Breweries & Distilleries
Craft beer and small-batch spirits
The best breweries & distilleries in Riverland
From a woolshed-turned-brewery on the river to one of Australia’s oldest distilleries, the Riverland’s drinks scene reaches well beyond the vine.
A district long defined by bulk wine is growing a confident craft scene, and the Riverland's breweries and distilleries are some of its most enjoyable new stops. Small-batch makers are turning the region's citrus, almonds and grain into characterful beers and spirits, usually poured in relaxed, conversational tasting rooms beside the Murray.
Sip whisky and gin at the 23rd Street Distillery in Renmark, housed in a historic former distillery, or settle in for a riverside ale at Wilkadene Woolshed Brewing Co, brewed right on the riverbank upstream.
What ties them together is provenance - produce grown within sight of the still or kettle, and makers happy to talk you through every drop. Combine a brewery or distillery visit with the region's cellar doors for a full picture of how the Riverland likes to drink.
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2 places
23rd Street Distillery
$$Spirits in a historic distillery
An award-winning distillery in a century-old Renmark site, producing gin, whisky, brandy and signature spirits.
Woolshed Brewery (Wilkadene Station)
$$Craft beer in a riverside woolshed
A craft brewery in a converted woolshed on the banks of the Murray upstream of Renmark, with riverside camping.
Breweries & Distilleries in Riverland - frequently asked questions
What is the Riverland known for when it comes to breweries and distilleries?
The Riverland is best known for spirits made from grapes, with Renmark home to St Agnes Distillery - widely recognised as Australia's oldest continually run, family-owned distillery, first distilling in 1911 and famous for its multi-award-winning brandy. Alongside this heritage, a younger craft scene has grown up, with small-batch makers turning the region's citrus, almonds and grain into gins, whiskies and characterful beers. The result is a drinks district that reaches well beyond its long reputation for bulk wine.
Where are the best breweries and distilleries in the Riverland?
Renmark is the natural hub, with the historic St Agnes Distillery for brandy and whisky and the 23rd Street Distillery, set in a restored 1914 red-brick winery building, known for its gin made with local citrus and botanicals. For craft beer, head to the Wilkadene Woolshed Brewing Co at Murtho, the region's independent brewery housed in an 1860s shearing shed on the Murray.
Do I need to book, and are these venues family and dog friendly?
Tasting rooms are generally relaxed and walk-ins are welcome, but guided distillery tours often run to set times or by appointment, so it is worth booking ahead and checking current hours before you travel. The Wilkadene Woolshed Brewery is notably family and dog friendly, with space for kids and well-behaved dogs on a lead. Policies vary between venues, so confirm directly if you are bringing children or pets to a particular cellar door.
When is the best time of year to visit the Riverland's breweries and distilleries?
Autumn and spring are the most comfortable seasons for sitting outside beside the Murray, as Riverland summers can be very hot. Many tasting rooms keep core opening days across the week year-round - the Woolshed Brewery, for example, typically opens Wednesday to Sunday - while some smaller makers open fewer days or seasonally. Always check current opening hours before visiting, as they can change with the season and around public holidays.
Can I really pull up by boat to a Riverland brewery?
Yes - one of the region's signature experiences is mooring a boat right outside the Wilkadene Woolshed Brewery at Murtho, then stepping up into the old shearing shed for a beer overlooking the river. It sits on the Murray north of Renmark and is a popular stop for houseboaters and day boats cruising upstream. This riverside access is part of what makes the Riverland's drinks scene feel so tied to the water.