Inkwell Wines

Inkwell Wines is a small, low-intervention winery on California Road in Tatachilla, about five minutes from the McLaren Vale township, and it is genuinely dog-friendly thanks to its own resident vineyard dog, Daisy. The cellar door, built from recycled shipping containers with a rooftop viewing platform, opens onto outdoor decks where visiting dogs are welcome on leash.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on the decks and lawn areas around the tasting room, on leash, while you taste. Daisy is often around, so keep your dog leashed and well mannered until you know how they will get on together, and treat the indoors as her territory.

Staff can usually provide a water bowl, but bring your own as a backup. Note that the adjoining Hotel California Road does not allow pets in its suites, so this is a tasting stop rather than a place to stay with your dog.

The vibe

Inkwell is known for its shipping-container cellar door with valley views and its low-intervention, skin-contact wines, alongside a serious Shiraz program. It is a boutique operation where staff knowledge is part of the draw, so booking ahead is recommended, particularly on weekends.

Pepsi: plan on the deck with your dog and let Daisy do the hosting. The rooftop is for the view, the lawn is for the dogs.

The cellar door runs midday to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday and closes Mondays.

Getting there and parking

The winery is at 377 California Road, Tatachilla, with free on-site parking. It sits on the southern edge of the McLaren Vale wine region, an easy drive from Adelaide.

Pair it with

Samuel's Gorge is another dog-friendly cellar door nearby, and Angove Family Winemakers in McLaren Vale also welcomes dogs, making an easy two-stop afternoon. For coffee or lunch first, Sam I Am in the township is dog-friendly, and Maslin Beach is roughly a ten to fifteen minute drive for an on-lead coastal walk afterwards.

More options are on the South Australia wineries guide and the Tatachilla destination page.