Why Clare Valley’s the One to Watch
If the Barossa is the blockbuster, Clare Valley is the cult favourite that quietly wins you over and lingers longer in memory. Smaller in scale, cooler in climate, and blissfully lighter on crowds, Clare is for those who’d rather swap cellar door queues for slow rides, stone cottages, and Rieslings with bite and personality. It’s not the loudest wine region, but it’s starting to turn heads…and if you know, you know.
The Real Difference? Less Flash, More Feeling
There’s a kind of calm confidence about Clare according to locals. It doesn’t try to outshine its bigger cousin, it simply offers something different. This is wine country for those who like their adventures unhurried and a little more personal.
You won’t find traffic jams between vineyards or crowded hotspots here. Instead, you’ll get quiet back roads, gently rolling vineyards, and country towns where time slows down and everyone waves. Yep, everyone waves! The cellar doors are family-run, the pace is relaxed, and the conversations feel genuine. No real gloss, no pretense.
Cycling verses Cruising: The Riesling Trail Factor
Unlike Barossa, Clare Valley has a secret weapon: the Riesling Trail, a 35 km stretch of old railway line now reborn as a scenic walking and cycling track linking wineries, villages, and cellar doors. It’s cool. Sort of like the new metro in Sydney… only better. Because here, the stops come with wine, wildflowers, and zero crowds.
It’s hands-down the best way to soak up the valley’s beauty – on two wheels, wind in your hair, glass in hand (did we really say that?). Barossa might be best seen from a car window. But Clare? You feel it underfoot or pedal.
Along the trail (which is by the way, well-maintained and pretty flat), you’ll pass gum trees, beautiful old villages with stone cottages, country pubs, and heritage buildings. And always, the sense that you’ve stumbled on something special. Something fewer people know about. Yet.
Barossa’s got the Spotlight, Clare’s got the Story
Where Barossa leans big with big reds, big buses, big names, Clare leans into its own groove – think Rieslings with backbone, shiraz with stories, and tastings where the winemaker might pull up a chair.
And behind those quietly exceptional wines? Some of the most exciting names in Australian winemaking. Marnie Roberts of Matriarch & Rogue (Claymore Wines) is leading the charge – known for her bold reds, textural Rieslings, and a no-fuss approach that lets the fruit (and the region) do the talking. She’s part of a new wave of Clare winemakers keeping things small, soulful, and seriously good.
Kerri Thompson, affectionately known as KT, brings her signature finesse to both her own label, Wines by KT, and as the consultant winemaker at Skillogalee Estate. Her wines are celebrated for their purity and precision, reflecting the unique terroir of Clare Valley.
These are the kinds of cellar doors where you leave with more than a bottle – you leave with a connection, a yarn, maybe a dog-eared map with a few scribbled local tips. Clare doesn’t need the gloss. It’s got grit, charm, and winemakers who pour heart into every drop.
Stay Generous: Battunga Cottages Warm Welcome
Stay at Battunga Cottages B & B- four spacious stone villas with total space for up to 12 guests and set across 200 peaceful acres, right on the Riesling Trail. It’s a stellar base for exploring Clare, with cellar doors in every direction and the award-winning Watervale Hotel just down the road (locals call it a long lunch, not just a meal).
There’s Galah, Kookaburra, Rosella, and Parrot villas. Expect a generous breakfast basket (local eggs, bacon, crusty bread, juice and more), a fireplace for cool nights, a verandah for slow mornings, and often a few surprise extras like fresh flowers, local wine, or cheese.
Battunga is ideal for couples, family friendly ✔️, or relaxed group escapes. It’s also pet friendly on request ✔️ and has the kind of warm country hospitality that turns a stay into a story.
You’ll wake to birdsong, not phone pings here.
Stay on a vineyard at Skillogalee
Wander north to Skillogalee Winery, with it’s own restaurant and recently opened Barrel Room. There’s plenty of choices here. Go all in with Skillogalee House (sleeps 6) for a group escape, or pick your vineyard perch from the trio of self-contained cottages: Willow Glen (sleeps 8), Owl (sleeps 6), and Wren (sleeps 4).
Roll out of bed, grab a coffee, and wave to the vines. By lunch? You’re sipping a crisp Riesling grown just a cork-pop away. Then stroll (or swagger) over to the award-winning, freshly zhuzhed-up Barrel House for something delicious, with a side of sweeping vineyard views.
Clare Valley: Wine Country You’ll Remember
Big-name wine regions have their place. But Clare? It’s the one you remember. A glass of exceptional riesling, a stone cottage and golden afternoons, and the quiet crunch of the Riesling Trail under you.
Clare doesn’t do average. And neither should you.
