The Unique Way to Experience the Coastal Vineyards of South Australia
McLaren Vale Wine Region Photo: SERIO and McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association
As published in Travel Awaits
Wine Tourism has been a growing and developing market in Australia for some time. With over 60 wine regions producing more than 100 different grape varieties, there are many avenues for wine experiences in Australia.
But like many other countries, Australia couldn't escape the hardships and downturn in tourism due to the global pandemic. Before Covid-19, tourists from the USA ranked third highest. They listed their top five reasons to visit Australia: safety and security, nature and wildlife, food and wine, value for money, and Australians are friendly and welcoming.
Wine Tourism in Australia has picked itself up, dusted itself off, and is back to providing the best in memorable food and wine experiences. The wine region of McLaren Vale is a testament to this and ticks all the boxes for those five reasons to visit.
Where Is The McLaren Vale Wine Region?
The state of South Australia covers 380 square miles, about the same combined area as Texas and New Mexico. It is home to three world-renowned wine regions, the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, and McLaren Vale, all within an hour's drive of Adelaide, the capital city.
The McLaren Vale Wine Region is an easy 45-minute drive south of Adelaide. The area is known for its complex geology, with ancient soils comprising five different geological types, ranging from 10,000 to 550 million years old, making grape growing diverse here.
The coastal vineyards in McLaren Vale. Photo: SERIO and McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association
The region is best known for Shiraz but also excels in Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache production. With a climate to mirror the Mediterranean and four distinct seasons, Spanish and Italian varieties add a further element of tasting discovery, with Fiano, Vermentino, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo thriving.
South Australia's viticultural origins began in McLaren Vale. Because the region lacks pests such as Phylloxera (a tiny, yellow, aphid-like insect that feeds on the roots of vines), some of the world's oldest plantings can be seen here. Frost is rarely a problem with many vineyards less than six miles from the coast. The town of McLaren Vale has a population of around 4,000 people. Despite its 'small country town feel, the region punches above its weight delivering wine, cuisine, beaches, and landscapes equal to anywhere in the world.
The pristine waters of Maslin Beach - Australia’s first official unclad beach. Photo: Marie Kimber
Ways To Experience The McLaren Vale Wine Region
Wine tasting at a choice of over 80 Cellar Doors, many small family-owned, so you can meet the faces behind the label
Dine out on the best fresh, local produce prepared by leading chefs with views to die for
Feel the soft, golden sand and swim in pristine, clear waters of the beaches and, if you're game, bare all at Australia's first official nudist beach
Learn how to do traditional dot painting at the studio of an Aboriginal artist
See local producers sell fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, pastries, bread, olive oil, eggs, and honey in a village atmosphere at the local Farmers' Market
Take a picnic and bottle of wine to the coast and watch the sun sink into the ocean
Visit the many breweries, distilleries, and an orchard, to taste beers, gins, and ciders
See kangaroos, koalas, and echidnas in their natural habitat, and listen to a chorus of native birds everywhere you go
Join a small-group bus tour, or hire an e-bike and self-guided map to explore
Try blending your own wine at the iconic d'Arenberg Cube, a five-story venue resembling a Rubik's Cube housing a $9 million Salvadore Dali exhibition
The d’Arenberg Cube and Salvadore Dali Exhibition Photo: Marie Kimber
But, if you're looking for a unique way to experience the coastal vineyards, I suggest you take a scenic flight in a Waco Biplane.
What Is A Waco Biplane?
WACO is the Weaver Aircraft Company of Ohio, founded by five passionate aviators in 1919. A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked above each other. But how are an American aircraft manufacturer and a vintage plane connected to the coastal vineyards of South Australia?
Let me introduce you to the passion of Martyn and Gaylene Smith of Adelaide Biplanes. Martyn learned to fly while living in the UK. After advancing over many years from microlight aircraft to a career as a commercial pilot flying jet aircraft around the world, they decided to return to Australia to live.
"We hadn't fully decided what we were going to do in Australia, but it did keep coming back to aviation," Gaylene explains. "Then a brochure from Waco arrived, and when I opened it out, I saw the most gorgeous looking biplane I had ever seen."
While she knew immediately she wanted one and believed they could form a business around it, Martyn didn't share her enthusiasm. That was until she talked him into going and seeing one up close. He soon joined in her worldwide search. They discovered a Waco biplane for a reluctant sale in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The Waco Biplane in flight Photo: Adelaide Biplanes
From The USA To Australia
Martyn flew to the States to look her over. She was a modern-day reincarnation of a classic 1935 design of a sports biplane. Built in 1992, she has lived in various areas of the USA. After he took her to the skies, there was never any doubt. She was bound for South Australia for her next phase of life.
Her former owner, an American Airlines MD80 Captain, and his engineers, lovingly disassembled her and packed her into a 40-foot shipping container for the long voyage to Port Adelaide, South Australia.
It took a few months to reassemble the plane after her arrival, which was watched from the dock by Martin and Gaylene. She was issued a Certificate of Airworthiness and became the first in their fleet of planes now based at Aldinga Airfield, on the edge of the McLaren Vale Wine Region.
Adelaide Biplanes Flight Office and Cafe at Aldinga Airfield Photo: Marie Kimber
How To Experience Another View Of The Coast And Vineyards
Visitors to the region can be a part of this fascinating story while taking in views of the spectacular coastline and undulating vineyards bounded by a gentle mountain range. The Waco biplane is unique in its ability to carry two passengers in the roomy front cockpit while the pilot takes care of the tricky bits behind you.
The thrill of an open cockpit, the wind pulling at your cheeks, and the seat-of-the-pants flying make this unparalleled experience a popular way to enjoy the scenery.
Some customers have specific highlights they want to see from the air, and some are happy to see whatever they can within the time frame. Given this flexibility, all bookings must be made by contacting Adelaide Biplanes directly due to the coordination required with other flights. The price for two passengers is AUD$450 for 30 minutes in the aircraft, including 20 airborne minutes.
Happy to keep secrets, Martyn and Gaylene have helped orchestrate many a marriage proposal. Even Santa has been known to fly to Aldinga Airfield in the front cockpit of the Waco, to the children's delight.
Thrill seekers may choose a joy flight, including aerobatics in the Great Lakes Biplane, a plane Martyn says flies just as well upside down as it does the right way up. Gulp! I'm not sure I relate well to the words joy and aerobatics in one sentence, but plenty of people do! That experience is for those who want to see the coast and vineyards from another angle. The cost for one person for this 20-minute adrenalin fix is AUD$400.
An acrobatic view of the vineyards Photo: Adelaide Biplanes
A visit to Adelaide Biplanes is still recommended, even if your flying style consists solely of a pressurized cabin, with no hair out of place and a stewardess bringing you food and drinks. Here they will bring you way-better-than-airline food plus drinks in a quirky setting. As many of their aircraft are vintage, the décor of the office and kitchen reflects that. One visitor was heard saying, "Oh my God, I feel like I've just stepped into a 1950s movie."
The Waco Biplane at Aldinga Airfield Photo: Marie Kimber
Pro Tip:
McLaren Vale's collaborative and generous nature, a unique combination of world-class wines and produce, both on the farm and on the plate, with a beach lifestyle, ensures this region truly offers a unique, welcoming experience.
Local produce prepared by leading chefs with world-class wine. Photo: Marie Kimber
To book accommodation and (ground-based) tours in the area, visit mclarenvale.info.
Adelaide Biplanes are located at the Aldinga Airfield, a 15-minute drive through vineyards from McLaren Vale to Colville Road, Aldinga. The flight office and kitchen are open daily from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. All contact details are on their website.