This year, Watkins Cellar Door is doing Winter Reds differently.
For the first time ever, we’re opening the doors to our wine shed after dark for a completely new Winter Reds Festival event unlike anything we’ve hosted before.
Introducing: After Dark.
Held inside the atmospheric Watkins wine shed at Chandlers Hill, After Dark is a moody, immersive evening designed for people who love great wine, hearty food, live music and relaxed winter energy.
Forget formal dining or rigid seating plans. This is a roaming, social experience where guests can move freely through the space, settle in wherever feels comfortable, and soak up the atmosphere with friends and a glass of wine in hand.
What’s Included
Your $75 ticket includes:
- A glass of Watkins wine on arrival
- Eight substantial roaming canapé dishes by Pillar of Salt Catering
- Live blues music from the Caressa Trio
- Access to the full After Dark experience inside the wine shed
The Menu
Expect rich winter flavours designed to perfectly match Watkins wines, including:
- Asian pork belly on cucumber with kewpie
- Mushroom and thyme arancini with truffle mayo
- Pork and fennel sausage rolls with house chutney
- Italian meatball and French chicken slider bites
- Thai chicken skewers with kaffir lime and mango chilli sauce
- Beef and Watkins Shiraz hotpot with 50:50 mash
- Salt and pepper crispy prawns with chilli mayo
- Dukkha crusted lamb fillet on potato fritter
- Dark chocolate bonbons
Live Blues, Red Wine and Winter Atmosphere
As the Caressa Trio plays live blues throughout the evening, guests can explore the space, gather around barrels and wine tanks, and enjoy a completely different side of Watkins Cellar Door.
The event is intentionally relaxed, warm and atmospheric — the kind of winter night where red wine tastes better, conversations go longer and nobody wants to leave.
A Must-Do Winter Reds Festival Event
If you’re searching for:
- Winter Reds Festival events
- Things to do in Adelaide this winter
- Adelaide Hills wine events
- Live music and wine experiences
- Unique South Australian food and wine events
…After Dark is shaping up to be one of the standout events of Winter Reds Festival 2026.
Event Details
📍 Watkins Cellar Door
59 Grants Gully Road, Chandlers Hill
🎟 Tickets: $75 per person
🍷 Includes wine on arrival, roaming canapés and live music
🧥 Please note: this is a general admission event held inside the wine shed, so we recommend dressing warmly.
Join us this winter and experience Watkins Cellar Door After Dark.