Bec Hardy Wines — Restaurant in Adelaide

Bec Hardy wines is an established South Australian family winery, located in the heart of Mclaren Vale. The winery offers a rustic and peaceful ambience nestled in and around vineyards. Staff were most helpful in explaining the wine tastings and options. We ordered the tastings from the Lot 94, Bec Hardy and Pertaringa ranges. With each tasting, the staff spoke to various factors of the wine: its history, grape and aging. Each waitress who served us spoke with the same shared interest and passion for the wines and Hardy family history, which further excited me to try the wines. We thoroughly enjoyed the Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc and Rose, to mention a few. After the tastings, our palettes experienced the rich flavours and textures of the Kingfish with coconut and native lime finger; the house-made arancini and the native bush tomato hoummos. Each dish was beautifully presented. As someone who has lived internationally, including in Italy, I was pleasantly surprised with just how delicious the arancini was; honestly, it's the best I have had! Further to the beautiful setting, we appreciated the warmth and kindness of the staff. It was nice to observe their interaction with customers and to hear what they were sharing about the wines. If you are seeking an enriching South Australian family winery experience, I strongly recommend Bec...

The location is excellent, and the prices are reasonable.

The first course was enjoyable— tasty bread paired with well-balanced salted butter. While it wasn’t groundbreaking, it was satisfying (who doesn’t love bread with wine?). The second course, an additional kingfish dish, was a highlight. The natural flavors of the kingfish were beautifully complemented by acidity and the texture of the garnish. The ribs were exceptional, offering a unique and flavorful take on Southeast Asian cuisine—a standout of the evening. The pesto pasta was decent but just didn’t feel like it had its place in the menu. Don’t get me wrong, I love pesto pasta, but not here.

Unfortunately, the pork dish was a significant letdown. The pork was tough, which diminished the intended flavors, and the accompanying salad didn’t work for me—the Dr Pepper-inspired dressing clashed with the freshness of the greens.

The dessert, however, was a delightful surprise and the perfect way to end the meal. Knowing the chef’s reputation, we were excited to visit, and this course delivered a fresh, sophisticated finale that felt like a true degustation experience.

Overall, while two mains fell short, the rest of the meal was enjoyable. With some refinements (the ribs need no changes!).

We look forward to the future...

Disappointing Experience – No Passion, No Information, and Terrible Service

We visited this winery as part of a bus tour and were incredibly disappointed. From the moment we arrived, there was no enthusiasm or effort to share any details about the wines—we were simply told, "This is the red," with no further explanation. There was no passion, no storytelling, and certainly no attempt to engage us in the tasting experience.

What made matters worse was the shocking inefficiency. It took two hours to get through just four tastings, completely throwing off our tour schedule. We raised our concerns three times, yet nothing improved. When we asked to speak with someone more senior, the young staff member dismissed us and claimed she was the most senior person there—clearly just trying to avoid escalating the issue.

After all this, we were told our bill would be comped, yet we still ended up paying a surprisingly high amount. Given the lackluster service and complete disregard for customer experience, it felt like a complete waste of time and money.

There are far better wineries out there—ones that actually care about their guests. I’d strongly recommend...