Blewitt Springs: Tintara Ruins, Wine Tastings and Nature

Blewitt Springs offers several points of interest for a stay focused on wine, history and nature. These include the ruins of the former Tintara winery, wine tastings at Ox Hardy Wines by prior appointment, and the Woodstock Wildlife Sanctuary.

Tintara: History in the Remains of Its Structures

The ruins of the former Tintara winery are classified as a Local Heritage Place. The site was built into a hillside; surviving features include several slate storage tanks, a round brick domed tank, two elliptical stone tanks, and remnants of walls and foundations. The contrast between the round and elliptical tank shapes gives the remains a clear architectural variety; slate, brick and stone also differ as materials used. This means the historical story extends beyond the site’s former use as a winery to the specific features of its structures. For travelers interested in the history of winegrowing, the combination of the hillside location, different architectural forms and local heritage is a defining highlight. The specialist terms distinguish between two aspects: “elliptical” and “dome” describe the shapes of the tanks; “wall remnants” and “foundations” refer to surviving structural elements. An ellipse is elongated and oval, while a dome is curved; a foundation forms the structural base. This makes it possible to identify the individual shapes and structures when reading about the ruins.

Wine Tastings by Appointment

Ox Hardy Wines offers wine tastings in Blewitt Springs by prior appointment, hosted by winemaker Andrew “Ox” Hardy. If you would like to include a tasting in your trip, arrange a time with the provider before your visit. This makes the tasting an activity that can be planned with certainty. Unlike the Tintara ruins, Ox Hardy Wines focuses on a hosted tasting; Tintara is primarily defined by the surviving features of a former winery. Both are connected to wine, but appeal to different interests: a tasting at an agreed time and a historic site for travelers interested in the remains of wineries.

Nature on the Woodstock Estate

The Woodstock Wildlife Sanctuary encompasses three hectares of natural bushland on the Woodstock estate and serves to showcase native Australian animals. This focus differs from winery architecture and wine tasting: here, the emphasis is on bushland and wildlife. For travelers with a particular interest in native Australian animals, it offers a distinct nature experience in Blewitt Springs.

Find Hotels for Your Travel Plans

If a wine tasting is part of your trip, arrange a time with Ox Hardy Wines in advance and include the agreed time in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Hackham, Christies Beach, Moana, Whites Valley, Kangarilla, Old Reynella, Flagstaff Hill, Woodcroft

View the broader travel guide: City of Onkaparinga.