Penwortham

Penwortham is known as the first European settlement in the Clare Valley, established in 1839 by explorer John Horrocks. It is also recognised for its historic stone heritage, including St Mark's Church, and for the scenic vineyard country of the surrounding Skilly Hills.

Penwortham sits in the southern Clare Valley, roughly a 90-minute to two-hour drive north of Adelaide. It lies about 10 kilometres south of Clare and around 14 kilometres north of Auburn along the Horrocks Highway, making it an easy stop on a valley touring loop.

Most visitors come to taste wine, walk or cycle a stretch of the Riesling Trail, and explore the village's heritage. The scenic Skillogalee Valley drive nearby leads to cellar doors such as Skillogalee Wines, Mitchell Wines and Penna Lane Wines, while St Mark's Church, the Horrocks Monument and the Polish Hill River Church Museum offer a quieter, historical side.

Autumn and spring are generally the most pleasant times to visit, with mild weather ideal for cellar door tasting and walking the Riesling Trail. Vintage in late summer and the cooler winter months each have their own appeal, so it is worth checking individual cellar door opening days before you travel.

John Horrocks was a young English pioneer and explorer who founded Penwortham in 1839, naming it after a village in his native Lancashire. He died in 1846 from a shooting accident on an exploring expedition and is buried at St Mark's Church in the village, on land he had donated; a roadside monument also commemorates his life and exploration.