Vineyard Sustainability Tour & Tasting
Category: Private Tours
Region: McLaren Vale Onkaparinga
State: SA
Duration:
1h30m
This is a unique and intimate opportunity to explore the Maxwell Estate. Minimum 2 people and maximum 4 people.
Operated By:
This is a unique and intimate opportunity to explore the Maxwell estate. Your guided tour will take you in the comfort of Maxwell’s electric buggy to visit the estate’s vineyards, including our iconic 92-year-old Grenache vines.
During the tour, you will be taken on a journey through our certified sustainable vineyards to give you an insight into how much work goes into your favourite bottle of wine while looking after the environment.
After taking in the beautiful views of McLaren Vale from the slopes of the vineyard, your tour is followed by a premium tasting, connecting the vines to their wines.
- Hosted by an expert Maxwell tour guide, ask any question you’ve ever had about wine growing.
- Cruise across the estate vineyards by electric cart, powered entirely by our solar energy production.
- Learn about the grape varieties we grow on our unique limestone slopes and Maxwell’s sustainable initiatives that protect this precious land.
- You’ll be able to take photos of the breathtaking views over McLaren Vale’s rolling hillscape.
- You may even spy some of our curious local wildlife as we continue to encourage native biodiversity.
- Complete your tour with a premium wine tasting.
- 2 people minimum for the tour.
*Please note this tour is subject to forecasted weather. This may result in Maxwell Wines needing to reschedule due to inclement weather.
This booking is subject to availability. Once you book online, we’ll confirm your reservation via email within 24 hours.
Participants must be 18 years or over.
Flat walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are encouraged.
Experience must be paid in full at the time of booking.
Cancellations or number changes within 24 hours cannot be refunded.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This booking is subject to availability. Once you book online, we’ll confirm your reservation via email within 24 hours.
Participants must be 18 years or over.
Flat walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are encouraged.
Tour may be cancelled due to bad weather, this is at the discretion of management.
Experience must be paid in full at the time of booking.
Cancellations or number changes within 24 hours cannot be refunded.
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Wine tasting was good, restaurant was the highlight. European and German core, evolved to modern Australian. Some
Innovative and outstanding ideas, easily top restaurant in McLaren vale. There are things can be improve, mainly service, otherwise a very enjoyable 4 hours for a Saturday afternoon.
Innovative and outstanding ideas, easily top restaurant in McLaren vale. There are things can be improve, mainly service, otherwise a very enjoyable 4 hours for a Saturday afternoon.
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Frankie
21 Feb 2026
Dining @ Maxwells was a most memorable and amazing experience we’ve had. Being a local here in McLaren Vale we are spoilt for choice but this truly was exceptional. The food was simply outstanding - such attention to detail, creativity and uniqueness with each dish. The staff were very personable and switched on to the level of interaction required throughout the lunch.
Highly recommend this as a unique, high quality dining experience.
Highly recommend this as a unique, high quality dining experience.
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Cathy
14 Feb 2026
Maxwell's is almost an out of body experience, from the minute you walk in, you will feel welcome and relaxed, the food is surreal, that someone can put so many elements into these amazing pieces of art, that are not only edible, but with each bite, you will taste all these incredible flavours that will change your taste buds forever. The chefs in that kitchen truly are artists, to imagine these beautiful dishes is one thing, but to perfect the flavours and presentation!! You will be delighted and amazed, just lithe we were. And the warm, professional and welcoming staff on the floor complete this experience. I can not recommend Maxwells dining experience enough.
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Kim
30 Jan 2026
The menu contained 13 (or more) components. Thats a lot but it wasn’t the quantity of food that really ‘floored’ us; it was the extreme (+++) richness of the food. We are no strangers to degustation menus and never shy away from any world flavour, strong, new, unusual or otherwise, but if we only had eaten half of what was provided, that would have been enough. Every item was beautiful and imaginative and exciting in its own right - but most were MASSIVE flavour hits and so all items combined really overwhelmed us. It was sort of like many items accidentally had three times the required ‘dose’ of its particular flavour component added, so we really only wanted to take a nibble and then stop to rest!
The exceptions to were the asparagus dish and the ‘yoghurt, strawberry, lemon’ dish, essentially the palate cleanser. They were vibrant, light and refreshing and didn’t knock us over!
The star and opening attraction, the oyster pearl, which has had much written about it, WAS indeed a piece of genius - sublime in taste and in fact a ‘show stopper’ before the ‘show’ had hardly started. Very impressive!! The little lobster snack was quirky, fun and delicious, and the trout was particularly luscious and almost as colourful as an Andy Warhol, but where it was positioned in the menu, we’d almost already had enough .yet there were still 6 more ‘deliveries’ still to get the table!! At the point we were served duck/foie gras/brioche course we worried we might even have to politely decline any more food! And earlier on, we were very keen on the sound of the chicken snack - on the menu as ‘chicken, leek, garum’ - but all we could taste was the huge hit of the garum!!
So, as you can tell from those comments, it was only the richness, and certainly not the visual or creative aspects, that notched the meal down from perfect to great.
What was perfect was the wine - we thought it was great they price the wine, all Maxwell Wine on obviously, at essentially the price you’d buy the bottles it at cellar door without typical money grabbing huge markups. Congratulations on that sensible and very admirable approach.
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LisaMDL
17 Jan 2026
Wow! We were recommended to come here by friends who also work in hospitality, and we had an amazing experience including a guided tour through the winery and soil pit with explanations but also time to enjoy and process. Lovely wines and mead, and the tasting room and dining room looked beautiful. We didn't get a chance to have lunch there but we tried quite a few snacks during the tasting - all were amazing!! Highly recommend, one of, if not my favourite experience I had at all the wineries we went to throughout South Australia!
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Annie
07 Jan 2026
The wine tasting was elevated by exceptional service from start to finish, beginning with a warm and genuine welcome that immediately made us feel valued and at ease.
Kate was outstanding; knowledgeable, attentive, and effortlessly engaging. Each wine was introduced with clarity and enthusiasm, offering thoughtful insights that enhanced our appreciation while remaining approachable and enjoyable. The experience was intuitively tailored to our preferences, and the pacing was perfectly judged; unhurried, seamless, and never intrusive. Subtle, well-timed check-ins and thoughtful details reflected a high level of care and professionalism throughout.
The food was a standout in its own right. Beautifully presented and unexpectedly of fine-dining standard, each dish complemented the wines superbly and added an extra layer of indulgence to the tasting.
Overall, the exceptional service, attention to detail, and outstanding food transformed a great tasting into a truly memorable experience. It is a place we would gladly return to and confidently recommend to others.
Kate was outstanding; knowledgeable, attentive, and effortlessly engaging. Each wine was introduced with clarity and enthusiasm, offering thoughtful insights that enhanced our appreciation while remaining approachable and enjoyable. The experience was intuitively tailored to our preferences, and the pacing was perfectly judged; unhurried, seamless, and never intrusive. Subtle, well-timed check-ins and thoughtful details reflected a high level of care and professionalism throughout.
The food was a standout in its own right. Beautifully presented and unexpectedly of fine-dining standard, each dish complemented the wines superbly and added an extra layer of indulgence to the tasting.
Overall, the exceptional service, attention to detail, and outstanding food transformed a great tasting into a truly memorable experience. It is a place we would gladly return to and confidently recommend to others.
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Hsien
23 Dec 2025
The creativity, delivery and balance of food and flavours, matched with wines- wow!
Thank you all!
A memorable dining experience.
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Maxwell Restaurant, Other at Maxwell Restaurant, responded to this review - 2025-12-20
Dear simony889,
Thank you for your lovely review. We are so glad the flavours, creativity and wine matching all landed so well, and that the experience felt truly memorable. Your kind words mean a lot to the whole team.
Gratefully,
The Maxwell Restaurant Team
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Simon
12 Dec 2025
A great way to spend an afternoon in the McLaren.
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Maxwell Restaurant, Other at Maxwell Restaurant, responded to this review - 2025-12-20
Wow! glentro!
Thank you for such a generous review, and for choosing to spend your afternoon with us. Very glad the 13 course journey made for a memorable day, and that the Champagne and the Shiraz hit the spot.
Your kind words have been shared with Phil, Bruno and the kitchen team, and they will be very grateful to hear it. We hope the rest of your time in McLaren Vale was just as special.
Gratefully,
The Maxwell Restaurant Team
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glentro
12 Dec 2025
Maxwell is honestly my favourite restaurant to visit in Adelaide! I’ve dined here twice with different seasonal menus and both were outstanding. The interior ambience is phenomenal and views of the vineyard is gorgeous. It definitely puts you in a good mood! The food is delicious and the plating is also so pretty. I always recommend my friends and family to visit if they do travel to Adelaide. I will definitely come back again soon!
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Jemima
07 Dec 2025
Visited Maxwells with 3 friends for a Birthday celebration. An exceptional meal of breathtaking technical skill. Every plate a masterpiece with flawless execution, and stunning presentation. Pure culinary art in a vineyard setting. Thanks to Bruno for looking after us so well and the rest of the team. Fabian and his team never fail to execute perfection. Unforgettable experience and definitely rates 10/10.
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Susan
02 Dec 2025
What a sensational culinary experience to say the very least!
Maxwell hosted my birthday lunch for a small group of girls and we were delighted by absolutely everything! From the stunning setting and views, fantastic wines, lovley attentive staff- all the way through to every bite that was exquisitely created on the menu by the chefs. We did the 10 courses and each course took our palettes on a journey - not to mention the presentation was beautiful, so creative! Could not fault it, we loved every moment. We definitely left with full hearts and full bellies!
Thank you so much to Maxwell and the team for making it such a memorable experience. 🙏
Maxwell hosted my birthday lunch for a small group of girls and we were delighted by absolutely everything! From the stunning setting and views, fantastic wines, lovley attentive staff- all the way through to every bite that was exquisitely created on the menu by the chefs. We did the 10 courses and each course took our palettes on a journey - not to mention the presentation was beautiful, so creative! Could not fault it, we loved every moment. We definitely left with full hearts and full bellies!
Thank you so much to Maxwell and the team for making it such a memorable experience. 🙏
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Diana
25 Nov 2025
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Footprints783069
09 Nov 2025
This place is an absolute must if you love your food and wine. The menu is planned to perfection with great thought put into the wines that are paired with the food. We were lucky enough to have the spring menu on its first release date. The edible oyster is unreal and the 4 years the chef spent working on it very much worth it. Incredible.
It was also really comforting service by Bruno and Lily. The small little details meant a lot to us. For example they had a special menu card to congratulate us as we were on our honeymoon. They spent the time to explain each meal and were very attentive to our needs. The service at this place is what takes it to another level.
It was also really comforting service by Bruno and Lily. The small little details meant a lot to us. For example they had a special menu card to congratulate us as we were on our honeymoon. They spent the time to explain each meal and were very attentive to our needs. The service at this place is what takes it to another level.
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Mason
02 Nov 2025
It was a mixed feelings experience. The food is well crafted and fancy but we found that 5 out of ten dishes were way too salty, which is not acceptable for a fine dining place. It was quite pricey for not being excellent. The wines are amazing, the staff and service very nice and friendly, the facilities and view are superb but the food (the main reason we went there) was not up to expectations. I’m sad to leave this review but I have to be honest. The food looks amazing and is well crafted (look at the pictures) it’s just so salty it was a let down.
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Nacho
25 Oct 2025
An absolutely superb experience with Bruno, Millie and Lily and the whole kitchen and back of house team. Unbelievable, surprising and sublime, a whole day to remember and savour the memories. .. food was beyond clever, it was art, and yet not pretentious - an extremely difficult combination to pull off. Service impeccable, company brilliant and transport with @amqtours meant no worrying about the superbly matched wines. Hope to do this again one day !
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Alison
23 Oct 2025
After a busy morning around the Vale we decided on Maxwell Wines cellar door for a bite to eat and what a delight. The wine was sensational, well priced and tasty but the real stand out were the snacks. You'd be hard pushed to find anything better than this in a capital city fine dining restaurant. We went with the 'matching snack plate' for $20 a head and truly a gourmet wonder. The Chicken tart was out of this world and I would go back specifically for this alone. Heidi was informative and the whole atmosphere embraced. If only I had a special occasion coming up I would hire the cave and eat and drink and eat and drink 😁
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Ashley
21 Oct 2025
Incredible experience from start to finish, our family celebration of combined birthdays were the perfect catalyst and our decision to dine at Maxwell meant it was not just a good time but exemplary.
We thoroughly enjoyed every delicious moment and can't speak highly enough of the experience.
Our heartfelt thanks to the entire team with special mention to Milli, Lily and Bruno - thank you for the love and care shown to us.
To the kitchen brigade - honestly just WOW what a gastronomic adventure you took us on!
So talented and so delicious 😋 - thank you for all your hard work creating such spectacular dishes.
We thoroughly enjoyed every delicious moment and can't speak highly enough of the experience.
Our heartfelt thanks to the entire team with special mention to Milli, Lily and Bruno - thank you for the love and care shown to us.
To the kitchen brigade - honestly just WOW what a gastronomic adventure you took us on!
So talented and so delicious 😋 - thank you for all your hard work creating such spectacular dishes.
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Andrew
19 Oct 2025
We’d booked a wine tasting for Daz with a ‘non tasting’ seat (love that the website has this set up) plus snacks for 2.
On arrival, greeted by a friend, David formerly of shingleback wines. Good to see a very friendly face and catchup.
Daz had the Premium wine tasting and enjoyed the variations. We also had the pleasure of being assisted by Mark who tempted Tess into some mead tasting and also a really amazing Port (yes the really old port that is like syrup and so smooth to taste.
The snacks, David convinced us to add an extra to our 3 snacks that were pre-purchased.
We started with-
Croustade, kingfish, sesame, radish, apple
Very fresh and light. Not at all fishy and the fish was cut into lovely size pieces, very clean flavours. The Croustade was very crisp and not at all oily. The filling was moist and had a good texture. Lovely to eat.
Duck, Jerusalem artichoke, garlic
It tasted like the Jerusalem artichoke was in the base tart shell, duck liver parfait, great flavour. Again the base wasn’t oily at all and very thin and crispy but not fragile which was lovely. We think the rounds on the top were Jerusalem artichoke as well, really lovely bite.
Crispy chicken skin tart, smoked chicken, crispy leek
This was the star of the show, an amazing crispy, salty tart shell of chicken skin, crispy and delicate but not fragile. The chicken smoking was minimal so didn’t take over the flavours of the skin and leek added a mild crunch. Stunning
Our extra
Fried potato terrine, spring onion, garlic and we added the wagyu tartare
Layers of potato, slightly crispy on the outside, lovely and soft through the middle. The balance of seasoning through the dish was great, the tartare very moist and well-seasoned but not fatty. The fried leek on top added a lovely crispy element and we enjoyed the green puree, good texture as it was nice and thick and easy to dunk into.
We were very very happy with the snacks, overall service and quality of the wines and produce.
Maybe it’s time to return to Maxell’s for a lunch in the new year based on these. Highly recommend.
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Tess
18 Oct 2025
We choose the long menu option which was perfect for a cold wet afternoon sharing with good friends. The sommelier helped us choose a perfect wine which matched most dishes. Every dish was an experience to remember. While reasonably expensive, the experience is worth it for a special Occassion.
We left here happy and satisfied. Well done Maxwell Restaurant.
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Maxwell Restaurant, Other at Maxwell Restaurant, responded to this review - 2025-10-15
Dear digard7,
Thank you for such a generous review. It is wonderful to hear the afternoon with friends found its rhythm with the long menu and a well chosen bottle. Your kind note about the team means a great deal to us, and we are glad the experience felt worthy of a special occasion.
I'll see you tomorrow!
Gratefully,
The Maxwell Restaurant Team
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digard7
05 Oct 2025
We were so wowed with the food (some of it was very Heston Blumenthal-esque). the love and flavours from all the courses was mind-blowing. Enjoyed every morsel, and they even bundled some of our leftover bread so we could enjoy it for breakfast. 5 star service, a very special experience.
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Maxwell Restaurant, Other at Maxwell Restaurant, responded to this review - 2025-10-15
Dear HighHorse,
Thank you for the generous review and for following the Charles Melton tip our way (we're grateful to them too). You did the right thing when decided to go with the full menu and pairings, and we're glad that the playful touches and flavours made such an impact. Your kind words about the service mean a lot to the team, and we are so happy to know that the bread made for a good breakfast encore, it is a good one!
Gratefully,
The Maxwell Restaurant Team
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HighHorse
04 Oct 2025
Service was impeccable as well: In the restaurant, Bruno and Lily were both extremely attentive, and Bruno kept us laughing throughout the afternoon. Beyond that, the entire staff truly made the place come alive. It was immediately noticeable—everyone was cheerful, attentive, and genuinely seemed to enjoy their work. There is a real difference between simply doing a job and taking joy in it, and that rare energy made the experience all the more memorable.
Overall, Maxwell’s delivered an extraordinary culinary journey, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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RushT2023
22 Sep 2025
We celebrated a birthday with dinner and the experience was fantastic.
The dining room felt modern and relaxed, open but intimate.
We did the long tasting menu and the food was absolutely brilliant. Each course was perfectly balanced, a cacophony of flavours working in sync.
The drinks pairing was incredible value and we were well-hydrated throughout.
The staff, particularly Bruno, were attentive, helpful, and made the whole experience thoroughly enjoyable.
The perfect spot for a special occasion.
The dining room felt modern and relaxed, open but intimate.
We did the long tasting menu and the food was absolutely brilliant. Each course was perfectly balanced, a cacophony of flavours working in sync.
The drinks pairing was incredible value and we were well-hydrated throughout.
The staff, particularly Bruno, were attentive, helpful, and made the whole experience thoroughly enjoyable.
The perfect spot for a special occasion.
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Arthur
08 Sep 2025
This was truly one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. The food was incredible - I had high hopes but I was completely blown away by what the chefs had created. It was not just exceptional food, it was art. The staff were incredibly attentive, and no detail was missed by them - they even realised I was left handed after the first course and adjusted the cutlery for subsequent dishes! It is of course not your cheapest long lunch but I would save my money and go back again without a second thought - well worth it in every way! Thanks so much Bruno and the rest of the team - we absolutely loved it and will be back again!
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Caitlyn
30 Aug 2025
Lovely place to spend a Sunday afternoon with beautiful food and wine. We were celebrating our Uncles Geoff's 94th birthday and the staff were very attentive during our stay. The only thing I can say that would improve the experience is to decrease the time as it got a bit tiring after four hours. Maybe 3hrs would be better!
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Tanya
26 Aug 2025
What a stunning place. We came specially for the food but what made the place for the people. The service, the knowledge of the Incredibles skill and craftsmanship that went into every dish and every glass. Thank you for making my birthday so memorable
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manisha
23 Aug 2025
We had Sunday lunch at Maxwell’s to celebrate a birthday. Arriving twenty minutes early, we were warmly welcomed in the tasting room by two lovely staff who poured us bubbly, added it to our bill, and said someone from the restaurant would collect us shortly, so far, a seamless and promising start.
Ten minutes past our scheduled sitting, we ventured inside ourselves. We were greeted by a rude man who immediately ushered us back out of the restaurant so he could “go and check” our booking, seemingly unaware we’d been waiting for him. When we showed surprise at his tone and sudden eviction, he snapped, “Relax, I need to check.” The room was almost empty, so the theatrics felt unnecessary and unwelcoming. Throughout the meal he remained knowledgeable, but we didn’t enjoy his ‘humour’.
Once seated, we spotted a custom-printed “Happy Birthday” menu was a lovely touch. We chose the longer degustation and added the optional marron course at $38 per person. Drink-wise we started with refreshing gin cocktails, followed by a bottle of sparkling that arrived disappointingly flat and served in ordinary wine glasses rather than flutes.
There was pleasing theatre in the food: liquid-nitrogen mist under the oyster opener and a fog-filled cloche for the marron. Individual courses were small, but the sheer number meant we left comfortably full, helped by a generous hunk of sourdough served with the wagyu.
When ingredient sources were mentioned there were a few from Western Australia. While we appreciate Australian produce, dining in McLaren Vale we expected more South Australian provenance; one server couldn’t confirm where the wagyu came from (only that it wasn’t Mayura Station).
The cooking itself was strong: several dishes deserved a 10/10, while our least favourites, the mussel and spaetzle courses landed closer to 7/10. A few listed ingredients never really surfaced in flavour, and the umami punch felt heavy, almost MSG-like, leaving us both very thirsty and with mild headaches by the end. A surprise citrus-cream “taco” dessert ended things on a bright note.
Pacing was sluggish, and slow to start. Lunch stretched to four hours yet could easily have wrapped in two-and-a-half or less with tighter service. When we finally asked for the bill, it failed to arrive after fifteen minutes, so we returned to the tasting room to pay, only to be charged for the wrong table, leaving us $700 out of pocket until the refund cleared two days later.
Overall, the food and a few thoughtful touches partly redeemed the experience, but the rude initial reception, slow pacing, and billing mishap were hard to ignore, especially at this price point. We’re glad we tried Maxwell’s, yet for the next special occasion we’ll look elsewhere.
Ten minutes past our scheduled sitting, we ventured inside ourselves. We were greeted by a rude man who immediately ushered us back out of the restaurant so he could “go and check” our booking, seemingly unaware we’d been waiting for him. When we showed surprise at his tone and sudden eviction, he snapped, “Relax, I need to check.” The room was almost empty, so the theatrics felt unnecessary and unwelcoming. Throughout the meal he remained knowledgeable, but we didn’t enjoy his ‘humour’.
Once seated, we spotted a custom-printed “Happy Birthday” menu was a lovely touch. We chose the longer degustation and added the optional marron course at $38 per person. Drink-wise we started with refreshing gin cocktails, followed by a bottle of sparkling that arrived disappointingly flat and served in ordinary wine glasses rather than flutes.
There was pleasing theatre in the food: liquid-nitrogen mist under the oyster opener and a fog-filled cloche for the marron. Individual courses were small, but the sheer number meant we left comfortably full, helped by a generous hunk of sourdough served with the wagyu.
When ingredient sources were mentioned there were a few from Western Australia. While we appreciate Australian produce, dining in McLaren Vale we expected more South Australian provenance; one server couldn’t confirm where the wagyu came from (only that it wasn’t Mayura Station).
The cooking itself was strong: several dishes deserved a 10/10, while our least favourites, the mussel and spaetzle courses landed closer to 7/10. A few listed ingredients never really surfaced in flavour, and the umami punch felt heavy, almost MSG-like, leaving us both very thirsty and with mild headaches by the end. A surprise citrus-cream “taco” dessert ended things on a bright note.
Pacing was sluggish, and slow to start. Lunch stretched to four hours yet could easily have wrapped in two-and-a-half or less with tighter service. When we finally asked for the bill, it failed to arrive after fifteen minutes, so we returned to the tasting room to pay, only to be charged for the wrong table, leaving us $700 out of pocket until the refund cleared two days later.
Overall, the food and a few thoughtful touches partly redeemed the experience, but the rude initial reception, slow pacing, and billing mishap were hard to ignore, especially at this price point. We’re glad we tried Maxwell’s, yet for the next special occasion we’ll look elsewhere.
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J
04 Aug 2025
Every course at lunch was exceptional, perfectly paired with beautiful wines, and the service couldn’t have been better—warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more memorable experience, and the same sentiment was echoed by all four of us. Just be sure to allow plenty of time—this is not something you’ll want to rush!
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HelAus
03 Aug 2025
When there is so much hype about a restaurant, there is always that worry it may not measure up BUT wine tasting and lunch at Maxwell Wines was an amazing experience ❤️
Great food, great wine, great service, catering seamlessly for dietary requirements and requests. We wined, dined, chatted and laughed over a 4 hour period and enjoyed every moment of it.
Great food, great wine, great service, catering seamlessly for dietary requirements and requests. We wined, dined, chatted and laughed over a 4 hour period and enjoyed every moment of it.
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Jane
20 Jul 2025
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Cathy
09 Jul 2025
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Kim
03 Jul 2025
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briansmckenny
10 Jun 2025
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Lesley
07 Jun 2025
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694neil
29 May 2025
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Maxwell Restaurant, Other at Maxwell Restaurant, responded to this review - 2025-05-21
Thank you Sam, we're also in love!
We are so happy to hear that your long lunch with us was such a special experience.
It means the world to us that you felt well looked after, especially with the dietary needs. Our team takes great pride in making sure every guest feels cared for and relaxed, just like you’re at a friend’s home: hospitality!
We absolutely loved having you and cannot wait to welcome you back for more great food, good vibes and a few more glasses of wine to celebrate after September! We all wish you both the best of luck!
Warmest regards,
The Maxwell Team
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Sam
18 May 2025
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Maxwell Restaurant, Other at Maxwell Restaurant, responded to this review - 2025-05-13
Thank you so much for your beautiful review.
We’re so glad to hear you had such a memorable Mother’s Day and birthday celebration with us. What a thoughtful gift from your daughter, clearly a reflection of the wonderful job you’ve done as a mum, raising someone who knows how to celebrate you so thoughtfully.
It was our absolute pleasure to look after you both!
Warmest regards,
The Maxwell Team
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kglets
11 May 2025
Regarding the food OMG! The first four of the samll menu was my favorite's! But every course was spectacular. Will be back!
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Maxwell Restaurant, Other at Maxwell Restaurant, responded to this review - 2025-05-13
Wow—thank you so much for your incredible review Karl! Was great seeing you and family again.
We’re absolutely thrilled to hear you felt the passion coming from both our kitchen and our service team.
We’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to the entire team—they love hearing that their care and craft made your lunch so memorable.
We can’t wait to welcome you back again soon for more unforgettable moments in McLaren Vale.
Warmest regards,
The Maxwell Team
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Karl
11 May 2025
Everything was exceptional. We thoroughly enjoyed the flavours, experience and creativity showcased by the magical kitchen staff.
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Maxwell Restaurant, Other at Maxwell Restaurant, responded to this review - 2025-05-07
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We're delighted to hear that you and your partner enjoyed the long lunch menu and that our kitchen team's creativity resonated with you. It means the world to us when guests appreciate the care and passion we put into every dish.
We look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable experience.
Warm regards,
The Maxwell Wines Team
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sabinepO8658MM
04 May 2025
We were lucky to get the chance to have lunch at Maxwell's with the family and went for the 10 course menu (+ supplement course). Arriving here with high expectations due to the rewards that the restaurant won and some friend's recommendation, it was certainly not the easiest position the team of the restaurant was in.
From the booking until the last petits fours, the experience was good.
We first booked for 2 pax, then extended to 6 pax, and needed to change to 5 pax one day in advance due to some illness. Despite the late notice and frequent changes, it was not a problem at all, which I really appreciate. Thanks again for your understanding!
The lunch itself is in a slow pace, which is stated on the website. However, it was almost 5h that it took for the menu, not 3-4 h, so at some point it became a bit tiring. This slow pace affected the service (we were seated not earlier than 10 min after arrival) and the food itself. Especially the first few bites could come out of the kitchen a little bit faster – if someone is taking 11 courses, you could assume they are looking forward to the food. :)
The menu itself is very innovative, well prepared and beautifully plated. The team uses state-of-the-art techniques to create a menu with many surprises, both visually and regarding the taste. The ingredients are of a high quality and one can tell, they love their espuma and caviar. Talking about espuma, there was unfortunately one dish (a mud crab with a melon foam) where the consistency of the foam was not really pleasant. Instead of supporting the taste of the high quality ingreadients, as the lovely and delicious crab, the unpleasant foam was too overwhelming, which was quite a shame. Despite this little flaw, the other dishes were great. Certainly, not everyone liked every dish, but that was more to the individual taste and not the fault of the restaurant.
Coming back to the front-of-house team, we experienced an attentive, smooth service. They were not necessarily talkative or interacting, but behaved professional. However, I was a bit confused that at some point, when I went to the bathroom, my glass was taken away, with a little bit of my drink left, and no one ever offered me any further drink. Since I am currently not drinking heaps of alcohol, I started with a non-alc drink, but neither I was offered to participate in the shared bottle of wine, nor I was asked if I wanted anything else. That was a bit confusing, and I was asking myself whether a winery does not necessarily want to sell their wines or other drinks during a meal? Especially compared to other restaurants in this segment, that is not what I am used to.
All in all, it was a descent experience, certainly with some positive surprises, but with room for improvement for a fully satisfying customer experience.
From the booking until the last petits fours, the experience was good.
We first booked for 2 pax, then extended to 6 pax, and needed to change to 5 pax one day in advance due to some illness. Despite the late notice and frequent changes, it was not a problem at all, which I really appreciate. Thanks again for your understanding!
The lunch itself is in a slow pace, which is stated on the website. However, it was almost 5h that it took for the menu, not 3-4 h, so at some point it became a bit tiring. This slow pace affected the service (we were seated not earlier than 10 min after arrival) and the food itself. Especially the first few bites could come out of the kitchen a little bit faster – if someone is taking 11 courses, you could assume they are looking forward to the food. :)
The menu itself is very innovative, well prepared and beautifully plated. The team uses state-of-the-art techniques to create a menu with many surprises, both visually and regarding the taste. The ingredients are of a high quality and one can tell, they love their espuma and caviar. Talking about espuma, there was unfortunately one dish (a mud crab with a melon foam) where the consistency of the foam was not really pleasant. Instead of supporting the taste of the high quality ingreadients, as the lovely and delicious crab, the unpleasant foam was too overwhelming, which was quite a shame. Despite this little flaw, the other dishes were great. Certainly, not everyone liked every dish, but that was more to the individual taste and not the fault of the restaurant.
Coming back to the front-of-house team, we experienced an attentive, smooth service. They were not necessarily talkative or interacting, but behaved professional. However, I was a bit confused that at some point, when I went to the bathroom, my glass was taken away, with a little bit of my drink left, and no one ever offered me any further drink. Since I am currently not drinking heaps of alcohol, I started with a non-alc drink, but neither I was offered to participate in the shared bottle of wine, nor I was asked if I wanted anything else. That was a bit confusing, and I was asking myself whether a winery does not necessarily want to sell their wines or other drinks during a meal? Especially compared to other restaurants in this segment, that is not what I am used to.
All in all, it was a descent experience, certainly with some positive surprises, but with room for improvement for a fully satisfying customer experience.
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M
02 Mar 2025
Then on the long lunch where every delicious course was paired with the perfect wine or mead served by friendly and welcoming staff in a gorgeous setting.
Would recommend this experience to anyone looking to treat themselves in McLaren Vale.
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calpy2017
10 Feb 2025
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christinajm2025
21 Jan 2025
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dfindlay2025
21 Jan 2025
Absolutely fantastic!
Came here for lunch, had the degustation with tasting plus the marron (highly recommended - my favourite dish).
Top shelf venue, service, food and experience. Was sorry when it was over (3-hours later lol).
If you are in the area and looking for something very special, grab an uber or DD and put Maxwell on top of your priority list.
Came here for lunch, had the degustation with tasting plus the marron (highly recommended - my favourite dish).
Top shelf venue, service, food and experience. Was sorry when it was over (3-hours later lol).
If you are in the area and looking for something very special, grab an uber or DD and put Maxwell on top of your priority list.
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Garry
04 Jan 2025
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Sandra
03 Dec 2024
Summer lunch at Maxwell’s restaurant, McLaren vale. Beautiful ambience, impeccable service. 10 courses with wine pairing if you chose. From scallop - to - beef- to white chocolate, broth - to salmon - to lemon sorbet (not in this order) Yum and spread out over 4 hours. Just the way to spend a nice occasion, 18th birthday with the family. Memorable.
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Anita
29 Nov 2024
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Greg
22 Nov 2024
Exceptional experience. No words can describe the journey that chef takes you on with 10 course dinner impeccably paired with gorgeous Maxwells wines . We’ve had a joined birthday celebration with our friends ( one of which is the chef that owned 2 restaurants and been here before ) , so pressure was on for both himself , as bringing us here and the restaurant itself to provide great experience for returning customer , which they absolutely nailed.
Food , wine , presentation , service everything was just perfect. My taste buds were dancing all night capturing the essence of culinary perfection . We were first to come and last to leave and Imogen made sure we are well looked after since our first step in to our last step out . I wish all the very best success to Maxwells and the team and we will definitely be back .
Food , wine , presentation , service everything was just perfect. My taste buds were dancing all night capturing the essence of culinary perfection . We were first to come and last to leave and Imogen made sure we are well looked after since our first step in to our last step out . I wish all the very best success to Maxwells and the team and we will definitely be back .
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Elen
17 Nov 2024
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NGGeorgia
17 Nov 2024
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Michelle
15 Nov 2024
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Kerin
09 Nov 2024
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Katerina
09 Nov 2024
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Allan
03 Nov 2024
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Philip
02 Nov 2024
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Ross
26 Oct 2024
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Grrard
25 Oct 2024
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pbuzza
22 Oct 2024
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Frank
14 Oct 2024
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nathanhartman24
08 Oct 2024
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Shelley
05 Oct 2024
We visited here for my 65th birthday ... it was an experience we wont easily forget. My partner cant eat shellfish or meat, so, with advance notice, the chefs were able to adjust the 10 course degustation accordingly. And my partner commented that unlike on other occasions where she's asked for her needs to be catered for, where as a result she felt her meal was like an afterthought, she felt her meal was just as good as was mine.
I had the "standard" degustation which was fabulous & you can see in one of the images they substituted trout (I think) with beetroot ... and it did look just as good if not better & it was delicious according to her.
And the service was impeccable ... and I will note that we were very impressed that the servers were able to describe not only my dish but also the alternate dish in enormous detail ... well done people!
I had the "standard" degustation which was fabulous & you can see in one of the images they substituted trout (I think) with beetroot ... and it did look just as good if not better & it was delicious according to her.
And the service was impeccable ... and I will note that we were very impressed that the servers were able to describe not only my dish but also the alternate dish in enormous detail ... well done people!
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Simon
30 Sep 2024
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Sam
28 Sep 2024






































