Fabulous Ladies Wine Tour of the Clare Valley 2026
7 – 10 May 2026
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Small Group. 100% Women.
This tour has a maximum of just 12 guests. All wine and food loving women, just like you! This is wine travel like you've never experienced it before.
Insider Access
See places, sip wines and meet the people of the region no one else gets to with our exclusive access
Fully Escorted
You have the same expert tour leader with you from start to finish - ensuring your needs are looked after every step of the way
We don't leave anything out
There's no surprises and no hidden charges. When we say something is included, it's included! So all you need to do is relax and unwind.
An exclusive journey into South Australia’s quiet over achiever, the Clare Valley. Meet the remarkable women crafting Australia’s finest Rieslings and beyond!
The Clare Valley is where sun-drenched hillsides meet cool-climate brilliance, where ancient soils tell stories through every glass, and where some of Australia’s most passionate women winemakers are redefining what it means to create world-class wine. Over four unforgettable days, you’ll discover this incredible wine region in the most fabulous way possible!
This isn’t about ticking boxes at cellar doors. It’s about slowing down, settling in, and truly connecting—with the women behind the wines, with the farmers and chefs who bring the region’s terroir to table, and with a small group of like-minded travellers who share your love of wine, food and meaningful discovery.
From rustic cellar doors in historic railway stations to degustation dining in charming country hotels, from biodynamic farm tours to barrel shed lunches, this is the Clare Valley revealed from the inside out. And with every detail hosted and carefully curated, all you need to do is arrive, pour a glass, and savour the experience!
Clare Valley’s women in wine you’ll be meeting and sipping with include:
- Kerri Thompson – Australia’s Riesling queen and founder of Wines by KT, producing sustainably farmed, single vineyard wines from her gorgeous rustic cellar door in Auburn
- Nicola Palmer – Clare’s wine, hospitality and cooking guru who will take you on an immersive farm tour at Penobscot Farm before cooking you a spectacular degustation dinner at the historic Watervale Hotel
- Stephanie Toole – Owner and winemaker at Mt Horrocks, pioneering biodynamic viticulture in a beautifully restored railway station surrounded by herb gardens
- Marnie Roberts – Dynamo owner and winemaker at Matriarch & Rogue, sharing the stories of five inspiring matriarchs and their rogue husbands through innovative wines
- Julie Barry – Founder of Good Catholic Girl Wines, who bravely stepped out from her family’s legacy at Jim Barry Wines to follow her own winemaking dream and do it her way
Why Our Tours are Truly Different
This isn’t just another wine tour. It’s something far more special—and far more rare.
Every woman in wine on this itinerary has personally committed her time to be with you. Not a cellar door staff member. Not a representative. The actual winemaker or owner herself—pouring her wines, sharing her stories, answering your questions, and welcoming you into her world.
Kerri Thompson. Stephanie Toole. Nicola Palmer. Marnie Roberts. Julie Barry. These are incredibly busy women running successful wine businesses, and coordinating their availability takes months of careful planning. But they’ve said yes to this tour because they’re passionate about sharing what they do—and they want to meet you. This is access you simply can’t get anywhere else. It’s personal. It’s intimate. And it’s absolutely unforgettable.
More Reasons Why You’ll Love This Tour:
- Exclusive tastings with the Clare Valley’s leading female winemakers, each sharing their craft and stories firsthand.
- Intimate cellar door visits that go beyond the pour—discover organic, biodynamic and sustainable winemaking practices from the women leading the charge.
- Farm-to-table dining experiences including a six-course menu at Skillogalee Restaurant and a personally cooked degustation by Chef Nicola Palmer.
- Hands-on learning about biodynamic herb gardens, permaculture farming and Indigenous land management at Penobscot Farm.
- Back vintage tastings and single vineyard showcases that reveal the true diversity of Clare Valley terroir.
- Be fully escorted by Camilla Dickinson, your warm and knowledgeable South Australian wine host who brings the region to life!
About Your Fabulous Host
Your incredible Clare Valley journey is led by Camilla Dickinson — whose warmth and expertise create unforgettable experiences. With a background spanning law and a decade in media, Camilla has enjoyed a richly diverse career before finding her true niche in wine after relocating to one of South Australia’s most celebrated wine regions. Her work now brings together a passion for hosting, tourism and wine.
Camilla is delighted to curate and host unforgettable FLWS weekends, welcoming groups of women to experience the very best of her home state while showcasing South Australia’s outstanding female-led wine businesses. For Camilla, success is measured in shared moments—seeing guests connect, create lasting memories and truly enjoy the experiences on offer.
The Essentials
+ - Tour Itinerary
Day 1 – Thursday 7 May 2026
Welcome to Adelaide
Your Clare Valley adventure begins with a gentle arrival in Adelaide. Check in to your accommodation at Hotel Indigo (or similar) from 3pm and take time to settle in and freshen up after your journey.
That evening, gather with your fellow fabulous women for a hosted welcome dinner. Your host Camilla Dickinson will toast your arrival and set the tone for the wine-filled days ahead. Expect warm conversation, delicious food, and a shared sense of anticipation for the discoveries to come.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2 – Friday 8 May 2026
Riesling Queens & Farm-to-Table Magic
After a leisurely breakfast, check out and begin your journey north to the Clare Valley. Relax as the landscape unfolds—rolling hills, patchwork vineyards, and that unmistakable sense of arriving somewhere special. Take your time, enjoy the scenery, listen to music or simply unwind.
First stop: the picturesque town of Auburn, where you’ll meet Kerri Thompson, Australia’s Riesling queen herself. At her rustic and gorgeous cellar door, Wines by KT showcases sustainably farmed, single vineyard expressions of this iconic region. Hear from KT about her winemaking philosophy and the process of coaxing brilliance from these ancient soils. Lunch is served here at the cellar door, surrounded by vines and good company.
Check in: Clare Country Club. Set amidst the picturesque rolling hills of the Clare Valley, your accommodation combines a beautiful setting with excellent amenities. Settle into your own room and prepare for this evening’s extraordinary experience.
Evening: Penobscot Farm. You’ll be personally hosted by Nicola Palmer—Clare’s wine, hospitality and cooking guru extraordinaire. Wine glass in hand, embark on a sensory farm tour where you’ll hear, see, smell, feel and taste your way through organic, biodynamic and permaculture farming practices, including Indigenous land management techniques.
The produce grown at Penobscot becomes the star of your next stop: a degustation dining experience at the historic Watervale Hotel, cooked by Chef Nicola herself. Expect an amazing array of dishes, beautifully presented, each paired with local Clare Valley wines that tell the story of terroir, climate, geology and geography. Each matched wine brings another opportunity to discover the stunning diversity of this region.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – Saturday 9 May 2026
Biodynamics, Matriarchs & Fine Dining
This morning enjoy a relaxing breakfast before departing for your first delightful tasting of the day with Stephanie Toole, owner and winemaker at Mt Horrocks. Her cellar door is housed in a lovingly restored old railway station—already a beautiful setting before you even step inside.
Before sitting down to taste, wander through the biodynamic herb garden. Explore the carefully tended beds, learn about the plant species of herbs and flowers grown and harvested for use in the 100% biodynamic vineyards. The guided tasting that follows is a revelation: back vintages, single vineyard wines before organics, followed by organic wines, and then organic and biodynamic expressions. It’s a masterclass in how farming practices shape what’s in your glass.
Next: Matriarch & Rogue. Prepare to be charmed by dynamo Marnie Roberts, owner and winemaker with stories as captivating as her wines. Hear about the five matriarchs and their amazing rogue husbands that inspired the brand, and taste the innovative range of wines while enjoying a grazing table lunch in the atmospheric barrel shed.
Return to your accommodation for some precious downtime. Freshen up, relax, and prepare for tonight’s culinary highlight.
Dinner at Skillogalee Cellar Door & Restaurant —one of the Clare Valley’s absolute best. Skillogalee delivers a seasonal menu that showcases fresh regional ingredients and estate-grown produce. (And it’s also where Kerri Thompson happens to be the winemaker!) The menu changes regularly and reflects their unwavering focus on quality, simplicity and connection to place, all served with warm hospitality and views across the vineyards. Settle in for a beautiful six-course menu with expertly matched wines.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 – Sunday 10 May 2026
Good Catholic Girls & Fond Farewells
After breakfast, check out of your accommodation and prepare for a very special final morning in the Clare Valley.
You’ll be personally hosted by Julie Barry at Good Catholic Girl Wines. After many years working for her parents’ wine company, Jim Barry Wines, Julie bravely followed her dream of establishing her own wine company where she could do it her way—and what a way it is! The tasting takes place in the cosy Vestry room, where Julie will share all the stories about her brand, the wines, and the region in general. Her warmth and passion are utterly infectious.
Accompanying the tasting, the award-winning Little Red Grape Bakery provides delicious morsels for brunch—the perfect pairing to Julie’s exceptional wines.
We finish here with fond farewells and transfer directly to Adelaide Airport, arriving by 2:00pm. Flights from 3:00pm onwards will be suitable for your journey home—though you’ll be leaving with a heart full of memories, new friendships, and perhaps a suitcase clinking with Clare Valley treasures!
Meals included: Breakfast, Brunch
+ - Tour Price & Inclusions
Tour Price:
- Twin Share: AUD $2,895 per person
- Single: AUD $3,295 per person
Tour Dates: 7 – 10 May 2026
Starts: Adelaide
Finishes: Adelaide Airport
PRICE INCLUDES:
- Fully escorted by Camilla Dickinson throughout
- 2 nights’ accommodation at Clare Country Club
- 1 night’s accommodation at Hotel Indigo Adelaide (or similar)
- Breakfast daily
- Hosted welcome dinner in Adelaide
- Lunch at Wines by KT cellar door
- Farm tour at Penobscot Farm with wine
- Degustation dinner at Watervale Hotel with matched Clare Valley wines
- Guided tasting at Mt Horrocks including biodynamic herb garden tour
- Grazing table lunch at Matriarch & Rogue
- Six-course dinner at Skillogalee Restaurant with matched wines
- Brunch with wine tasting at Good Catholic Girl Wines featuring Little Red Grape Bakery
- Private, invitation-only wine experiences with our fabulous Women in Wine
- All winery fees and tasting charges
- Private transport throughout, including Adelaide Airport transfer on departure
NOT INCLUDED:
Airfares and departure taxes; transfers unless stated in the itinerary; items of a personal nature; phone calls; passport and visas; laundry or tips not covered in the itinerary. Personal transport; excess baggage; security and government taxes; travel insurance. Meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary; additional beverages (unless specifically described). Optional excursions or activities that may be offered but are not included in the tour price. Spa treatments and any items not specified. Any alcoholic beverages before/after/during meal (other than those indicated). Any changes you choose to make during your holiday.
+ - Important Information
A minimum of 8 guests is required for this tour to depart. The maximum number of guests is 12. If minimum numbers are not reached, we will discuss this with you well before departure to finalise how to proceed i.e. re-quote with less participants or cancel the departure. If we cancel the departure your tour deposit will be refunded.
We do not refund tour payments for any other reason than we cancel the departure. We strongly recommend taking out travel insurance to protect against cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.
A reasonable level of fitness and mobility are required due to uneven terrain to participate on this tour. You will be walking in vineyards, hilly areas, and navigating steep stairs – and you will need to be able to participate in all activities.
It doesn’t often happen, but please note that the advertised itinerary may change without notice. Sometimes things are beyond our control and changes need to be made. Please be assured that any changes will be of the same quality as the replaced visit or experience wherever possible.
Full payment and a completed booking form is required to secure your spot. We use the Stripe Payment Gateway – a secure payment gateway that is certified to stringent levels of certificatio – and accept Visa, and MasterCard. Merchant fees charged by Stripe are 1.70% + A$0.30 for domestic cards and 3.5% + A$0.30 for international cards.
Please do not book your flights until we confirm the departure.