Grenache and Gourmet 2026: Your Complete Festival Guide for McLaren Vale
13 May 2026
On September 18, the eve of International Grenache Day, McLaren Vale opens the doors on its most significant annual event. Grenache and Gourmet runs until October 5, the Labour Day long weekend, and in those 18 days the region produces some of the most interesting food and wine programming in the Australian calendar.
The timing is not accidental. Spring in McLaren Vale is the moment when the vines come back to life after winter dormancy, the days lengthen, and the estate grounds are at their most photogenic. The festival uses all of it: outdoor lunches, vineyard walks, cellar door masterclasses, and event formats that only work in this specific window of the year.
The Grenache in the title is not decorative. McLaren Vale's old-vine Grenache is now widely considered among the finest produced anywhere in the world, and the festival exists to celebrate that. The 2026 Halliday Wine Companion handed Wine of the Year to Thistledown Wines' This Charming Man Single Vineyard Clarendon Grenache 2024 — a McLaren Vale Grenache, 98 points, $95 at retail. The international wine community has been paying attention for longer than the domestic conversation has reflected. Grenache and Gourmet is where that attention is made tangible.
This guide is part of our ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine tours.
What Is Grenache and Gourmet?
Grenache and Gourmet is an 18-day festival run by the McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association, covering the region's wineries, restaurants, and producer partners. It is structured around individual events rather than a single site — no central festival hub, no wristband access model. Visitors plan their own itinerary from the program, book specific events directly with producers, and build a festival experience across as many days as they have available.
The 2025 program ran 32 events across three categories — Sip & Savour (pairing Grenache with thoughtfully crafted food experiences), Learn & Explore (vineyard tours, blending workshops, and hands-on sessions), and Relax & Unwind (casual gatherings with food, wine, and live music). The 2026 program follows the same structure and launches July 1, 2026. Subscribe at grenacheandgourmet.com.au for the day-of release.
The format rewards planning. The best events sell out within days of the program launching, so being on the mailing list ahead of July 1 is the single most useful step you can take.
The Cellar Doors to Prioritise
Not every cellar door in McLaren Vale runs a specific festival event, but the ones that produce the most serious Grenache tend to invest in the programming. Here is where to focus.
Thistledown Wines is the 2026 Halliday Wine of the Year producer and the clearest reason to prioritise Grenache during the festival. The This Charming Man Single Vineyard Clarendon Grenache 2024 is the wine that earned the recognition, but the full Thistledown range shows the breadth of what can be achieved with this variety in McLaren Vale. Check the 2026 program at grenacheandgourmet.com.au from July 1 for any Thistledown-specific events.
Bekkers Wine produces appointment-only Grenache and Shiraz at the very top of the regional quality range. Festival season is one of the better times to secure a booking — the estate may run specific tasting experiences aligned with the program. Contact ahead and be flexible on timing.
Yangarra Estate in McLaren Flat is the biodynamic benchmark for the variety. The High Sands Grenache from 1946-planted vines is the flagship, and any Yangarra tasting during Grenache and Gourmet is worth prioritising. The 2026 Yangarra programming will be confirmed when the festival program launches on July 1.
SC Pannell produces the Basso Grenache from old vines and brings a winemaker's precision to the variety that makes tasting with Steve Pannell an educational as well as enjoyable experience. SC Pannell typically appears on the festival schedule when the program is released — check grenacheandgourmet.com.au from July 1.
Gemtree Wines offers a more accessible entry point to biodynamically farmed McLaren Vale Grenache and frequently runs well-priced events during the festival that provide good value relative to the quality on offer.
The Food Side of the Festival
Grenache and Gourmet takes the gourmet half seriously. The festival's food programming draws on McLaren Vale's Mediterranean produce culture — the almond and olive orchards, the market garden growers, the seafood from the adjacent Gulf St Vincent coast — and its restaurant scene, which has developed significantly in the past decade.
The paddock-to-plate long lunch format is the festival's signature food experience. These typically involve a fixed menu built around seasonal regional produce, paired with wines from the host estate, served outdoors in the vineyard or estate grounds. Numbers are limited, prices range from $120 to $200 per person for a full multi-course experience, and they fill quickly. Identify the ones you want in the first week of the program being published and book immediately.
The Salopian Inn — chef Karena Armstrong's restaurant in McLaren Vale township — is the most celebrated restaurant in the region and typically runs festival dinners during Grenache and Gourmet. Armstrong's kitchen has been instrumental in defining what McLaren Vale's food culture looks like at its best, and a festival dinner there is worth planning specifically around. Salopian Inn programming for 2026 will be confirmed when the festival program launches on July 1, 2026.
The Currant Shed on Chalk Hill Road is the other dining destination worth targeting during the festival — the seasonal menu aligns naturally with the festival's produce focus, and the winery lunch format is excellent.
The Winemaker Masterclasses
The festival's masterclass program is the highest-density learning experience available in McLaren Vale across the year. Sessions typically run 60 to 90 minutes and cover subjects ranging from old-vine viticulture and Grenache clonal selection to vertical tastings of a single wine across multiple vintages.
These sessions sell out first. If education is a priority, check the masterclass program as soon as it is published — typically several weeks before the festival opens — and book before general experiences.
Planning Your Grenache and Gourmet Trip
When to book accommodation: Immediately. The Labour Day long weekend (October 3-5) fills McLaren Vale's accommodation options months in advance. Midweek visits in the final week of September offer more availability and often a more relaxed pace at events. If the long weekend is essential, book accommodation as soon as this article convinces you.
How many days to allow: One day gives you a strong single experience — one cellar door event and one restaurant meal. Two to three days allows you to move across the region's different estates and food experiences without rushing. The full 18 days is for serious Grenache devotees and local visitors who can chip in and out across the festival period.
Getting there: McLaren Vale is 45 minutes south of Adelaide by car. Festival visitors coming from interstate or internationally typically fly into Adelaide and hire a car or arrange a guided tour. Several wine tour operators in the region run specific Grenache and Gourmet itineraries during the festival period.
Tickets: Available through grenacheandgourmet.com.au and directly with individual estates. No single pass covers all events — each experience is ticketed separately. Budget for the program across multiple events if you plan to attend more than one.
Read why McLaren Vale Grenache is world-class
Browse McLaren Vale wine tour operators
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Grenache and Gourmet festival in McLaren Vale in 2026? Grenache and Gourmet 2026 runs from September 18 to October 5. It opens on the eve of International Grenache Day (the third Friday of September) and closes on the Labour Day public holiday long weekend (October 3-5).
How do I get tickets to Grenache and Gourmet? Tickets are available through the official festival website at grenacheandgourmet.com.au and directly through participating wineries and restaurants. Each event is ticketed separately — there is no single festival pass. The most sought-after events sell out quickly, so booking as soon as the program is published is strongly recommended.
What is the best event at Grenache and Gourmet? The best events vary by year and program. As a general guide: winemaker masterclasses and small-group tastings at appointment-only estates sell out first and offer the most concentrated experience. Paddock-to-plate vineyard lunches are the signature experience for food-focused visitors. Check grenacheandgourmet.com.au for the current year's program.
Is McLaren Vale Grenache really world-class? Yes. The 2026 Halliday Wine Companion named Thistledown Wines' This Charming Man Single Vineyard Clarendon Grenache 2024 as its Wine of the Year — 98 points, and the highest honour in Australian wine criticism. Producers like Bekkers, Yangarra Estate, and SC Pannell produce Grenache that draws comparison to the best from France's southern Rhone and Spain's Priorat.
What is International Grenache Day? International Grenache Day is an annual celebration of the Grenache grape variety, observed on the third Friday of September each year. In 2026 it falls on September 18, which is why McLaren Vale's Grenache and Gourmet festival opens on that date. McLaren Vale's participation reflects the region's position as Australia's leading Grenache-producing region.
Do I need a car to attend Grenache and Gourmet? A car or organised transport is strongly recommended. The festival events are spread across the region's wineries and restaurants, which are not walkable from one another. Several wine tour operators in McLaren Vale run specific festival itineraries — booking with an operator who knows the program is the most efficient way to cover multiple events across a single day.
Plan Your Grenache and Gourmet Visit
Browse wine tour operators running specific Grenache and Gourmet itineraries in McLaren Vale.