Clare Valley

Burra Homestead, Clare Valley, SA.  Photo credit: Craig Gurnett/South Australian Tourism Commission

Clare Valley

Discover a rich European history without ever being more than a few feet from a glass of wine…

 

 

History is all around you in Clare Valley. Explore the best museums, galleries and historic buildings with Global Grapevine.

Bungaree Station
This sheep station was established in 1841 by George C Hawker and his brothers, James and Charles. It’s named after the aboriginal word for the area.

The station comprises a homestead, woolshed, shearers’ quarters, station store, manager’s house, district council chambers, staff cottages and a church. Accommodation is available, which makes a strikingly novel venue for functions and weddings (and a memorable place to stay while you’re exploring Clare Valley).

Martindale Hall, 3km south of Mintaro
The hall sits within the 45 acres of Martindale Hall Conservation Park, which is itself part of the 11,000 acres of Martindale Station. The sheep station is still active. The hall is a 19th Century Georgian mansion and was built in 1879 for Edmund Bowman.

It’s open daily except for Christmas Day and Good Friday. Clare Valley’s most stately accommodation is available for up to 18 guests with dining available for residents.

National Trust of South Australia, Burra
Clothes, furniture and everyday items from the 1800s.

Polish Hill River Church Museum
Commemorates the Polish migrants who helped build South Australia. Explore exhibits documenting the three waves of Polish migration: the settlers, the post-WW2 migrants, and the solidarity migration in the 1980s.

Balaklava Museum Centenary Hall
This folk museum contains war memorabilia, books, photos, household items and medical equipment from the local hospital.

Patly Hill Farm, 3km from Clare
The extra virgin olive oil, kalamata table olives, jams, marmalades, and preserves make this more than your average gallery visit. The gallery showcases artwork from local and regional artists with ceramic, timber and other pieces for sale. There’s award-winning (and pretty darn impressive) Clare Valley accommodation too.

Medika Gallery, Blyth
Includes prints, postcards, placemats and coasters featuring birds and plants of Australia.

Mt Surmon Wines, 6km north of Clare
They’ve been growing their own grape varieties here since 1995 and have their own wine label. Scarlattis cellar door art gallery opened here in 2001. Displays are of work by local, regional, and Adelaide-based artists. Exhibits change every five weeks.

Mintaro
Mintaro grew as a result of the copper mining trade. When the mines switched to rail transport in the 1850s the town looked doomed until the local quarrying of slate brought business back.

There’s history (and accommodation) in abundance here. A 19th century pub, the ‘Magpie and Stump’, wineries, eateries, churches, and a hedge maze make Mintaro a popular stop-off point. The modern art on display at Irongate Studio is worth a look too.

 

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The wines of Clare Valley

 

One of Australia’s first wine regions, Clare Valley is named after County Clare in Ireland. It was first settled in the 1840s by Europeans.

The first vines were planted at Sevenhill Cellars in 1851 by Jesuit priests escaping religious persecution in Silesia (now part of Poland).

Today over 40 wineries jostle for space on the crowded hills of Clare, Watervale, Sevenhill, Auburn, Mintaro, and Polish Hill River (an area between Sevenhill and Mintaro).

Topographical differences give wines from each vineyard a distinctive taste. Riesling is the most important local white grape variety. The main reds are Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

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