The time of year when bus loads of terrifyingly eager wine drinkers descend on McLaren Vale has arrived again.

Sea and Vines Festival is the Vale’s main outreach festival of the year, and will see a lot of the local wineries opening their doors for special events that bring together those three life essentials – music, food and wine.

While it can certainly get a little messy in the later hours of the festival, there’s a few venues that are definitely doing Sea and Vines right in 2016. We recommend a trip to Bondar Wines for their Shed Party or a visit to Angove’s somewhat incongruous Gin Bar event.

We also recommend taking at least 17 jackets with you, because it’s going to be properly cold up there.