While iconic wineries like Penfolds and Henschke might be at the top of your must-visit list, there are countless cellar doors across the state offering award-winning wines, unique experiences and breathtaking views, just waiting to be discovered.

Here are four cellar doors to visit and make the most of summer’s glorious weather.

1. Alkina Wine Estate, Barossa Valley

Located near Greenock in the Barossa Valley on the traditional lands of the Ngadjuri people, Alkina is an Australian Indigenous girl’s name meaning ‘moonlight’. The property features 43 hectares of organically farmed vines as well as lovingly restored stone buildings dating back to the 1850s.

By Barossa standards, Alkina Wines is one of the new kids on the block with its first wines produced in 2018 and the cellar door opening two years later. All wines are grown and made on the farm, with grapes hand-picked before they’re moved to a small on-site winery.

An 1850s stone barn has been beautifully transformed into a tasting room, where you can experience a guided wine flight complemented by a cheese and charcuterie plate. You can choose to do a classic tasting flight of five Alkina wines or if you’re feeling more adventurous, opt for the international flight featuring wines from Australia, Argentina, Italy, the United States and Uruguay.

If you want to immerse yourself in the picturesque surroundings a little longer, you can stay at Alkina’s luxurious guesthouse or cottage located just a few steps from the vineyard.

2. Banrock Station Wine & Wetland Centre, Riverland

Situated in the heart of the Riverland, Banrock Station vineyards and wetlands sit side-by-side along the banks of the meandering Murray River. It’s a must-visit destination for nature lovers, with three self-guided walking trails allowing visitors to explore the beautifully restored wetlands.

Take in the view as you savour a glass of wine at the cellar door or enjoy breakfast, lunch or coffee on the deck. Want to get closer to nature? Relax in one of the many picturesque, secluded spots around the wetlands with a delicious grazing picnic for two.

3. Bay of Shoals, Kangaroo Island

Located only a stone’s throw from Kingscote, Bay of Shoals is a coastal winery situated on historic Reeves Farm – one of South Australia’s first European settlements. The winery was established in 1993 by Dr John Willoughby and its riesling vines are believed to be the closest to the sea in the Southern Hemisphere at a mere 30m from the water’s edge.

Take a walk around the cellar door and its surroundings and you’ll notice an abundance of nautical relics – a nod to John’s passion for sailing. There are slipping cradles, ketch masts and booms from the historic Searles boatyard in Birkinhead – demolished in 2010 – and even the chronometer from the SS Karatta, which served Kangaroo Island as a ferry from 1910 to 1960.

No trip to Kangaroo Island is complete without indulging in some local seafood. Why not soak in the stunning sea views while enjoying a guided wine tasting and seafood platter for two?

4. Hastwell & Lightfoot, McLaren Vale

Nestled in McLaren Vale, you’ll find Hastwell & Lightfoot’s intimate and relaxed cellar door set among sprawling vineyards. The family-owned winery was founded in 1988 when 16 hectares of wines were planted in the deep sands off Foggo Road.

The boutique winery offers small-batch wines including emerging Mediterranean varieties such as fiano, vermentino, garnacha and tempranillo alongside traditional McLaren Vale favourites like Shiraz and cabernet sauvignon.

Open Friday to Monday, the cellar door has a laid-back atmosphere where you can unwind on the front deck with a wine flight and platter of seasonal fruit, cheese, dips and meat. Or satisfy your sweet tooth with a pairing of wine and chocolates from Australia’s most awarded artisan chocolatier, Bracegirdle’s.

Bonus pick

If spirits are more your style, venture to McLaren Vale where you’ll find Never Never Distilling Co atop of Chalk Hill. Take a masterclass to try your hand at blending your own gin or grab a cocktail and pizza and sit on the sprawling lawns. You could also head to Penny’s Hill winery where Prohibition Liquor Co has opened a tasting room in an 1855-built, light-filled coach house. The bar is open on weekends for gin flights, wine and cheese platters. Bookings are recommended.