills-hip it hurts, and an essential Hills experience. Allow time for a leisurely lunch or dinner, best savoured while sipping on natural wines from Lucy Margaux and Commune of Buttons (the winemakers are co-owners of the restaurant), plus other respected wine names like The Other Right and Manon. There is a set $65 "feed-me" menu which focuses on healthy, sustainable, seasonal food from the bounty nearby; like cured kingfish with blackberries and cucumber, or a sourdough pasta with broccoli and nettles. See thesummertownaristologist.com
CRFT, CAREY GULLY
Backed by a government grant, winemaking power duo Candice Helbig and Frewin Ries were able to realise their dream: transforming an old shearing shed and horse stable on their property to a cellar door and a wine production site. Specialising in gruner veltliner, an Austrian variety that has been recreated in the Adelaide Hills so successfully it is now the second biggest producer (a sommelier favourite as it can matched with almost any dish). Wine flights allow visitors to compare the flavours of these certified organic, single-vineyard wines along with a local cheese plate in the verdant Piccadilly Valley. See crftwines.com.au/
STANLEY BRIDGE TAVERN, VERDUN
This historic pub is drawing visitors for its on-point dedicated Adelaide Hills wine list, curated by East End Cellars aluminus Pablo Theodoros. Wines by the glass also come at a very appealing price. Opening its doors in 1853, the low-slung building is on huge grounds with sulfur crested cockatoos and kookaburras cackling in the gumtrees overhead. Surrounded by a shady verandah, inside it retains the feeling of an old-school pub. Out of the kitchen come Mediterranean dishes alongside standard fish-and-chip fare, which is a perfect finish for anyone who's spent a weekend running around the Adelaide Hills drinking wine. See stanleybridgetavern.com
Kylie McLaughlin was a guest of South Australia Tourism Commission; see southaustralia.com
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