The Best Hotels and Places to Stay in McLaren Vale, South Australia

Bella Cosa B&B will convince you to unwind and not take life so literally. Case in point: the Chapel room’s private courtyard and pool need not be an affair worthy of nuptials, though the Cottage’s cosy fireplace is where love birds may want to cuddle up after the question is popped. The Gallery room’s rustic decor is a designer’s dream, but we think the artsiest area of this B&B can be found by the local artists’ sculptures in the four-acre (1.6ha) forest.

Australian wines and Mediterranean cuisine – if that’s not enough of a reason for you to book a room at Serafino, then you have yet to see the photos of this lakeside hotel. The tranquil grounds, the seasonal plates set atop white tablecloths and the tasting flights that pair perfectly with your mood are even better in person. Spend one evening walking amongst the 200-year-old gum trees and you’ll see how easy it is to root yourself in Serafino for days on end.

The only decision you’ll have to make at Casavino Luxury Villas is if you prefer Shiraz, Chardonnay or Merlot. Not to drink – heavens no, you’re welcome to sample as many different wines as your palate can handle. The decision rests merely in the name of their villas. All have three bedrooms with three queen beds, though Shiraz doesn’t have the option for a fourth bedroom with two king beds. Wine, heated bathroom flooring, a theatre lounge and a fully equipped kitchen are all waiting for you behind each door.

You won’t find a wine snob at the Bellevue Bed & Breakfast. This unpretentious inn is so laid-back that they insist that you leave your dirty dishes in the sink and not give one worry to your everyday chores. The courtyard is definitely where we’d bring a glass of Shiraz and a book from the swapping library. And if you ever tire of wine – or just need an alternative to the reds and whites – Ogre Brewing Company will gladly replace your wine glass with an imperial pint.

As you search for hotels in McLaren Vale, you may see a shimmering light up ahead in the distance as your head starts to grow heavy and your sight grows dim. Thankfully, you can stop for the night at Hotel California Road. This adults-only micro-hotel has a mini-fridge stocked with Inkwell wine in every room, so you can sip the bounty of the very vineyards you’re staring out at from your private deck.

It’s evident that 3 Divas certainly knows how to treat a lady, but no one says a gal can’t share the plush bathrobes, relaxing two-person bath and bottle of McLaren Vale wine. The Marlene log chalet and century-old stone Moscato Cottage were seemingly built to please a couple. Vineyard views and cosy fireside nights won’t keep you and your partner more than a finger’s length apart. You won’t be bothered in these private abodes, either – save for a gourmet breakfast delivery each morning.

You may think you won’t need the 24-hour room service at Peppercorns Bed & Breakfast – then again, you’ll probably be surprised at how late you’ll be uncorking bottle after bottle of wine. One look at your surroundings and you’ll want to drink in the beauty all day: the wood plank walls and exposed-beam ceilings are charmingly rustic. Sitting on the sun-kissed balcony isn’t a pour decision either – especially when you can snap the perfect photo of the rays glinting on your wine glass.

What better place to stay among McLaren Vale’s 160 vineyards than a Vintners House? No need to fight over the three bedrooms – your group of six will all be close to the fireplace in the living room, although you might have to call dibs on the spa tub. Anyone too slow to soak won’t mind the alternative tranquillity found in the garden – and sipping wine beside the chicken coop is a fine activity for any lazy afternoon.