Thanks to the Eastside Wine and Ale Trail, a wine tour need not mean extensive travel, and can even include a deliciously crafted beer or two.

It’s all fun and games on a regional wine tour, until the ride home.

Heading back into the city is always longer and windier when in a vehicle full of punters with several rounds of tastings under their belt.

To the delight of many a designated driver, there is now an option to sample our state’s abundant regions, all without leaving the metropolitan area.

The Eastside Wine and Ale Trail brings together Amadio Wines, Signature Wines, Tidswell Wines, and Little Bang Brewery – all producers with cellar doors in the Norwood Payneham St Peters Council area.

“Being that close to the city, there’s more benefit for people to jump in a car,” says owner of Amadio Wines, Danniel Amadio. 

Danniel Amadio

“They’ve got friends over from overseas… ‘Hey, let’s go down to Amadio or Signature for an hour, do some wine tasting, we’ll be back home at five o’clock to watch the footy, bring some platters of food and a few bottles of wine.”

For Ben and Andrea Tidswell, whose vineyard is based in the south east of the state, having a suburban presence is about making Tidswell Wines more accessible.

Ben and Andrea Tidswell

“Initially we had our cellar door at our winery, but we found that cellar doors being 400 kilometres from Adelaide, it’s a long way for people to drive,” Ben says.

Though each of the businesses differ in region, varietals, and in the case of Little Bang Brewery – product, there is a tie that binds them all.

“We’re all relatively small, family-owned businesses… in a very competitive space, so I guess there is a sense we have a bit more impact all together,” Ben says.

“We all have a love for what we do and take the utmost care in the products we produce, and I think we’re all unified in that we love bringing it directly to people,” co-owner of Little Bang Brewing, Ryan Davidson, says.

Hands ON the merchandise

“Talking to the consumer is huge,” Filip Kemp – Ryan’s business partner – adds. “And I know… that personal connection is what people are looking for. That’s when they walk away from a place going ‘That was awesome!’ I think that’s what we all try to do.”

The success of the Trail so far has given cause for Bec Warden and Daniel Khouzam from Signature Wines to grow their business.

“Seeing that it works has given us the confidence to keep on pushing to launch different events and more regular Friday nights,” Bec says.

Bec Warden & Daniel Khouzam

“There’s a need out there for something different in the inner suburban backstreets,” Dan adds.

“Even though we’re within two minutes of the CBD, we want people to come in here and feel like they’re in the Barossa or the Adelaide Hills.”

But you’re not in the Barossa or Adelaide Hills. Instead you’re a short Uber or taxi ride from home, or your next stop, as Andrea Tidswell suggests.

“Coming to us in the inner city, you can just choose the closest pub to go to at the end of the trail – perfect day out!”

New-comer to the trail, Salena Franchitto of Salena Estate

Connect and share online: Facebook (/Eastsidewineandaletrail) and Instagram (@eastsidewineandaletrail)