We visited another restaurant in McLaren Vale before leaving the Fleurieu Peninsula on our way to Kangaroo Island. Coterie is the restaurant of Woodstock Wine Estate. What is really impressive when you arrive, is the architecture. The building of twenty years old has been designed in a semicircle to blend with the shape of the land, so much so that not one tree was cut down during construction. The windows of the restaurant offer a beautiful view of the lush gardens of the property. The slogan of the house at the entrance of the restaurant says it all: great food, good company and finest wines! The atmosphere is really friendly. The food is actually excellent contemporary fine Australian cuisine. You will not want it to end! The products are fresh and seasonal. The vegetables are from the garden. The fish is caught an hour before being cooked. Our favourite: oven baked hand made pumpkin and mushroom cannelloni (although char-grilled kangaroo tenderloin with quenelle dark chocolate ganache seemed very appetizing too!). As for the chocolate soufflé, served with Spanish churros and thick dark chocolate dipping sauce, it alone is worth the trip! Note that you can enjoy a tasting in the cellar door whilst waiting for your meal: a great idea to help you choose the wine that will accompany your food experience! Finally we suggest you go for a walk around the wildlife sanctuary of the property to digest everything.

The writers were guests of Woodstock Coterie.

iPhoneography Oz stayed in Willunga during its visit to McLaren Vale. This charming little village, known for its Sunday Saturday Farmers' Market and for being host to the Tour Down Under every year, is located just minutes away from the vineyards. We stayed in the luxurious property of Evelyn Homestead. This historic building built in the 1850s is now a luxury destination in the McLaren Vale, where celebrities and politicians choose to come and spend a few days. Totally renovated, the villa was built on a beautiful garden of 1,800 m² and has still retained its original charm. The thickness of the walls are there to remind you of its era. It is the attention to detail that makes a place special and inside this beautiful cottage nothing is overlooked to ensure the comfort of guests: two rooms decorated with style (bedroom 1, bedroom 2), a large bathroom with a spa, provisions for breakfast, a bottle of wine plus chocolate to welcome you. What more could you want! If you are not convinced, take a look at the website of Port Willunga Cottages where you will find two other equally charming hosting alternatives. To have experienced it we can say that the best way to resist the temptation of such quality accommodation, it is to give in! You will not be disappointed especially considering how competitive the price is.

The writers were guests of Port Willunga Cottages.

South Australia, with its many wine regions, is a dream destination for foodies. We visited the Coonawarra region a few days ago. In the coming days we will spend some time in McLaren Vale. This region, in the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide, is home to over 60 wineries. It produces very good Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. For our first tasting, we stopped at The Kitchen Door, the restaurant at Penny's Hill Winery. With a menu that changes every two months, you are sure to enjoy seasonal produce. We recommend the tasting menu, a four-course menu that offers an excellent selection of local produce. Dishes can be, at your convenience, married with the best wines of the vineyard. The dining experience is heavenly and the variety, quality, taste and presentation of the products is second to none. If you like cheese and desserts, you will not be disappointed either. Taste the frozen chocolate mousse and give us your opinion! The Kitchen Door restaurant is a culinary delight that we highly recommend.

The writers were guests of The Kitchen Door.