O'Leary Walker Wines

O'Leary Walker Wines sits on the Horrocks Highway in Leasingham with a wide outlook over Clare Valley vines, and it has become one of the region's most reliably dog-friendly cellar doors. Tastings of riesling and shiraz, generous local platters and a lawn where dogs are genuinely expected rather than tolerated make it an easy first stop on a valley run.

Dogs at the cellar door

Dogs are welcome on the outdoor lawn and the front verandah, on lead at all times, and there is plenty of flat grass to settle on. Water bowls usually come out, though a collapsible bowl is a sensible backup on hot days. The difference here is the dog treat platter on the menu, built from locally made treats, so your dog gets their own course while you work through the tasting list. Service and support animals are welcome throughout the venue, including inside.

Pepsi: the lawn area is the spot to ask for. Flat grass, shade and a treat platter on the menu turn a tasting into a proper outing.

The vibe

This is a working Clare Valley cellar door with a restaurant attached, so it runs more polished than a farmhouse shed. Tastings cover the acclaimed rieslings through to fuller reds, and the food leans on South Australian produce with grazing platters designed to sit alongside a glass. Kids get their own tasting platters too, which tells you the place is set up for families and groups lingering rather than dashing through.

Getting there and parking

The cellar door is at 7093 Horrocks Highway in Leasingham, straight off the main road between Clare and Watervale. Parking is ample gravel right in front, and the walk from car to outdoor seating is flat and easy. Doors open 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and from 11am on Sundays. Book ahead, especially for a shaded outdoor table on weekends when the lawn fills.

Close by with the dogs

Make a day of it in the valley. Tim Adams Wines in Clare is another dog-welcoming cellar door a short drive north, while Mitchell Wines at Penwortham pours classic riesling from a historic stone building. For coffee and breakfast before the tastings start, Expresso Lab in Auburn fits the bill.

For more options across the state, browse dog friendly wineries in South Australia or see what else is listed around Leasingham.