Breweries & Distilleries
Beyond Wine
The best breweries & distilleries in Fleurieu Peninsula
While wine still reigns, the Fleurieu is home to craft breweries, cider houses and small-batch distilleries making everything from native-botanical gin to agave spirits.
The Fleurieu Peninsula's drinks scene reaches well beyond wine. Riding the same culture of small, independent makers, a lively community of craft breweries and distilleries has taken root across the region, and many welcome visitors to taste at the source.
The brewers make the most of the setting, with cellar-door taprooms tucked among the vineyards and hills of McLaren Vale and out toward the coast, pouring everything from crisp lagers to hop-forward ales - often with wood-fired food and live music on weekends. Down on the river, Goolwa has its own heritage brewery housed in a historic wharf building, a reminder that good drinking and good history go hand in hand here.
The peninsula has become a serious distilling destination too, with award-winning gin and spirits producers working with local botanicals, plus emerging whisky makers. Many distilleries run tastings and tours where you can meet the people behind the bottle. Most venues are open from Thursday to Sunday, with extended hours in summer, so it's worth checking times before you visit - and, as always when tasting, plan a designated driver or join a local tour so everyone can enjoy the day.
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Breweries & Distilleries in Fleurieu Peninsula - frequently asked questions
What is the Fleurieu Peninsula known for beyond wine?
Though McLaren Vale shiraz still defines the region, the Fleurieu has built a genuine reputation for craft beer and small-batch spirits made by the same independent makers. It is best known for gin - Never Never Distilling Co in McLaren Vale is one of Australia's most awarded gin brands, making juniper-forward, London Dry style gins using native Australian botanicals alongside experimental spirits such as agave. You will also find craft breweries, cider houses and distilleries producing whisky, vodka and liqueurs.
Where are the best breweries and distilleries on the Fleurieu Peninsula?
Most cluster around McLaren Vale, where you can taste at Never Never Distilling Co (at the Chalk Hill Collective), Settlers Spirits (at the d'Arenberg Cube), Down South Distillery, Goodieson Brewery and nearby Shifty Lizard Brewing Co in historic Willunga. Beyond the Vale, the scene spreads across the coast and hills to Forktree Brewing at Carrickalinga, Smiling Samoyed Brewery at Myponga, and Steam Exchange Brewery and The Fleurieu Distillery on the Goolwa waterfront. Many sit among the vineyards with taproom views over the valley or out to the sea.
Do I need to book, and are these venues family and dog friendly?
Many taprooms and cellar doors welcome walk-ins, but it is wise to book ahead for tasting flights, gin masterclasses and weekend visits, as popular venues fill quickly. Several are notably family and dog friendly - Goodieson Brewery, for example, has a garden with outdoor seating, water bowls for dogs and resident farm animals that keep children entertained. Hours vary by venue, so check each one's current opening days before you set out.
When is the best time of year to visit Fleurieu breweries and distilleries?
The vineyard-side taprooms are at their best in the warmer months from spring through autumn, when you can sit out on the lawns and terraces with valley or coastal views over a tasting paddle. Summer suits the beach-and-brewery combination on the Fleurieu Coast, while cooler winter days lend themselves to a hosted gin masterclass or a fireside whisky tasting indoors. Weekends are liveliest, so weekday visits are quieter if you prefer a relaxed pace.
Can I do a brewery and distillery trail in one day on the Fleurieu?
Yes - McLaren Vale's makers sit close enough together that you can combine a brewery, a distillery and a winery cellar door in a single afternoon, which is why dedicated gin, spirit and craft brewery trails are popular here. Because you will be tasting, it is best to join an organised tour or arrange a designated driver rather than drive yourself between venues. If you want to reach the wider region, the breweries at Myponga, Carrickalinga and Goolwa are better paired with a coastal day trip than packed into the McLaren Vale loop.