Pirramimma Winery

Pirramimma has been farmed by the same family since 1892, and the cellar door still carries the feel of a working property. For dog owners the draw is space: wide lawns running off the tasting room where a rug, a glass of shiraz and a sprawled-out dog settle in easily for the afternoon.

Dogs on the lawns

Dogs are welcome on the grounds on a lead, and the team is relaxed about well-behaved dogs joining you inside the cellar door as well. There is no dog water station set out, so pack your own bowl and fresh water along with waste bags, and in summer pick a spot under the older trees where there is some shade on the open lawns.

The vibe

Tastings lean toward the estate staples, headed by the Old Block Shiraz, with petit verdot and cabernet sauvignon rounding out the list. Staff have a reputation for being easy-going and happy to chat through the range, and the tempo stays unhurried even when weekends bring a crowd.

Max: Big lawns, friendly staff and a proper shiraz list. Our kelpie lay on the grass the whole visit and nobody blinked.

Getting there and parking

The winery sits on Johnston Road on the edge of the McLaren Vale township, roughly 40 minutes south of Adelaide. Parking is on site and generally easy, though weekends and event days can fill the front rows, so coming earlier in the day makes for a quieter tasting too.

Close by with the dogs

The clifftop cellar door at Samuel's Gorge is a short drive north and welcomes dogs at its outdoor tables. The Vine Shed has roomy grounds for dogs on a lead, and in town the Sam I Am Cafe and the beer garden at the McLaren Vale Hotel both cover the lunch stop.

More dog-friendly cellar doors are listed in the South Australia winery guide, or build a full weekend around McLaren Vale.