alpha box & dice

From the outside it just looks like a tin shed, but a surprise awaits inside. Full of old stuff, furniture, antiquey knick knacks, pinball machines, old roller skates, armchairs, piano. The wine is interesting but their labels are the best. I buy a bottle just because the label is amazing. Old ceramic bedpans are your spit bucket. Worth a visit just for a look at something different.

I love this place. Possible the only hipster winery in the vale but so cool it transcends the hipsters. the wines are different and great. The setting is funky and original and the staff are delightful.

Did not really plan the visit ! But turned out to be quite nice ! Wine tasting and cheese ... Fun staff and good wine ... Good conversations ! Worth the pit stop ! Go for some fun conversations, lovely rustic outdoor seating and eclectic interiors.

We came here after visiting other cellar and the place is nice, they had live music and we stay on the grass enjoying the sun and some drinks. Nice scenery, expensive sangria.

I honestly thought there wine tasted terrible. Staff were nice ,cellar door was nice but unfortunately didn't waste any moneh on there odd wines ! Sorry but just wasn't nice at all.

Enjoyed wine tasting over the weekend. Our host was fun and entertaining. We (9 of us) would all return again. Thankss :)

The first thing you notice about this place is the odd collection of unusual items all about the tasting room (that's "cellar door" in Australian) including quirky furniture, an old piano and two vintage pinball machines over in the corner. This is a place with personality.Their wines also had lots of personality. In fact the three wines we tasted were all interesting mashups of Spanish, Italian and French varietal - blends that were quite unique and had personality. For example, Blends with Grenache, Shiraz, and Tempranillo, barberra+cab, Viognier+Sauvignon Blanc. All were interesting and quite one of a kind. We've tasted wines in Napa, Sonoma, France and Italy and never come across anything quite like these wines.Interesting blends and a really quirky winery make this a place that deserves a stop on your wine tasting itinerary in McLaren Vale.

Yes, they can only take small groups (no more than 6 - so our group of 10 split up and the other half went across the road to Maxwells) but it made for a great and more intimate atmosphere. The staff there really knew their stuff and they took the time to explain each wine and some of the technical details about why a particular wine tasted a certain way (instead of "with a hint of oak and chocolate" which never makes any sense to me). It's a really quirky and interesting place too (albeit small) including a mirror with a moustache on - just in case you wanted to answer the question "how would I look with a moustache?" I'll certainly be coming back here, loved the wines and atmosphere.

We went with a group of 8 of us which they typically don't cater to. I had called before and they suggested we come early and they would see what they could do. We came in a small bus and we were there before the young gal started work. We parked and we all got out and we're taking pictures and enjoying the sunny morning waiting for her to open ( about 10). She sort of came in on two wheels and was very rude and took our driver aside and gave him flak about being on their property without permission? Like? It sort of set the tone and we were all taken aback by her attitude. The cellar door itself was very cool. Really different and I liked the atmosphere. The wines - quite average. We didn't buy any but it was mainly because of the treatment the driver was given by this young girl. He is a driver for Mclaren vale and said he will never go there again and would not recommend this place. I would however recommend going to this cellar door to see how funky it is and just hope the staff are having a better day.

Too many cellar doors are generic and often this also reflects the wines. Not so Alpha Box and Dice. Wines are labelled with letters that have themes and are generally lesser known varietals and unusual blends. This would most likely test many who are not too adventurous with the types of wines they drink but the wines are well made and seem to work. Most of the staff are enthusiastic and love the wines they are pouring.

We recently tried the wine selection at the cellar door here. As other reviewers have mentioned, the experience is quite quirky, but unfortunately, it came across that the staff were trying overly hard to be different. Although the wines were indeed different, I did not feel that they stood out from some of the other wines available in the region. The staff seemed to disapprove of our lack of enthusiasm for the wine and we subsequently left without buying any which is unusual for us. Quirky is probably right, but not overly exciting or fun.

Really odd and fun place with funky and unusual wines. The staff is very friendly and seems to be knowledgeable. Just wish they served some food as well.

Great wines and very friendly staff. In my top 3 wineries in the region. The wines are all unique in their characteristics. The staff makes you feel welcome and it's just a total experience.

This very well run winery was a pleasure to visit. Completely different varieties to try some you may never have heard of, but do not be put off.

This is a short review. We have visited a number of times most recently in January. They make great wines with some alternative blends. To sum up the cellar door and cellar door staff "Quirky". They have a notch system on their cellar door wall for when visitors mention the place is well ":Quirky"