Osborn Road, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia.
+61 8 8329 4848.
Just over a decade ago d’Arenberg owners d’Arry Osborn and son Chester gave the winery’s original 19th-century homestead a major workover, incorporating materials from a defunct Port Adelaide wool store to create this extended cellar door and elongated restaurant with views over McLaren Vale’s patchwork of vineyards. It went through various incarnations as successive chefs struggled to find the right formula, but that’s now been well sorted by chefs Peter Reschke and Nigel Rich, while Peter’s wife Jo runs the floor. They draw on the abundant produce growing all around them in farms, vineyards and orchards, not to forget the rivers, dams and not-so-distant sea. Reschke and Rich favour imaginative, full-flavoured dishes such as lobster medallion with blue swimmer crab ravioli; wild boar with chick pea “smash” and quandong and pear chutney; or slow-braised duck leg with kim chi and pickled cherries. Save room for desserts – try the soft-centred chocolate pudding or passionfruit soufflé with a glass of The Noble riesling. The wine list is all current vintage d’Arenberg, with a separate list of museum and imported wines available.
Open: lunch from 12pm daily. Licensed. Mains $28-$31.WebsiteSource:
Qantas The Australian Way May 2008
Updated: August 2008