South Australia

Sequoia

12

It’s an intimate dinner of six guests and the wine director at Sequoia (hotel.qantas.com.au/sequoialodge) has invited Clare Valley winemaker Damon Koerner of Koerner Wine. Twin glasses are poured – a 2021 savagnin and 2021 blanc savagnin chardonnay from Koerner’s Leko label – and guests are asked which they prefer between bites of poulet vin jaune (braised chicken with wine and chanterelle mushrooms). As the story goes, a few people ended up drinking wine in the pool after the last Maker + Somm evening. It’s easy to entertain the possibility. But if you’ve booked an early morning dip in one of the two 38°C artesian-springfed pools to see the sun emerge from the misty Piccadilly Valley, that’s worth skipping a sleep-in for.

Sequoia’s main lodge and 14 Midcentury Modern-style suites are oriented to maximise views from the property’s perch on Mount Lofty – the highest point in the Adelaide Hills – just a 25-minute drive from the Adelaide CBD.

If you don’t pop the bottle of signature estate sparkling as soon as you drop your bags, save it for later – the guest experience hosts coordinate a bespoke itinerary prior to your arrival and a scenic chopper flight above the valley, ranges and neighbouring Cleland National Park awaits, as does a private tour of the region’s best wineries.

Spend a few hours sipping tea (okay, wine) on the balcony or by the fireplace in your suite before wandering next door to three-hatted Hardy’s Verandah for the seven-course dégustation and even more wine (matched to each dish, of course). Then just try to keep your eyes open long enough to count stars through the window above your bed.