Vibes, vines and very good wine
With sparkling pinot noir chardonnay, acoustic sessions and casual lawn picnics, Howard Vineyard is turning weekends into a full-on summer escape.
Just 25 minutes out of the city, Howard Vineyard is the kind of place that makes you forget you’re still technically in Adelaide. Family-owned and proudly local, it’s part winery, part event destination and all about good vibes, great wine and sunny afternoons spent outdoors.
And, right now, there’s no better excuse to escape the city than the vineyard’s signature Sunday Sessions and its hugely popular Rosé + Dumplings Festival.
If you haven’t been before, think sprawling terraced lawns dotted with umbrellas, live acoustic music drifting through the hills, and plenty of space to kick back with a glass of something sparkling.
Howard Vineyard is best known for its sparkling wines – particularly the Pinot Noir Chardonnay and the crisp Blanc de Blancs – but the cellar door also pours a full Adelaide Hills repertoire: aromatic whites in sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot gris and delicate, value-packed pinot noir.
Sunday sessions are where the vineyard really comes alive. Guests can spread out on the terraced lawns, with room for up to 200 people, and sample wines while nibbling on a casual menu or diving into on-site restaurant Clover + Stone’s premium HanSang (“feed me”) share menu.
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“Our hands-on menu means you share one table, with seven dishes to pass around,” Tom Northcott, winemaker and general manager, says. “It’s $78 a head and a great way to enjoy food, wine and company.”
Even the casual offerings make for a luxe summer afternoon. “Every Sunday leading up to Christmas, we’re running the Sunday Sessions with acoustic solo artists or sometimes duos,” Northcott says.
“Nice and warm music in the sunshine with a glass of rosé and some dumplings from our casual share menu just goes a treat. We encourage people to come and have a glass of wine with the live music – it’s the perfect way to spend a summer’s afternoon.”
The musical line-up for Summer Sessions includes acoustic musician Louis Fuller, acoustic guitar and double bass duo Jam Toasties, David Hull Acoustic, an Adelaide-based singer-songwriter, plus many more local solo artists.
It’s the kind of relaxed, sunny vibe that draws locals and visitors alike. “We’re one of only a few major hospitality businesses in the Mount Barker area, and we’ve become a very popular and busy tourist destination,” Northcott says. “Supporting live music, our staff and the community around our offering is something we’re really proud of.”
If you want to get in on the action, booking early is key. “We are getting so busy leading up to Christmas, so we definitely recommend booking in advance,” he warns.
For those looking to plan slightly further ahead, the vineyard’s Rosé + Dumplings event on January 24 and 25 is an unmissable date on the social calendar.
“We’ve been running this for a number of years. It’s a very big fun event focused around dumplings and one of our specialties, rosé,” Northcott says. “They’ve been hugely successful events in the past. It sells out both Saturday and Sunday, with up to about 1,250 people each day.”
Rosé + Dumplings is a full-on summer party, not just a wine tasting. “There’s a main stage, typically with a DJ or a larger band, and we often have a breakout acoustic area as well,” Northcott says. “There’s live sets daily from DJ DFOE and Mr BUZZY and we fill all the bars with beautiful rosé. We also work with local friends from Mismatch Brewing and Threefold Distilling, who shake cocktails and pour beers on the day.”
And then, of course, there are the dumplings. Howard Vineyard’s team crafts a wide range of these bite-sized delights, alongside other casual eats, to keep everyone fuelled through the live sets. There’s a range of ticket options, from premium to more casual, and the vineyard prides itself on being family-friendly.
“On the Sunday, we have a dedicated kids’ zone full of games and face-painting,” Northcott says.
Choose from luxe ticket options – like the new Rosé Pavilion or crowd favourites The Blush Terrace or Rosé Reserved Lawns – or keep it casual with general admission.
Whether you’re in it for the wine, the music, the dumplings or just a sunny excuse to get out of the city, Howard Vineyard’s Sunday Sessions and Rosé + Dumplings Festival promise a genuinely good time. With sprawling lawns, live tunes bouncing through the Adelaide Hills and wine that’s as impressive as it is accessible, it’s a perfect antidote to the summer grind.
So grab a mate, pack a picnic rug and make a day of it. Just don’t wait too long – both the Sunday sessions and Rosé + Dumplings sell out fast.
