Hamilton Hugh Wines

We had a little time left before we had to head home after our wine tour and decided to stop at Hugh Hamilton and boy am I glad we did! This ended up being my favourite stop of the day.
Walking up the stairs into the round, glass walled cellar door the view was breathtaking. The staff were all super friendly and considering how busy they were, did an amazing job of juggling the different groups that were visiting.
The wine was fantastic, there wasn’t one that I didn’t enjoy!
I would recommend Hugh Hamilton to anyone heading to McLaren Vale and looking to visit wineries. A fantastic experience!

This was sold as a must experience for Mclaren Vale! We stumbled upon this little gem in a book of Australia’s top 100 wine experiences — and on first impressions this doesn’t disappoint. When you arrive you enter into the cylindrical cellar door to sweeping 270 degree views of the vineyards and hills– it’s the perfect place to sip away the afternoon trying Hugh’s lovely wines. Unfortunately for us we had a booze bus just before us, although who wouldn’t mind waiting with a view like that. Once we nestled up to the tasting counter we were greeted with the tales of the wild night drinking Carolyn (our host) had the night before and that she really was not on top of things that day (who hasn’t had one of those days) …but it went down hill from there with Carolyn. Luckily the new girl on the block (first day on the job) picked up on what was going on with us and she took over our tasting and did a fabulous job! All in all this was a great winery to try — Tip: go when it’s quiet and when Carolyn was tucked in early the night before!

As you pull off of McMurtrie Mile into the driveway of Hugh Hamilton Wines you’re met with a series of «Sheep Dips». What’s a «Sheep Dip» you ask? Good question. They didn’t look like something that could keep sheep from getting away, like a cattle grid. How is a shallow dig meant to stop a sheep? And where were these sheep? All I could see was miles of vineyards. Perhaps the dips were to keep the sheep out? Nah, that couldn’t be it.
The cellar door at Hugh Hamilton is akin to a vine-​cloaked spaceship. It stands quite alone amongst a sea of vineyards with the southern Mount Lofty ranges spanning far into the distance. It’s a truly beautiful part of the world and the cellar door surely positioned for one of the best views in the district.
We’re greeted by a lovely tanned lass with a slight British accent. We didn’t catch her name. We’re after something red and bold for dinner. (Well, with dinner. Not for dinner. Although…) We started on the «The Ratbag» merlot. It’s got more edge than most merlots I have tried. The «faintest hint of toasty oak on the finish» says the tasting notes. (Like I know what I am talking about.) We move onto the «The Rascal» shiraz. Yup, that’s what we’re after. «Mulberry and black pepper» to go with the mushroom and sauerkraut pierogi we’ve lined up for dinner. (I have no idea if these things go together. They do now.)
Over the next 15 minutes we worked through the range. One bottle to take home turns into four.
Hugh Hamilton wines aren’t sold through stores so the only way you can buy it is from the cellar door, their website or their wine club. In addition to exquisite vino they sell a range of olive oils, preserves and dukkah, and merchandise. There is a distinct «sheep» theme throughout. Perhaps Hugh is a New Zealander?
We couldn’t help but ask «What’s with the Sheep Dips signs?» Apparently Hugh was the black sheep of the Hamilton family. So the dips couldn’t just be called dips. They had to be sheep dips. And that explains the sheep theme infiltrating the entire brand. Sheep. I don’t quite get it, but that’s okay because the wine is beautiful. As is the location.
Do yourself a favour and support small wineries like Hugh Hamilton. Wine is so much more exciting when you travel to beautiful places to sample and buy it.