The epicentre of the South Australian wine industry, Adelaide is surrounded by famous wine regions: the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley… And now, a new breed of savvy winery accommodation is trending: sample the local product, then sleep it off on-site.
The McLaren Vale region, a 45-minute jaunt south of Adelaide, is famous for its punchy shiraz and grenache, grown under the SA sun in rich terra rossa limestone soils. The vibe here is progressive, rather than old-school – an ethos which informs both local architecture and viticulture.
Following this lead, the Vineyard Retreat, set in a working vineyard, has added a luxe sleepover pod to its accommodation offerings. Dubbed the ‘Cadole’, after traditional French one-room winery huts, the brief for the new pod was simple: a contemporary take on the French tradition; or, as retreat-owner Anthea Cross puts it, “an elegant reformation of the quintessential ‘in-vineyard’ dwelling.”
Designed and built by Adelaide eco-design trailblazers Escapod, the Cadole features radical insulation, under-floor heating, an open fire, full kitchen, custom joinery and vine views aplenty. Constructed off-site to high-end specs then craned into position, Escapod says their design is a “prefabricated, movable, off-grid capable, luxury hotel room” – and, at 70 square-metres, it’s about twice the size of the average hotel room.
Internally it’s a slick product, but sitting outside sipping shiraz is where you want to be: take your pick of three decks, which, as Anthea Cross suggests, “allow guests to choose their aspect and vista” depending on McLaren Vale’s “constantly changing light and mood.” Rates for the Cadole start at around AUD$450 (US$323) per night.
Other winery sleepovers around Adelaide to have opened recently include CABN and Cobbs Hill Estate B&B in the Adelaide Hills, and Hotel California Road, also in McLaren Vale.
