Vineyard Road Cellar Door

Vineyard Road Cellar Door is a small, family-run tasting room at 697 Langhorne Creek Road in Belvidere, on the road into the Langhorne Creek wine region. It opens Thursday to Saturday from 11am to 4pm, and the combination of cool-climate reds, Fleurieu chocolate pairings and a leafy garden makes it an easy stop when the dog is riding along.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor garden area rather than inside the tasting room, so plan on a lead-anchored spot at a garden table while you taste. Water bowls are usually put out for visiting dogs, though a cellar door this size changes its setup with the seasons, so it is worth confirming on arrival. The garden gets shade through the afternoon, which helps on warm Fleurieu days.

The vibe

This is a compact, personal cellar door run by people who know their regulars. Tastings lean toward Langhorne Creek shiraz and other cool-climate reds, and the wine and chocolate pairing is the signature. If you are hungry, the flammekueche, a thin Alsatian-style flatbread, comes out of the oven and pairs well with a glass. There are local preserves and small-batch goods on the shelf if you want to take something home.

Getting there and parking

The cellar door sits on Langhorne Creek Road, roughly halfway between Strathalbyn and the Langhorne Creek township, about 20 minutes from Goolwa and 50 from Adelaide. Parking is on site and straightforward, so you can leave the dog in the car for a minute to check whether the garden is set up before bringing them in. Hours are limited: closed Sunday to Wednesday, so check the Facebook page before driving out.

Close by with the dogs

Keep the tasting run going at Lake Breeze Wines or Kimbolton Wines, both a short drive up the road in Langhorne Creek with lawns for dogs to stretch on. For lunch, the Robin Hood Hotel in Strathalbyn is about ten minutes away, and if you are staying over, the Strathalbyn Caravan Park puts you near the Angas River walk.

Pepsi: a garden table, a flatbread and someone who tops up my water bowl without being asked is a solid afternoon.

Go on a quiet Thursday or Friday afternoon if you can, since the garden seats are limited and weekends fill fast. Check the current open days before the drive, and browse more dog friendly wineries in SA or what else is on in Belvidere if you are building a bigger loop.