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Clare Valley Tours › Clare Valley Shiraz and Cabernet: 8 Cellar Doors for the Valley's RedsUpdated 2026-09-17

Clare Valley Shiraz and Cabernet: 8 Cellar Doors for the Valley's Reds

Hours, prices and access verified by the Clare Valley Tours team — last checked 2026-09-17.

A grape bunch on the vine, pale gold and dusky pink berries beside a yellowing leaf

The short answer. The Clare Valley is famous for Riesling, but Wine Australia puts red varieties at 72% of its vineyards, and Shiraz made up 30% of the 2026 crush. Expect blackberry, spice and mint in the Shiraz, and blackcurrant with firm tannins in the Cabernet. The eight cellar doors below all pour them, and four of them are already stops on our tours.

The valley has more than 30 cellar doors. For a red day, start with Sevenhill Cellars, Taylors Wines, Pikes Wines on the Polish Hill River and five more below. Four are stops on the Clare Valley winery tours that already run.

Check the Wine Escape from $341

Clare Valley Shiraz and Cabernet at a glance

Eight Clare Valley cellar doors for Shiraz and Cabernet, and the tours that stop there
Cellar doorWhereRed to ask forOpenOn which tour
Sevenhill CellarsSevenhillBrother John May Reserve ShirazDaily 10am-5pmLocal-guide day; private day
Taylors WinesAuburnSt Andrews Shiraz, Jaraman Cabernet SauvignonSun-Wed 10am-4pm, Thu-Sat 10am-5pmClare Valley Wine Escape
O'Leary Walker WinesLeasinghamThe Sleeper and Claire reserve ShirazMon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pmClare Valley Wine Escape
Pikes WinesPolish Hill RiverThe E.W.P. Shiraz, The Hill Block CabernetDaily 10am-4pmClare Valley Wine Escape
Sussex Squire WinesGillentownThomas Block Shiraz, Samuel Block CabernetDaily 11am-4pmPrivate day for four
Jim Barry WinesClareThe Armagh ShirazBook aheadPrivate day, on request
KilikanoonPenworthamThe Oracle Shiraz, Blocks Road CabernetDaily 11am-5pmPrivate day, on request
Tim Adams WinesClareSchaefer and The Aberfeldy ShirazDaily 10am-4:30pmPrivate day, on request

Hours are each winery's own, as published in September 2026.

Why a Riesling valley makes serious reds

The numbers surprise people. Wine Australia's 2025-26 snapshot of the region puts red varieties at 72% of its vineyards, against 64% across all of Australia's regions. In the 2026 crush, Riesling took 35%, Shiraz 30% and Cabernet Sauvignon 17%. The valley grows 5,093 hectares of vines, from 190 m up to 609 m.

Shiraz and Cabernet thrive in the valley's ancient soils, often on hard sites where the vine struggles and the fruit comes in small and concentrated. That is why Penfolds takes Clare fruit for Grange and St Henri, and why Leasingham's Classic Clare Shiraz won the Jimmy Watson Trophy. The Riesling side of the story is on Clare Valley wineries, and if you are weighing this valley against its neighbour, read Clare Valley or Barossa Valley?

What Clare Valley Shiraz and Cabernet taste like

Wine Australia describes Clare Shiraz as full flavoured, with ripe blackberry, spice and mint. Its Cabernet Sauvignon has dark, rich black fruit and firm but plush tannins, and is often blended with Shiraz and sometimes a little Malbec. At the tasting bar, ask for:

  • A straight Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon.
  • A Cabernet Malbec, such as Pikes' Homage.
  • A Shiraz Cabernet, such as Sussex Squire's The Bloodline.
  • A Shiraz Mataro or Shiraz Tempranillo, at Sussex Squire and Pikes.
Did you know? Taylors was founded on 21 July 1969, the day Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.

8 Clare Valley cellar doors for Shiraz and Cabernet

The first four are stops on a scheduled tour; add the last four on a day you steer.

1. Sevenhill Cellars, Sevenhill

The original Clare Valley winery, at 111 College Road, grows Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon across 110 hectares. Ask for the Brother John May Reserve Shiraz. It opens daily from 10am to 5pm. The local-guide day spends its first 1 hour 30 minutes here, and the private day opens here with a formal tasting.

2. Taylors Wines, Auburn

Bill Taylor Sr and his sons planted 178 hectares of terra rossa beside the Wakefield River at 89a Winery Road. Ask for the St Andrews Shiraz and the Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon. The cellar door has lawn games, cheese and wood-fired pizza. The Clare Valley Wine Escape opens its winery stops here with a 45-minute tour and tasting.

3. O'Leary Walker Wines, Leasingham

Winemakers David O'Leary and Nick Walker founded this family winery in 2000, at 7093 Horrocks Highway. It holds a Halliday 5 Red Star rating, and its reserve Shiraz are The Sleeper and Claire. The Wine Escape spends 45 minutes here.

4. Pikes Wines, Polish Hill River

The Pike family has made drinks in South Australia since 1886, beer first. At 233 Polish Hill Road the tastings are seated. The reds run from The E.W.P. Reserve Shiraz and The Hill Block Reserve Cabernet to Homage Cabernet Malbec. The Wine Escape's stop here is a Riesling tasting, so ask about the reds if you want them.

Useful tip. Pikes was named Best Winery Experience in the Halliday Wine Companion People's Choice Awards in 2022 and 2023. Leave time for it at the end of the day.

5. Sussex Squire Wines, Gillentown

This small family winery says outright that red wine is its focus. Its cellar door at 293-295 Spring Gully Road sits at 470 m and pours 2 whites, a rosé and 6 to 8 reds, including Thomas Block Shiraz, Samuel Block Cabernet Sauvignon and The Raging Bull Malbec. It opens daily 11am to 4pm. The private Clare Valley wine tour for four lists it as a stop, or one of your choice.

6. Jim Barry Wines, Clare

Three generations of the Barry family make wine at 33 Craig Hill Road. The winery bills its 2023 The Armagh Shiraz as the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion Shiraz of the Year. Book a tasting ahead through its website, and name it on the private day.

7. Kilikanoon, Penwortham

Founded in 1997 in the Skilly Valley, at 30 Penna Lane, Kilikanoon made The Oracle Shiraz and Blocks Road Cabernet among its first wines. Its top tasting is a private session in the Revelation Lounge, with 24 hours' notice.

8. Tim Adams Wines, Clare

Tim Adams and Pam Goldsack started in 1984, begging 10 tonnes of Shiraz from a neighbour that first year. The cellar door at 156 Warenda Road sits beside the trail covered in the Riesling Trail, town by town. Ask for the Schaefer and The Aberfeldy Shiraz.

Which tour pours the reds

The Wine Escape collects you in Adelaide or Glenelg and stops at Taylors, O'Leary Walker, Hill River Clare Estate and Pikes, with tastings and lunch in the fare, from $341 per person for eight hours. It is one of the Clare Valley tours from Adelaide.

If you are staying in the valley, the local-guide day opens at Sevenhill Cellars, from $177 per person, six guests at most. On the Clare Valley Scenic Wine Tour with Local Stories the guide chooses the three wineries. The private day for four, $535 per group, goes where you choose, including Jim Barry, Kilikanoon and Tim Adams. The best Clare Valley wine tours guide weighs every day in full.

Days that reach the red cellar doors

Tasting the reds on your own

  • Groups of six or more book Sevenhill by email at least 48 hours ahead.
  • Kilikanoon closes on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
  • Bring the dog to Sussex Squire, on a lead.
  • Cycle to Tim Adams: it sits beside the Riesling Trail.
  • Mind the 0.05 limit: see the Clare Valley without a tour.

Clare Valley wine tour prices sets out what each guided fare covers.

Clare Valley Shiraz questions

Is the Clare Valley good for Shiraz?
Yes. Riesling made the valley's name, but Wine Australia puts red varieties at 72% of its vineyards, and Shiraz was 30% of the 2026 crush against Riesling's 35%. Penfolds takes Clare fruit for Grange and St Henri.
What does Clare Valley Shiraz taste like?
Wine Australia describes it as full flavoured, with ripe blackberry, spice and mint. The valley's big day-night temperature swings keep the acidity up and the fruit fresh.
Which Clare Valley winery is best for red wine?
Sussex Squire says outright that red wine is its focus: it pours 2 whites, a rosé and 6-8 reds. For reserve Shiraz, ask for Brother John May at Sevenhill, The Sleeper at O'Leary Walker, The E.W.P. at Pikes and The Armagh at Jim Barry, which the winery bills as the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion Shiraz of the Year.
Is Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon worth tasting?
Cabernet was 17% of the 2026 crush. Wine Australia says it does very well in Clare, with dark black fruit and firm but plush tannins, often blended with Shiraz and sometimes a little Malbec. Taylors (Jaraman), Pikes (The Hill Block) and Sussex Squire (Samuel Block) all pour one.
Which Clare Valley wine tour visits red wine cellar doors?
The Wine Escape from Adelaide stops at Taylors, O'Leary Walker, Hill River Clare Estate and Pikes. The local-guide day opens at Sevenhill Cellars. On the private day for four you choose the wineries, so you can add Jim Barry, Kilikanoon or Tim Adams.
Do I need to book a tasting at Clare Valley cellar doors?
Mostly not for small groups. Sevenhill asks for a booking only for six or more, by email at least 48 hours ahead. Jim Barry takes tasting bookings through its website, and Kilikanoon's Revelation Lounge session needs 24 hours' notice.

More answers are on the Clare Valley tours FAQs page.

Put the reds on the route. The Wine Escape pours at Taylors and O'Leary Walker, and the private day goes wherever you name.

Clare Valley days that take in the reds

Next: pick three or four red cellar doors, then book the day that reaches them. Every fare sits side by side on Clare Valley Tours.