Nestled at the bottom of vine covered hills, this McLaren Vale winery has impressive tasting rooms which are comprised of an original old stone building, complemented with a glass and galvanized iron addition. Together they make up the cosy cellar door of Oliver’s Taranga.

The Oliver family are six generation grape growers and the property was named Taranga, by the original Scottish settler William Oliver. It’s only now though, in the sixth generation, that they have their first family winemaker.

Today the business is run by cousins Corrina Wright, Brioni Oliver and Sam Oliver. Corrina has become the first winemaker for the family, and is being recognised as one of the best winemakers in Australia.

2024 is a big year for Oliver’s Taranga, celebrating growing grapes for 185 years and marking the 30th year of winemaking by Corrina. The original cellar door was opened in the old stone worker’s cottage in 2005 and in 2021 the modern yet seamless extension was completed.

When you visit for a tasting, you can choose from any number of comfortable settings to settle into for a while and try the different wine varieties. There are indoor and outdoor spaces and cosy rooms in the old cottage to suit couples through to groups.

The grape varieties grown in the vineyards include Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro but they also grow emerging varieties like Fiano, Vermentino, Tempranillo and a couple that I’d never heard of before our visit, Sagrantino and Mencia.

These new grape varieties are more suited to the changing climate of the region where the gradually changing warmer conditions will most likely see movement away from the typical colder climate varieties of the past. The newer varieties that are excelling here, are native to regions in Italy and Spain.

When you visit the cellar door, you can choose from a number of tasting experiences including a vineyard tour and tasting amongst the vines. We tried the Taste of Taranga experience which enables us to sample their classic range of wines as well as some of the emerging varieties.

This tasting experience costs $15 per head and includes some locally made bread, which can be dipped in the own Oliver’s Taranga blend olive oil provided, accompanied with Willunga almonds. Apart from the delightful wines, what makes the experience complete is the wonderfully friendly service and genuine informative chat you have with the knowledgeable staff during the tasting.

You also have tasting notes to refer back to while you enjoy sampling the wines which for us included the Vermentino, Rose, Grenache, Mencia, Tempranillo and Shiraz. If you’re lucky, you may just also get to taste their own made Quince gin too.

You also must try ‘The Banished’ fortified Grenache which is extremely smooth and comes with an interesting story of wayward, less than helpful family members from one of the previous generations.

Oliver’s Taranga cellar door is open daily from 10am to 4pm and can be found on 246 Seaview Road, McLaren Vale.

Cheers

Glenys