The striking green, all-glass rubrics cube among the vines was first born in winemaker Chester Osborn’s brain. Those familiar with the d’Arenberg brand will know Osborn as somewhere between a mad scientist and a creative genius – and as such, the cube is equal parts laboratory and work straight-up work of art.
Osborn came up with the unique cellar door design as a way to reference the complexities and puzzles of winemaking. The resultant structure is a multi-level compendium of vinicultural memorabilia, tasting rooms, blending benches, an art gallery and a restaurant. It’s an immersive journey from grape to glass.
And this is McLaren Vale, after all, so there are some pretty good grapes here. D’Arenberg, a founding member of Australia’s First Families of Wine, is home to some of the oldest and most exquisite shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and grenache vines in the state. If you love a big, bold red, you’re in luck.
Make your way through the Alternate Realities Museum on level one to the Tasting Room. Entry is $15, with $5 redeemable with two or more bottles purchased. Depending on how busy they are, the cellar door staff will let you taste a bit of almost anything on the list. A vertical comparison of the revered Dead Arm Shiraz is particularly illuminating – note the subtle complexities that develop with each different vintage.
If you’re after a bit of DIY action, the Blending Bench offers a 75-minute masterclass in which you’ll taste your way through shiraz grown on different patches of the d’Arenberg plot. Pick your favourites, plan your quantities and blend your way to a bespoke bottle of red – with your custom name on the label. It’s $95 per person, including a full-size take-home bottle. The dry-ice theatrics along the way are worth every cent.
D’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant, located offsite at the 19th century Homestead, offers a lavish eight-course degustation or seasonal à la carte menu. But for a casual bite or cup of coffee, Eat@Polly’s on level three of the Cube is open for a light lunch daily, with morning tea available in the mornings and afternoons.