A Beautiful Autumn Long Lunch At Sidewood Estate, Hahndorf
Last weekend I was lucky enough to head out to a long lunch at Sidewood Estate, a gorgeous winery in the Adelaide Hills.
The Adelaide Hills wine region is spectacular – I adore exploring through the Hills whenever possible. What I love about the Adelaide Hills as a wine region in particular is it’s diversity through all seasons. In Spring and Summer, lazy weekend afternoons earting fresh produce and sampling delightful wines in the sunshine are a no-brainer. In Autum, the spectacular red leaves provide the perfect backdrop for a snug cooked lunch and a light red wine option. And in winter, rugged up by a fire pit or in a restaurant with a full-bodied red, the fun doesn’t stop.
Hahndorf is probably the most famous of the Adelaide Hills towns, and arguably one of the most scenic. Founded by German settlers, Hahndorf can err on the touristy side as it clings to its German heritage. But it is seriously such a beautiful spot to spend an afternoon, and if that includes a winery or two, all the better.
Sidewood Estate is located in Hahndorf itself, a very short drive from the town centre. This gives visitors the perfect opportunity to stop in and sample some fresh cheese, cured meats, and handmade chocolates in the main street before heading to Sidewood for lunch.
Sidewood Estate Menu
Sidewood Estate offers a delightful a la carte menu that features South Australian produce (the Coffin Bay octopus stands out to me!) What I really love, though, is that the food and wine are paired on the menu. When choosing your starter, entree, or main, the menu suggests the appropriate wine to pair.
Given there were nine of us, a set menu was arranged for us. We paid $49 per head for two courses. We were served a starter course of freshly baked foccacia, olives, cheeses, and arancini, which were all perfect. Then, an array of delicius wood-fired pizzas came out, topped with the freshest ingredients (think prawns, cured meats, and fancy cheeses).
Several of us ordered dessert. My pick was the mocha hazelnut layer cake, but I also sampled my friend’s turkish delight cheesecake, which was equally divine.
Cellar Door, Tastings, and Cocktails
When you first walk in, you’ll find the cellar door on the left. The Sidewood staff are ready and willing to talk you through all their amazing wines.
You can order a cider or wine tasting flight to the table if you’re eating lunch, which several of my friends did. I, however, stuck with their Sparkling white – I was feeling celebratory! – before moving on to the cocktail menu.
Sidewood have also teamed up with the nearby Ambleside Distillery; you can order an Amblewood Spritz cocktail (like I did – delicious!) or order the Ambleside X Sidewood Summer Spritz pack to make them at home here.
Activities and Events
Outside, past the deck that overlooks the gorgeous Adelaide Hills scenery, are two bocce courts. Surrounding the bocce courts are day beds – perfect for summer – and heaters in Winter. This makes Sidewood Estate perfect for a day out at any time of the year.
I loved watching families playing with their children on the bocce court, and actually found myself wishing I’d brought the boys with me!
Sidewood Estate hosts many events throughout the year – most recently was a ‘Vintage and Vinyl Day’ in collaboration with Fresh92.7.
Golf lovers rejoice – you can attempt a hole-in-one on Sidewood’s floating golf green (yes, really!). If you’re heading to Sidewood in Summer, you might like to line your day up with Crush Festival. Sidewood has previously hosted gold tournaments over Crush Festival.
Wine Club
If you can’t get enough of the amazing Sidewood Estate wines on the day, you can also jin their Wine Club. You can request membership when purchasing your first half-dozen. Once you have a membership, you’ll receive 20% discount on mixed dozens. You choose the frequency of the subscription/delivery of your wine. Find out more and join the Sidewood Estate Wine Club here.
If you’re looking for other awesome places for lunch a short drive from Adelaide, why not try McLaren Vale?
Ready to head to Sidewood Estate? Let me know how it was in the comments!
