Rebecca Morse was one of the first locals through the doors of our new South Australian store at Tea Tree Plaza. Bec is one third of the Bec, Cosi & Lehmo breakfast show on SAFM and is a familiar face to South Australians, having presented Channel 10 news for 14 years. She has also recently started @thestylehosts with sought-after local interior stylist Marie Kargiotis. We asked Bec to share some of her insider tips on South Australia’s wine regions and to recreate the vibe using salt&pepper products.
Barossa, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills, Riverland, McLaren Vale. No wonder South Australians are considered wine snobs, we have so many regions to choose from!
It’s hard to pick a favourite, but for me, McLaren Vale is up there.
This wine region is just 40 minutes from Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula which means you can combine a winery visit with a beach visit all in the one glorious day.
Make sure you pop these on your SA itin…
Gemtree Wines
Gemtree Wines are organic, biodynamic, preservative-free and vegan. The tasting room is open 7 days and wine can be paired with a native tasting experience including saltbush and pepper berries. I can highly recommend the Tirkandi Cultural Experience which is a walking tour led by a senior cultural custodian.
Maxwell Wines
If you want to do Maxwell Wines properly you must book into the fine dining restaurant for a special occasion. Trust esteemed chef Fabian Lehmann to take care of the menu, with a degustation journey that promotes seasonal produce from local suppliers.
Olivers Taranga
Olivers Taranga has recently renovated its cellar door and it’s well worth a visit. The Taranga Terroir Vineyard Experience is my tip. Hop onto Ollie the golf cart which will take you through the vineyard each grape variety is sourced from, offering you tastings of the wine it becomes! Make sure you give Marj the resident bulldog a pat.
Pizzateca
As the name Pizzateca suggests, quality pizza. Park me here with an Aperol Spritz and I’ll be happy for hours. Having a photo in front of the famous pink and mint wall is mildly embarrassing but must be done.
Star of Greece
You have to venture out of McLaren Vale for this gem but it cannot be left off the list. There are few restaurants in the world that can match the coastal view at Star of Greece and the menu does not disappoint. Make sure you make a booking as this place is deservedly popular, especially in summer.
salt&pepper
The new salt&pepper store at Tea Tree Plaza is a welcome addition to SA. I stocked up on an array of glassware so Marie and I could recreate some of the wine experiences enjoyed in McLaren Vale. Turns out the Osaka Lazy Susan doubles as an excellent cheese board!
Credits:
Photography: @rebeccamorse107