CityMag Stays: The Stillhouse
In a travel series, CityMag checks out where to check-in for a night, this time visiting Clare Valley Distillery’s new accommodation offering: The Stillhouse.
With dark clouds looming over the CBD, this CityMag reporter embarks on the two-hour drive to Clare with the right ingredients for a rural winter getaway: a full tank, pumped tyres, and a yearning to be sat by a fireplace.
For this edition of CityMag Stays, we’ve expanded – six Gen Zs race down Horrocks Highway with sights set on slightly bigger digs.
The wipers switch off and the sunnies slide on as we turn in to Clare Valley Distillery.
The building’s façade is illuminated by the afternoon sun, and tucked to its left is our destination for the night: The Stillhouse.
Stepping inside, we are instantly warmed – first by the heaters, then by the complimentary bottle of gin waiting by the door.
The open-plan lounge and kitchen space is well-suited for a big group of twenty-somethings to do exactly what they do best – sprawl out, crank the heater and play card games (Flip 7, if you were curious) over gin and sodas.
We first met co-owner Katherine Nugent while admiring the vineyard from our picturesque perch. She caught us having a giggle (perhaps from the delicious gin we’d happily drained).
We had been querying the quaint gin van aptly named “Little Tinnie”, seen nestled between our accommodation and the distillery.
“We operated out of that for the first six years,” she explains.
“We were on the lookout for a property, and in the meantime, we had the caravan.”
Clare Valley Distillery may have started small, but since opening the new venue five months ago, it has established itself as a popular hub on the Riesling Trail.
Having accommodation on-site was always on the cards, Katherine tells us. And when the cottage along the former railway (now Riesling Trail) became available, it was serendipitous.
“It belonged to an old client of mine through when I was a lawyer.
“He’d been here for 60 years with his wife and three daughters. I’d helped him with his brother’s estate, and we worked out that his grandpa built the house that I lived in. We sort of had these nice connections anyway.
“When he died, I just remember thinking, he lived in this beautiful spot, wouldn’t that be a good spot?”
The Stillhouse features four king-sized bedrooms, two of which live in the front section of what used to be the heritage cottage.
“They used to take photos of the trains, his daughter gave us these slides.
“We’re in the process of getting at least three of them developed. They’re good enough quality that we can hang them in the house.”
Suddenly, our choice of staycation feels a lot more special.
As the sun retreats behind the highest ridge, we migrate from kitchen island, to dining table, to lounge, carrying our conversations (and drinks) with us.
The design of The Stillhouse feels thoughtful; a fully accessible bathroom with heated flooring, double sheer blinds for your desired level of privacy, and furniture long enough to seat multiple people.
While it is obvious where the house transitions from modern to historic, it feels respectfully restored, maintaining its lived-in charm.
Early risers will enjoy a feast for the senses at The Stillhouse. By 7:30am, the sun lights up the brisk hillside in a golden hue, and the kookaburras have plenty to say about it.
Sleepyheads will appreciate that the commute to a guided gin tasting is a mere hop, skip and a jump.
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Greeted by Clare Valley Distillery venue manager Grady and a second time by Katherine, we are delivered four gins.
We are guided to sip them straight first, then on the rocks, and lastly with a mixer. But Katherine encourages us to experiment.
CityMag’s favourite is the Trailside Gin, even better with a dash of Elderflower Tonic, as per Katherine’s recommendation. She is pleased that we are on the same page.
“Guy Parkinson, who is the high-end chef, first came to Clare in 2014 at the beginning of the big gin boom.
“I was a full-time lawyer at the time, specialising in food and wine law. He became one of my favourite clients.
“I was always hanging out down there, just really looking for excuses, I guess, to catch up and drink all the yummy gins.
“And he said, ‘We should make a local gin. There isn’t one.’ And that’s how it started.”
We’re grateful for the humble origin story, as even the rookie gin-drinkers among us happily drain their glasses.
When asked about the future of The Stillhouse, Katherine says this is just the beginning.
“The first big wedding is booked here for October, a bride and a group. They will walk down, get married here, and then just all end up back at The Stillhouse. It all sort of just makes sense.”
She says there are also potential plans for an outdoor firepit, and CityMag can already picture the group’s antics elevated by this addition, plus BYO marshmallows.
As we regrettably exit the distillery doors, we notice the gigantic cactus towering high and recall an anecdote from Katherine.
“It flowers in summer. It’s quite shy, so it comes out at night and its flowers are open until about nine o’clock in the morning. It’s just gorgeous.”
CityMag couldn’t help but feel that this is very apt to our experience at the distillery. We can’t argue it isn’t gorgeous in the daylight, but once the sun hides away and the stars come out – that’s when the Clare Valley Distillery and The Stillhouse truly blossom.
We’ll be back for the firepit (and the gin).
Clare Valley Distillery and The Stillhouse are located at 8538 Horrocks Highway, Clare 5453.
Connect with the distillery on Instagram for more.
