Maximilians Vineyard Adelaide Hills

Just off of the beaten track (read onkaparinga valley road) what a great place for brunch/lunch, a sneaky few tees of golf (the driving range competition aims at a green in the lake) and some deliciously progressive locally sourced fair. The cellar door was good, with the barman having a vast knowledge of the wines. Wouldn't want to be there on a busy day, and perhaps avoid the entry level line up ID you like your palette unadulterated.

Lovely food and if you're not a steak eater, maybe it's even a four or five star experience. This restaurant revolutionalised Brussel sprouts for me gorgeous but some of our group didn't enjoy receiving steak not as ordered, and then not being heard on the subject. Have the chicken instead it's great. Enjoy some time out on the deck with a nice glass, and if you're a hotshot at golf, have a hit. Maybe you might win the prize and then you can go home and cook your steak the way you like it tomorrow night.

A meandering track leads you through alluring grape vines and what might seem like the scenery from an Austrian family holiday movie to a seemingly quaint cottage style restaurant. This little gem is nestled in a little corner of the Adelaide Hills which takes less time to get to from the CBD than some of the suburbs on the flats. I'd say this has been my favourite spot in the Hills to eat since I was old enough to appreciate its original owners larger than life personality. I've celebrated a few of my birthdays here, as well as other memorable family events like anniversaries..And it is where we have chosen to hold our wedding next year. It is literally like another world inside at Max's. Coupled with the renovations recently completed out the back and the cellar door sporting the delicious sidewood range of wines (and a cider! , this restaurant/venue has it all. During the summer, the outdoor/function area is effortlessly free-flowing, with a cheeky spot of golf for the keen punter to try and win a $2,000 prize (if you can throw a key in a lock from a decent distance that is! The food is sublime and the service is always expert. That's really all that needs to be said...although I will provide an update after we've tied the knot next year! You can come here for a really decadent dinner treat, or a light bite and a bottle of wine, either way you'll be on a winning ticket.

Ok, I have given this place a couple of chances. But, again I am disappointed in the cellar door experience. Not for anything too serious, but just a couple of repetitive problems. What might the problems be? Well, mostly the guests they allow into this place or lack of supervision? This was my third visit to the Cellar Door and third time I have seen a bunch of drunk girls and boys yelling about god knows what and hitting golf balls onto the green in the dam. Just another bucks day. Guys yelling Boys club, boys club and smashing glassware is not my idea of spending a relaxing afternoon at a winery. Isn 't there some other room you can shove these people in so the rest of us can relax? The only reason I persist with Sidewood Wines is that their Shiraz is pretty damn good. It 's well priced and just really tasty. Their tasting room is also worth visiting, it 's comfy and the staff will look after you. Some are a little up tight, but maybe I would be the same if I constantly had bucks parties coming through. The other let down was the food. Not as good as my last visit which was a shame as I had interstate guests. We had the radish salad dish, which was just confusing. Big chunks of radish with a weird sauce? Radishes should be sliced thinly, so as to not overpower the palate. The tasting plate was ok, nothing really stood out. Just some pickled veggies, olives and a couple of dips. No cheese? Why no cheese? Croquettes were ok as well... Did not taste like anything special. In fact, they were a little big so inside they were really pasty. Meh... The best of the bunch was the duck parfait. It was well seasoned, creamy and quite tasty. However, a little on the grainy side. The bread biscuits served with it were a little over toasted though. Oh well... It 's not all bad though. If you manage to score a table inside (which is always well booked in advance) it is really lovely and quiet. I think that most of their other customers know what goes on outside and try to avoid it by going inside. Hmmmm.... after three chances I think I might just stop here to buy a couple of bottles of their Shiraz. I am just not going to bring guests here again in fear of disappointment. The Management staff here need to really consider when they are letting in certain guests. This doesn 't really reflect well on their brand. Let alone, are the drunk bucks really going to be returning customers and buying their wine? Surely not. They are up for a winery tour to get on the ****. p.s. I really want to give this place a higher rating for their Shiraz, but I just can 't bring myself to.