Pertaringa Cellar Door

Inside, outside, on the deck... a two hour shoot at Pertaringa Cellar Door.

Our 'talent' may have been surprised I wanted to photograph them - but they played along well. It's not hard to look happy while enjoying wine anyway. ;)

Tipsy Hill Private Dining Experience

Bec Hardy Wines offers amazing food and wine experiences at Bec and Richard’s Tipsy Hill property in McLaren Vale, South Australia.

Their stunning home is within one of the most renowned private gardens in South Australia, with Instagrammable views over vineyards and rolling hills.

Guests sit with Bec and Richard, hearing stories about the Hardy family over the generations and what it is like to grow up in the wine industry.

If you are looking for something unique, check it out.

Inkwell Wines and Hotel California... stolen a piece of my heart.

Inkwell Wines and Hotel California is in McLaren Vale. I went to photograph it for Fleurieu Living Magazine recently. Made from shipping containers, my camera (and I) love all the architectural design and vineyard views, snapping away in the cellar door and on the viewing deck above.

But, it’s when I go down to the micro hotel of ‘Hotel California’ that I’m audibly going ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’. The baths hook me. Deep, freestanding and open to the views of the vineyard. There are only 3 suites, so the likelihood of someone seeing you taking a dip is, well, lower. And hey, all part of the fun?

www.inkwellwines.com

Inkwell releases single vineyard wines which express the "fingerprint of place" from its iconic Mclaren Vale vineyard winery. By fermenting without additions, we produce age-worthy wines that retain natural freshness and intensity. We are the only winery in McLaren Vale to produce estate-only wines in this way. But, we keep things simple: one tractor, one de-stemmer, one press, small fermenters and one dog.  We've removed as much of the “man-made” from Inkwell’s sustainable wine-growing and wine-making as we sensibly can so you can share in the fruit of our special site and labor for years to come.

Touring with Barossa Unique Tours

I recently attended Australian Tourism Exchange which was held in Adelaide. 

On a wet Sunday, a bunch of us went out touring... and may I say, even in the rain, it was still fun.

Barossa Unique Tours did a wonderful job of entertaining, wining and dining us. They took us driving (and riding) through the rain, sipping wine at Artisans of Barossa, eating seriously good grub at Fermentasian and wine tasting at Whistler and Kalleske. 

Here is a little video I did along with some photos... I'll let them tell the story. 

Hollick Wines, Coonawarra

Coonawarra anyone? I can not believe it myself - I’ve never ventured down here. I wish I had more time to spend here, even a night so that I can explore. But I don’t. 

Deb and I drive down in the morning, photograph for the afternoon, sleep, photograph from sunrise til near lunch, then drive back to Adelaide. Mighty effort. We are here to do a shoot for Hollick Wines. Everything from bridal shots to the restaurant to vineyard workings. I love it because I get to see and learn so much. That’s the beauty of my work - always learning different things about many different industries. 

The Coonawarra is four to five hours drive from Adelaide. 

A great pitstop is Keith and the excellent cafe, Henry and Rose, for coffee. If you have kids, the playground here is worth the stop. Kids scream their way along the metal monorail ride - it often has lineups. 

On this trip, I also see the silo artwork at Coonalpyn. Wow. The tones and shadings leave me wondering how many times the artists had to clamber up and down the ladder to step back and see the progress. 

But, getting back to the Coonawarra. Like any wine region, there are vines lined for miles. There are plenty of cellar doors. And a supply of accommodation. Smart move. Hollick Wines have just opened up their accommodation, just a few steps (literally) from their cellar door and restaurant, Upstairs. Handy. It’s a big house, well suited for a group of friends or a few families, but tonight, it’s just Deb and I. Sitting at the table on our laptops, we certainly don’t make use of the two living rooms, big farm kitchen and fireplace. It’s comfortable, and the best part? Breakfast, wine, beer, juice and bits and pieces are sitting in the fridge waiting for us to try. Complimentary. It’s the small things. 

Just a few minutes away is the town of Penola. This town is Heritage listed with streets of old buildings. We take a drive down Petticoat Lane, dedicated to Mary MacKillop. It’s early morning, so nothing is open, but it’s great to see how well preserved it is, and how the town integrates around this history. 

So, anyone wants to come to the Coonawarra for fun next time? A night or two?

CLIENT SHOWCASE: Dudley Wines

I've been to Kangaroo Island many times. I love wine. So why have I never been to Dudley Wines? 

Interest peaked when I read about it on yTravels blog, talking about having one of the best views from a cellar door ever - which is quite a statement. So finally I am here. And I'm photographing them. 

It's a whirlwind, arriving straight after hiking the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail, late in the day. But it's fun. 

I'm soon laughing away, bossing people around, trying to work as quick as I can. I do feel slightly sorry for everyone, copping my craziness after being alone for almost a week. I know what I'm like after working in front of the computer for a day, I can only imagine how whacko I act today.

Dudley Wines had organised friends to be our talent in photos, and they did such a good job. 

Of course, everyone enjoyed the wine with cheese platters.

Clearly, the boys loved having a hit with the golf clubs.

And the kids loved running around on the grass.

What did I love? Lots of things. But the Shiraz was pretty good! At the end of the shoot, I sat and chatted with family and staff, so welcoming and friendly.

If only all shoots were like this....

A staycation on the Fleurieu Peninsula, SA. A mini treat.

I put on my tourist hat for a weekend of exploring close to home. I discover how lucky we are. Not that I didn't already know that. Welcome to my backyard - the McLaren Vale area on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Magpie Springs and Southern Boulder, Hope Forest www.magpiesprings.com.au
Vineyard, cellar door, gallery and bouldering wall. These guys have it covered. Kids are welcome, but keep an eye on them, with lots of art scattered across the property - nobody wants it broken. 

We signed the paperwork then set out across the lawn to the bouldering wall. I could get up a couple of the walls, and stood amazed at how people could climb over the rest. The strength these guys and girls would have in their fingers, hands, arms and body. At some points, they would be hanging upside down, holding on to small knobs with just their fingers. It would be an interesting event to watch. 

Artist Avril Thomas lives and works here. I photographed her for an editorial while I was working at News Limited and enjoyed seeing where she has come with the property from 'run down' to an incorporated natural art gallery. Using what is on the land, and in nature, there are surprises everywhere I look. We are lucky enough to have Avril show us around, pointing out things as we go. I especially love the three woven vine rings that hang from towering trees near the dam. 

The Victory Hotel, Sellicks Beach www.victoryhotel.com.au
Established in 1858, it's a local icon. But it's the first time I have eaten here. I have photographed here before - chef, owner, renovations - but never 'enjoyed' it. I have been missing out. We sit under the pergola watching the Willunga plains and ocean change colour and tone as the sun sets. The party hanging around from lunch are particularly entertaining as we speculate who is holding themselves the best, as they chat and laugh in front of us. Kids play gymnastics and ball on the lawn beside them as bowls of chips are handed out.

The food is good - very good. And don't forget to check out the wine cellar like I did. Hubby went down to find a bottle of wine and came back confused - too much choice. He was probably even more confused by the selection process of going into the cellar. :)

Sea and Vines Cottage, Willunga area www.seavinescottage.com
This two bedroomed little cutie feels like it's in the middle of nowhere, but in reality, is under five minutes to Sellicks Beach, five minutes to Willunga and less than ten minutes to McLaren Vale. Surrounded by gum trees and vineyards, I heard three cars drive past the entire time we were there (an afternoon and morning). Sitting in the claw foot bath, a glass of port on the caddy, while reading a magazine (in between looking out to the paddock from the big bathroom window) was a definite relax. As was sitting on the front porch having a child-free chat - until the mozzies came out. The next morning we enjoyed a bbq eggs and bacon breakfast under the pergola while dreaming of living in such an area. 

Port Noarlunga jetty and beach
One of my favourite beaches in Adelaide. I'd love to build my dream house here - on The Esplanade south of the little main hub of town. The beach is plump with squeaky sand (and no seaweed!) while the water is so clear you can see the bottom, even when standing at the end of the jetty. The reef that lays at the end of the jetty is popular with scuba divers and the morning we are there, a team are practicing first aid and retrieval skills. All while teens are jumping off the end of the jetty, pulling bikinis into place as they surface and fisherman are catching (and then releasing) Port Jackson sharks. 

I still have so much to discover - but I can't help but wander further afield. I'll just discover what I need when I need. It's a good way to see the world, I think.

Petaluma's women winemakers for Latte magazine

I recently had a shoot for Business Chicks' Latte magazine. I was to photograph women winemakers in the Adelaide Hills.

Petaluma has three women winemakers on their team. The morning I arrived, they had been there since 5 am and joked about sleeping there. 'Who needs a mother?' They laughed. Luckily, the extra long work hours happen only a few times a year for a few weeks at a time.

After a quick look around the grounds, I decided to do the whole shoot in their new cellar door. The decor was interesting, quirky and had different areas for each profile pic of the girls. 

I particularly loved the wooden wine bottle holder walls and the glasses hanging from the ceiling. I recounted a story of a glass shelf, filled with pint glasses, breaking over my face in London. A quick trip to the hospital to check for glass in my eyes followed. I then remembered how clumsy I could be - and warned them 'I hope every single glass is bolted on securely.' If anyone were to knock them, it would be me. And yes, I knocked them with my softbox. And yes, they were secure. Phew.

Here are some of the pics from the shoot. I hope you can see how much fun and laughs we had.

Gorgeous Festival - a day away from our kids.

A date without kids, with my bestie, and our men. Wow. This has not happened since…. err… umm… I can't remember if this has ever happened since having kids.

Ben pulls me up for a dance to The Timbers, love 'em. We are doing our shin-dig-jive when, BAM, I cop a frisbee to the back of the head. While I'm still rubbing it, and wondering if I'm bleeding, BAM, the frisbee hits me again, on my forehead. Ouch. I boot scoot it away from the stage so quick, hearing the lead singer casually saying 'hope no one has got hurt'.

I'm shocked but I have to laugh about it. I'm one of those people who will walk into doorways or trip over a mat that hundreds of people have walked over before me with no problems.

It's 32 degrees, but by about 4pm, cloud has come over, and it's beautifully overcast. Perfect. We have squeezed in among the crowd under the shade of the big gum trees, and have found more friends. Band after band are on stage, entertaining us with the chilled tunes. And we don't drink too much either… with a wait of half an hour or more for the bar, who could. We are also not going to get fat here, lines for the food, which have half sold out by the time we get to the front, are at least half an hour also.

But you know what, it is a great day, and it doesn't bother me.

Nothing is bothering me today. We sit and chat, we sit and listen, we sip wine, we wander, we even giggle on the ferris wheel (Ben hates heights). Life without kids. Every parent needs to do this for at least one day every few months, I reckon.

Well, nothing bothers me until we want to go home. Our taxi driver this morning suggested we book the return home during the day, to make sure the wait isn't too long. We listen, but decide to book just before wanting to leave, purely because, we didn't know when we wanted to leave. We ring Yellow Taxis, they confirm our booking, and then we wait. And wait. And wait. We try to call back. Always engaged. We call another taxi company to book. They are engaged too. We call Yellow Taxis again. Still no answer.

We booked our taxi at 11.30pm, and by 1am, we are still waiting. It's getting mildly cold. Everyone else is leaving - minus a few who are waiting for their taxis also. We are growing impatient. I'm getting very tired. Ben is getting hungry and grumpy. We've had enough. We ring my besties mum. She comes to get us.

Teenagers. We feel like teenagers again, having to call our parents to come get us. Shameful… What a crap ending to an awesome festival. But hey, a day without the kids. Bliss.

Stevens Wines, McLaren Vale

McLaren Vale. It's home to some very decent wines. It's the secret sister to the Barossa. Especially on International Tourists radars. I'd say it's time for the world to know how good it is, but then, I kind of want to keep it to myself.

Only 20 minutes from our home, it's bordered by the rotund Willunga Hills, white sand and untamed beaches of Port Willunga, Maslins and Aldinga, and the countryside of Onkaparinga Hills.

The wineries that are here range from contemporary, to boutique, to home grown basics. Stevens Wines is nothing spectacular in terms of wine tasting ambience and scene setting. But what it does do well, is give you the authentic meet the winemaker experience. We are met by Graham himself, opening the door wide to the cellar door. I see a family man, a hard worker, and an honest man written on his face. Speaking to him, I also find out he has quite some humour. I guess you have to when working with winery tour participants. Graham has lived grapes and wine his whole life - having won the first vine pruning trophy at just nine years old. I guess you could say he knows a thing or two about making a good drop.

And his hard work and knowledge has payed off. For a small winery, with production of very few wines, it certainly pours a fine glass. At Australian Wine Shows, Stevens Wines has already won more than 50 awards, in just 2 seasons.

So, next time you are in McLaren Vale, don't just head to the big boys. Take a punt, and take the next turn off. You never know what treasures you may find.

www.grahamstevenswines.com.au