The Adelaide Hills has 57363957* wineries to choose from, so it’s super important for a cellar door to have a point of difference. Well, Sidewood at Maximilians has so many points of difference we’ve dedicated a whole article to them!
Everyone in Adelaide seems to have a memory from this gorgeous estate, whether it’s napping under their parents chair in the Maximilian’s restaurant 20 years ago or wobbling down the driveway after an afternoon of wine and sunshine outside the Sidewood Cellar Door.
If you haven’t visited for a while then it’s definitely time to plan your next trip – there is so much history combined with food, wine and new experiences that will make you fall in love with this stunning place all over again, just like we did.
Sidewood Cellar Door
The cellar door is idyllic at any time of the year, with an outdoor balcony overlooking the lake to enjoy those long Summer days, as well as a toasty fireplace inside to warm your toes during the frosty Winter afternoons.
Sidewood’s ethos is about focussing on producing quality award winning wines and ciders which is why the range Sidewood has to offer is incredible, with their Sauvignon Blanc earning the title of “Most Awarded Sauv Blanc in Australia” over the past two vintages. The bottle certainly has an impressive number of Trophies and Gold stickers which screams WINNER WINNER to us!
It’s not all about the wine though, so if a smooth glass of red isn’t your drink of choice then you’ll still enjoy the cellar door. Let us throw you a bit of a DID YOU KNOW fact to win you over – Sidewood’s Apple and Pear Cider boast up to 90% less sugar than the market leader so no need to feel guilty while drinking these bad boys. The Pear Cider also won the prestigious title of “Best Pear/ Perry Cider in the world” at the World Cider Awards in London in 2017. BOOM!
Sabrage
You know how we said that cellar doors in the Adelaide Hills need something unique and memorable? Well, here’s a good one!
Sabrage is a ceremony established in the late 1700s by Napoleon’s Cavalry when they used to open Champagne bottles with a sword. Do you feel like being as fancy as Napoleon? Thought so — during peak periods on some Sunday’s, you can book to learn this (not very practical but super fun) skill with a professional. Open a bottle of the Sidewood Isabella Rose sparkling, made like a French Champagne by the traditional method and aged for over three years in Sidewood’s cellars……. with a sword! If Hayley and Lauren can master it, I bet you can too. Just book a group in through Sidewood Estate directly, or through the Haus restaurant in Hahndorf.
Maximilians Restaurant
Delicious. Exciting. Colourful. Vibrant. Experimental. Fresh. Quality. Local.
That’s just a few of the words that spring to mind when a plate of food is placed in front of you at Maximilian’s Restaurant. We were lucky enough to try the pan-fried Snapper (yum), the Kangaroo Carpaccio (delish), and the Tomato Berata (mmmm) and honestly, all of it was amazing. The menu is seasonal and fresh, and is host to a whole lot of local SA produce, which you know we are ALL about. There are plenty of meat options as well as plenty for those vegos out there. And amongst all the fancy dishes (don’t laugh), the homemade bread is quite possibly the best we’ve ever had.
Maximilian’s is perfect for those special occasions, the intimate date nights, the whole fam or just your special someone. And to top it all off, they also do a mean platter that you can order over the bar and enjoy outside.
Weddings and Events
How good are those weddings where you arrive, and then you don’t have to think about transport or anything else for the rest of the day?
That’s why Sidewood at Maximilians is such a dream come true. They have a picturesque ceremony area onsite, as well as a permanent marquee that seats 185 guests with a view over the lake. You don’t have to be getting married to throw a great party though – the caterers are skilled at providing for any event of any size and the best part is that there is accommodation at the Manna in Hahndorf just six minutes away (that you will, of course, get to responsibly in an Uber after a big day of enjoying Sidewood’s wine and cider range).
Golf
And finally, one of our favourite points of difference — the golf. It might sound a little bit random but it is SO much fun! You can buy a bucket of balls at the cellar door and spend the afternoon killing yourself laughing while you try and get a hole in one in the middle of the lake. We don’t want to give too much away, but there might just be a special incentive for those particularly skilled people that actually succeed… just watch out for the local wildlife like resident Emu, Romeo, during your turn!
So there you have it — there are SO many reasons to visit this beautiful, family-owned estate. Whether you’re a foodie, a winey, a golfer, a try-hard Napoleon, a party person, or anyone in between, we know you’ll fall in love with Sidewood at Maximilian’s all over again.
Millie xx
* Please note: may not be an accurate number
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