Markets & Artisans
Makers, growers & weekend stalls
The best markets & artisans in Clare Valley
Country markets, farm gates and artisan studios bring the valley's makers together - olive growers, jam and preserve makers, potters, woodworkers and bakers. It's the place to fill a basket with local produce and pick up something handmade to take home.
The Clare Valley's creative and producing community is small but genuine, and seeking it out is a lovely way to meet locals. The monthly Clare Valley Farmers' Market at the Clare Showground is the region's showcase for everything beyond the wine glass - olives, cheese, bread, honey and seasonal produce sold straight from the growers.
Scattered through the valley's towns you'll find galleries, craft makers and independent shops, including beloved bookshops in Auburn where browsing slows the day right down. Many cellar doors double as makers' spaces too, selling local olive oil, preserves and ceramics alongside the wine.
The artisan scene leans into the valley's slow, regional rhythm, so timing matters: the farmers' market runs on set Sundays, and smaller studios may keep weekend or by-appointment hours. It pairs naturally with a day of eating and drinking or exploring the region's heritage towns around Clare.
Browse markets & artisans by area
11 places
Burra Heritage Streetscape
Burra's wonderfully intact main streets of stone shops and cottages.
Burra Regional Art Gallery
A year of exhibitions in the 1860 telegraph office.
Burra's volunteer-run regional gallery mounts a dozen exhibitions a year in the restored 1860 Post and Telegraph Office - the building that flashed news of Stuart's crossing in 1862.
Clare Showground
Clare's events hub and showground, host to the annual show, markets, the Gourmet Weekend hub and community gatherings.
Clare Valley Farmers' Market
A monthly gathering of local growers, bakers and producers at the Clare Showground - the best place to taste the valley beyond the wine.
Clare Valley Olive Co
Estate-pressed extra virgin olive oil from a Clare Valley grove.
Farrell Flat Silo Art
A 30-metre mural of the town's last train.
Painted in 2020 by Adelaide artists Jarrod Soden and Matthew Knights, Farrell Flat's towering silo mural depicts the last train to pass through the township, glowing against a sunset.
Midnight Oil House
The lone farmhouse from the Diesel and Dust cover.
The abandoned stone farmhouse on the cover of Midnight Oil's 1987 album Diesel and Dust stands beside the Barrier Highway just north of Burra - one of Australia's most photographed ruins.
Mostly Books Auburn
A characterful independent bookshop in heritage Auburn, a much-loved browsing stop near the start of the Riesling Trail.
Sussex Squire Wines
Small-batch, dry-grown reds from a fourth-generation farming family.
Mark and Skye Bollen make tiny parcels of dry-grown, single-vineyard Clare Valley reds - shiraz first among them - at their family cellar door on Spring Gully Road.
The Watervale Store
A restored 1870s general store in Watervale combining a cafe, providore and local produce under one roof.
Tim Gramp Wines
Fifth-generation winemaking in the hamlet of Leasingham.
Tim Gramp, a fifth-generation member of one of Australia's great winemaking families, pours trophy-winning Watervale shiraz and riesling at his small cellar door near Leasingham.
Markets & Artisans in Clare Valley - frequently asked questions
What is the Clare Valley known for when it comes to markets and local makers?
Clare Valley is best known as Australia's benchmark Riesling region, but its markets and studios are where you meet the makers behind everything else - olive growers, honey producers, jam and preserve makers, bakers, potters and woodworkers. Filling a basket with local olive oil, bread, cheese and seasonal produce, then picking up something handmade, is a lovely way to get to know the valley beyond the cellar door.
Where are the best markets and artisan spots in the Clare Valley?
The towns each have their own small monthly market, including the Clare Show Market at Ennis Park and the Clare Town Hall and the Auburn Market on Main North Road. For art and craft, the Burra Regional Art Gallery is a highlight, sitting on the Clare Valley Art Trail that runs through the region. Producer stops such as the Clare Valley Olive Co and The Watervale Store let you buy local oil, preserves and provisions straight from the source.
Which days are Clare Valley markets held, and do I need to book?
Most Clare Valley markets are monthly rather than weekly and fall on a set Saturday, so it pays to check dates before you travel - the Clare Show Market runs on the second Saturday of the month and the Auburn Market on the third Saturday, both from around 9am. Markets are casual outdoor events with no booking needed, while artisan studios and farm gates can keep limited hours, so it is worth calling ahead for the smaller makers.
Are Clare Valley markets free to visit and family or dog friendly?
Entry to the country markets is generally free, and they are relaxed, open-air community events that suit families and well-behaved dogs on leads. Many are run by local volunteers and community groups, so your spending goes back into the towns. Bring cash as a backup, since not every small stallholder takes cards.
When is the best time of year to visit the Clare Valley for markets and produce?
The cooler months from autumn through spring are a comfortable time for browsing outdoor stalls, and they line up with seasonal produce like olives and new-season oil, citrus and winter preserves. Each town's market falls on its own weekend of the month, so timing a visit to catch one is worth planning around. Spring and harvest periods also bring extra craft fairs and special events to the valley.