Ashton Hills Vineyard

Ashton Hills Vineyard is a boutique cellar door at 126 Tregarthen Road in Ashton, perched on a ridge in the Piccadilly Valley about 25 to 30 minutes from the Adelaide CBD. Established in 1982, it built its name on cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and riesling, and the valley views from the terrace are half the reason people come. Open Friday to Monday, 11am to 5pm.

Dogs at the cellar door

Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome in the outdoor terrace and garden area, which is where most tastings happen anyway given the view. Water bowls are typically provided, though bringing your own as backup is smart when theirs is occupied. Whether a dog can join you inside the rustic tasting room depends on the day's crowd and bookings, so mention your dog when you book and take the answer you get. There is no accommodation on site, so treat it as a stop in a longer Hills day rather than a base.

The vibe

This is a small, rustic cellar door with a serious winemaking reputation: estate pinot noir that has earned attention well beyond the Adelaide Hills, along with chardonnay, riesling and sparkling. The tasting staff know the wines cold, which matters when the list leans on subtle cool-climate differences. In winter the outdoor tables get chilly, so rug up the dog as well as yourself.

Getting there and parking

The driveway in from Tregarthen Road is steep and unsealed in parts, so a car comfortable on gravel makes the approach easier, especially after rain. A small car park sits right outside the cellar door. From the city, the run up through Crafers and the winding Hills roads takes about half an hour.

Pair it with

Brunch first works well at Cherry Bomb Cafe in the same village. The Edwards Park Fenced Dog Park at Piccadilly is nearby if the dog needs a free run before being parked on a lead, and Greenhill Wines Cellar Door & Restaurant at Summertown makes a lunch stop on the way home.

Max: a ridge-top terrace, a bowl of water and the best pinot smell my human has ever described to me.

Confirm the open days before the drive since midweek visits come up empty, and aim for a Friday or Sunday for a quieter terrace. More stops are in other dog friendly wineries in SA and the Ashton guide.