S+S GUIDE TO ADELAIDE'S BEST WINE BARS

The S+S team travels frequently and between us, we spend quite a bit of time in restaurants and wine bars. We have started to put together a list of some of our favourite venues around Australia to share our experiences and thoughts with you, starting this month with Dan Coward's guide to Adelaide wine bars. 

Once upon a time Adelaide had the Universal Wine Bar and Krug at the Exeter Hotel and that was about it. Well the Krug is still there but the wine bar scene has exploded dramatically in the last few years. Go west for cocktail lists, late night juke joints and the forever young Apothecary 1878, or head east for the vinous beating heart. The Tasting Room, part of the iconic East End Cellars, slices charcuterie and pours a small but interesting list by the glass, while offering you a whole wine shop of bottles to drink in with a small corkage charge. Across the road Mother Vine blends the classics – Sherry, Nebbiolo and Burgundy – with top Aussie producers like Wendouree, Ochota Barrels and SC Pannell. Just round the corner Africola completes the picture with quirky local labels next to South African pioneers. 

With the best views of the city, newly opened 2KW (at 2 King William Street) has had a stunning fit out. Dress smartly and drink classically. Venture down Waymouth Street and Proof (behind the brilliant Press) provides the perfect dark corners to imbibe from an extensive wine list curated by journo Tim White and local young gun Dave Currie. Another making waves is Travis Tausend at Cork Wine Café on Gouger Street, where quirky cloudy bottles are the order of the day. Cantina Sociale (pictured) is rambunctious, complete with wines from barrel and great snacks, while the latest welcome entrant on the scene is Bar Torino, next to Chianti on Hutt Street, championing all things Mediterranean. Finding interesting wine in Adelaide has really never been so much fun.