Awarded Clive Simmonds Memorial Trophy – best ambassador for McLaren Vale in the Hospitality industry

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Cornhole and soccer ball at Angove

Family Friendly Tours

I think most people will agree that wine tours are pretty great ways to spend a day. Many people will also say having kids is wonderful as well. Unfortunately, kids and wine tours don’t necessarily go together. Until now.

This past week I took out my first family for a tour and their 3 year old son Connor. I have completed a degree in Developmental Psychology and have two kids myself, I figured a day with an excited 3 year old was going to be fun. When I rang the door bell to pick them up he came to the window and yelled, “Do you want to play blocks?” I knew we were going to have a good day.

When we got to Oliver’s Taranga for the first stop I introduced Erin and James to Yvonne and then asked Connor if he wanted to play with their toy boxes and off we went. My wife says I’m still a kid at heart so I had a great time playing with blocks and trains with Connor while his parents enjoyed an hour of parenting free wine tasting.

Cornhole and soccer ball at Angove

Cornhole and soccer at Angove Winery

Then it was off to Maxwell’s where I pulled out my bag of toys that my 5 year old boy doesn’t play with anymore and Connor and I played in the sun outside. By then it was lunch time and knowing Beach Road has a sandbox and area for kids to run around, I had booked them in for a relaxing early afternoon. They enjoyed themselves for around an hour and refuelled before the afternoon tastings.

Family friendly Samson Tall

Family friendly Samson Tall

As most parents know young children can be a bit frustrating sometimes in the afternoon but not so with Connor. We went to Gemtree for their playground, oh and wine for Erin and James, before heading past Fox Creek for another hour of play with little man. Their big grass areas and toy box kept both Connor and myself busy for an hour.

Swings at Gemtree

Swings at Gemtree

Around 4:30 we headed back to Moana where they had some wine and meade ready for the evening and a tired Connor ready for dinner and bed. All in all it was a great day for all of us.

Me and Mac

Me and Mac

It was a different tour for me but not any less enjoyable. I thoroughly love kids, babysat when I was younger, studied how they develop and truly cherish the time I have with my kids. As a parent myself, and very much into wine, I know how frustrating it can be when you’re trying to enjoy adult situations while little voices and hands keep tugging at you.

Don’t let having a child affect your ability to go out and visit this wonderful region. There are plenty of family friendly places in the region so let me take the whole family out and show you everyone just what McLaren Vale can offer.

Book now for a family tour that will leave everyone happy!