Feast your way through the culinary heart of South Australia along the epicurean way road trip

Willunga famers markets, Fleurieu Peninsula

Kick off your culinary crusade through South Australia at the Willunga Farmers Markets, an institution for local Fleurieu Peninsula foodies offering the region’s best produce. Buy direct from local farmers and artisan producers and sample a smorgasbord of seasonal fruits, vegetables, pastries, olive oils and small goods.Pack a picnic basket with fresh bread, local cheese, almonds from the nearby orchards, honey from bees that have feasted on the same almond flower, and beer and cider brewed just minutes away.

D'arenberg wine, Mclaren Vale

What's next? In a huge Rubik's Cube, it's happy hour! If Willy Wonka were a wine enthusiast instead of a chocolate lover, the result would be something quite close to the d'Arenberg Cube. This unearthly cellar door, which appears to hover above the vines, is one of Australia's most renowned and distinctive wine tasting sites. Set among the rolling hills of McLaren Vale on the largest biodynamic winery in Australia, the Cube features a tasting room with 360-degree views over five levels, several bars, a casual dining restaurant, a museum and art gallery. Spend an afternoon sampling a selection of d’Arenberg’s best drops or blend and bottle your very own wine during a blending bench masterclass. A fine dining experience also awaits on site at d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant.

Currant shed, Mclaren Vale

Hungry? It's lunchtime, and the Currant Shed is serving up a feast of fresh, seasonal fare. The Currant Shed, nestled between a lovely lime grove and lovely vineyards, was previously part of a homestead where early McLaren Vale people made a living through diversified farming operations. Under the direction of owners Hamish Maguire and Emily Dowie, the fine dining restaurant now combines innate charm, spectacular views, and one of McLaren Vale's finest meals.

Maxwell wines, Mclaren Vale

Surrounded by picturesque vineyards that date back to 1893, Maxwell Wines is an idyllic location for an unforgettable food and wine experience in the heart of McLaren Vale. Set in a stunning Limestone building, enjoy a (second!) lunch at one of the best regional dining experiences in Australia. Sample from an impressive line-up of locally sourced seasonal produce, pick fresh herbs and vegies from their garden or put together a cheese board from the cellar door and relax with a picnic down near the vines.

The Lane Vineyard, Adelaide Hills

Next, set your coordinates for the fairy-tale villages, world class wineries and award-winning regional restaurants of the Adelaide Hills. Pull up at The Lane Vineyard restaurant and cellar door, where the only thing that rivals the food and wine is the view. Feast on a 7-course chef’s menu, paired with some of The Lane’s signature wines.Seasonal ingredients cultivated on the estate or by local farmers, growers, and suppliers are featured on the menu, with all items traceable and ethically produced. Do you consider yourself a wine connoisseur? Head winemaker Turon White will take you behind the scenes of The Lane's state-of-the-art winery for a crash lesson in winemaking. Create your own master blend, bottle it and take it home to savour later.

Beerenberg farm, Adelaide Hills

Nothing compares to the taste of fruit plucked straight from the field, and some of South Australia’s best produce awaits in orchards across the Adelaide Hills. Nestled just outside the tourist hot spot of Hahndorf, picking your own strawberries at Beerenberg Farm is a rite of passage during any trip to the Adelaide Hills, plus you can sample their famous jams, sauces and condiments direct from the farm shop. Pick-your-own cherry, apple, pear, and fig orchards can also be found tucked away in the hills, so take your harvest with our guide to the best spots to pick your own fruit in South Australia and take a few diversions along the Epicurean Way road trip, all in the name of food, of course.

Woodside Cheese Wrights, Adelaide Hills

The perfect accompaniment to your freshly picked fruit? Award-winning artisan cheese crafted with milk straight from the Adelaide Hills.Woodside Cheese Wrights manufacture seasonal cheeses from gooey to crumbly, creamy to sharp, utilizing locally sourced goat, cow, and buffalo milk. Tastings are required (calcium is essential, after all). During a masterclass, you can even try your hand at the art of cheese manufacturing.

If you’re in need of a sweet treat afterwards, head next door and stock up on locally made chocolates at the Willy Wonka-worthy Melbas Chocolate Factory in Woodside.

Applewood Distillery and Unico Zelo wines

It’s been a while between drinks and with any luck, you’re not on designated driver duties for this road trip because more boozy goodness awaits at Applewood Distillery and Unico Zelo Wines. Hidden among the Northern Adelaide Hills in an old 1920s coldstore in Gumeracha, wine, gin and cocktails await. Enter a maze of distillation chambers to see how the cellar door's astonishing selection of wines and gins is created. After that, relax in the ultra-chic bar and tasting room, where you may sip Applewood cocktails, Unico Zelo wines, wine and spirit flights, and, of course, bar munchies.

Take your time tasting your way through all of the foodie offering of the Adelaide Hills and cosy up nestled in nature at one of the best places to stay in the Adelaide Hills including Mount Lofty House, Pavilions at Lenswood or Ode to Orchard.

Maggie beer's farm shop and the farm eatery, Barossa

Still hungry and thirsty? Perfect, because the next stop is one of the world’s best wine regions, the Barossa. No visit to the Barossa is complete without stopping in at Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop, and with a new restaurant on site it’s an unmissable stop on the Epicurean Way road trip. Take a seat at the table of South Australian culinary royalty for a long lunch featuring the Barossa’s best produce. Pioneered by daughter Elli Beer, The Farm Eatery is a modern casual restaurant, showcasing the Beer family’s quintessential South Australian cooking style. Do you want to learn how to make these delectable dishes at home? Learn to produce the farm's distinctive dishes in a cooking class with head chef Tim, or choose from programs specializing in homemade cheese, artisan bread, pasta, pickles & preserves, and even plant-based cookery.

Seppeltsfield, Barossa

Speaking of Barossa legends, next stop is iconic winery, Seppeltsfield. Arguably the Barossa’s most iconic winery, spend the afternoon sipping wine as old (or young) as you.Seppeltsfield was founded in 1851 and currently produces a multitude of award-winning wines that rank among the greatest in the world, including the magnificent 100-year-old Para Vintage Tawny. Drink in Seppeltsfield's history and descend into stone cellars dating back to 1878 to taste your own birth-year Tawny directly from the barrel in the majestic Centennial Cellar, led by a Seppeltsfield wine instructor. If you’ve worked up an appetite sipping your way around Seppeltsfield, take a seat at the home of progressive regional dining: Fino Seppeltsfield. Located in the heart of Seppeltsfield Estate, it shares the original 1900s bottling hall with Seppeltsfield’s cellar door and serves contemporary regionally sourced cuisine. Be sure to stop by Seppeltsfield Rd Distillers afterwards for a gin flight.

Barossa farmers market, Barossa

For good measure, stop by the Barossa Farmers Market to stock up on additional delicious treats for the ride. This bustling Saturday hub is where to get the region's greatest produce and one of the best places to explore the Barossa's unique culture and food options. Meet the farmers behind the food, hear their stories, sample the great local produce, and fill up on local fruit, veggies, cheeses, breads, and more for the ultimate culinary experience.

You could easily spend a week sampling your way through the Barossa’s incredible food and wine offering, so linger a little longer before hitting the road and stay among the vineyards at one of the best winery accommodations including Cambourne, The Louise and Villa Maria.

Sevenhill Cellars, Clare Valley

Continue on the Epicurean Way to Clare Valley, where a legendary glass of Riesling awaits. You'll find more than 50 cellar doors between the towns of Auburn and Clare. The region’s signature wine, Riesling, is among the world’s best. The Clare Valley is home to some of the oldest wineries and cellar doors in the state; the oldest being Sevenhill Cellars which was established in 1851 by Jesuits priests. They planted the first grape vines in order to make sacramental wine, and now the historic site offers one of the most unique cellar door experiences. Stop by for a wine tasting then tour the historic underground cellars and crypt.

Pike wines, Clare Valley

Just down the road in Sevenhill, Pikes Wines' Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet varietals are not to be missed. Tucked on 100 hectares of rolling vineyards, the estate is home to more than 20 different grape varieties and produce an impressive array of wine styles. Pull up a seat in the tasting room for a free tasting of five of Pikes’ signature wines. Ready to move onto beer? Pikes Beer Company, which is based in Colorado Springs, has you covered. After that, get a bite to eat at the adjacent Slate Restaurant. The menu features the best ingredients from across the Clare Valley and changes seasonally and in response to what is available.

Stay a little while longer and cosy up at Trestrail Cottage, Bukirk Glamping or Bed in a Shed.

Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission, Seppeltsfield and Tourism Australia