The Gin Long Canteen at Woodstock Wine Estate

Just a short 500m from Karawatha Cottages, nestled below huge old gum trees is the Woodstock Wine Estate, featuring their cellar door now located in what previously was the restaurant (the  old Stocks Tasting Room utilising Jarrah timber from vats that have been used for 70+ years in fortified production is still occasoinally used) and a pop-up restaurant by the famous North Adelaide instiution Gin Long Canteen.

What used to be the The Coterie Wine Bar & Kitchen has closed it doors and for now (summer 2024/25) has been replaced by the team of Gin Long Canteen, making use of the Pergola Bar on the beautiful lawns. 

Whilst it is a bid sad for us to see the Coterie Restaurant with its fine dining experience gone, the Gin Long Canteen is actually filling a void in our local restaurant scene: a casual lunch experience in the Vale, that is not pizza. 

Expect an outdoor only affair, often with live accustic music and a South East Asian menu designed for sharing. 

Compared to their North Adelaide restaurant, Gin Long Canteen offers only a few options at Woodstock Wines - all served in take-away containers, but it is absolutely delicious and the spicy, flavourful Asian dishes pair beautifully with the Woodstock Wines Riesling (surprisingly grown right here in McLaren Vale), their Fiano or lighter style reds (Grenache and Montepulciano).  

Book ahead to secure one of the picnic tables (they tend to get quite a few groups) or, bring a rug and settle down on the lawns for a relaxed afternoon, enjoying great food and wines amongst the gum trees.

And as always at a winery restaurant, it's great to taste a few wines before picking 'the one' to enjoy for lunch. Luckily there is no need to worry about driving, as the Woodstock Wine Estate is truly in easy walking distance of your McLaren Vale accommodation at Karawatha Cottages.

And for the young ones (or the young at heart), make sure to stop at the Woodstock Wine Estate Wildlife Sanctuary - with an opportunity to feed the kangaroos at 11.30 am on weekends ($5 per person).