Have you ever been winetasting at a cellar door in South Australia? It’s one of the most enjoyable things to do.
Well, this song is a celebration in high spirits with a little bit of New Orleans energy to match the kick in the step and the smile on the face that most of us leave with.
In the last verse, I mention doctors and farmers planted vines over here. While most vignerons and winemakers were farmers, we have a number of doctors who were committed to the art.
- Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold, who planted vines at Magill in 1844 for medicinal wine, founded Penfolds
- Dr Alexander Kelly, who established Tintara (now part of Hardys Wines) in McLaren Vale around 1845 after practicing medicine in Adelaide
- Dr William Thomas Angove, who started vines in the 1880s at Tea Tree Gully while running a medical practice
- Dr Richard Hamilton is sometimes noted as an early doctor-vigneron near Glenelg in the 1830s-1840s, Richard Hamilton Wines, McLaren Vale
Know any more? I’d love to know about them.
Now to some quirky aspects of this song.
I would have LOVED to have mentioned every wine region and sub-region in South Australia, but it would have turned into a shopping list. So, I used the term, from the Vale to the Creek, as my catch-all because other favourite regions like Clare Valley (where this song idea burst into my head) are typically in vales or valleys and typically near some sort of creek.
It was a wonderful experience doing a couple of tastings at Pikes in Clare while recently staying at nearby Burra, that planted this seed because the cellar door host or server who was looking after us, was truly attentive to our interests, needs, and reactions. He tried some different things and conveyed a strong sense of engagement.
Similarly, whenever I have had a chance to sit with Joe Evans at Ballycroft Vineyard & Cellars, I always get the sublime blend of care, interest, passion, and pragmatic fun.
Also at Eight At The Gate Wines at Wrattonbully, I’ve had the pleasure of tasting wine with the family on their property. You don’t get much more joy on your face than at moments like these.
And two men who espouse brilliant perfection in running tastings are John Gledhill from Gledhill Vignerons (whose deep mastery of the chemisty and maturation processes are second to none and easily broken down into approachable terms) and Glenn Malycha from Winepro Australia (whose two decades in hospo makes every minute intensely enjoyable and surprising).
Hence, this song is a celebration of a superb pasttime, of tasting wine where it’s made.
PS Ignore some of the typos in the captions of the video. I might have been enjoying a tipple at the time of editing!
Cellar Door Shuffle Lyrics
[Verse 1]
If the cellar door is open
That’s a very good start
Before a word is spoken
You must practice the art
Don’t look too excited
Don’t make too much noise
Once you know you’ve been sighted
Move with dignified poise
[Chorus]
Do the cellar door shuffle
From the whites to the reds
Or start with some bubbles
If you want them instead
Do the cellar door shuffle
Just one sip at a time
You are not here to guzzle
You are here for the wine
[Verse 2]
From the Hills to Barossa
From the Vale to the Creek
Riverland to Coonawarra
You will find what you seek
But if you feel spoken down to
You are in the wrong place
Wine’s a drink you don’t frown to
Joy should light up your face
[Chorus]
Do the cellar door shuffle
From the whites to the reds
Or start with some bubbles
If you want them instead
Do the cellar door shuffle
Just one sip at a time
You are not here to guzzle
You are here for the wine
[Bridge]
If you’ve never been to this dance
Just Let your server know
Trust them and take a chance
Relax, let the tasting flow
Hold your glass to the light
And with your nose, breathe it in
Take a sip when you’re right
To let the good times begin
[Chorus]
Do the cellar door shuffle
From the whites to the reds
Or start with some bubbles
If you want them instead
Do the cellar door shuffle
Just one sip at a time
You are not here to guzzle
You are here for the wine
[Verse 3]
Doctors and farmers
Planted vines over here
To give socialite charmers
Something other than beer
This South Australian passion
Has put our wines centre stage
Now it’s a world-renowned fashion
To taste our wine where it’s made
[Chorus]
Do the cellar door shuffle
From the whites to the reds
Or start with some bubbles
If you want them instead
Do the cellar door shuffle
Just one sip at a time
You are not here to guzzle
You are here for the wine
Listen To Cellar Door Shuffle
Cellar Door Shuffle Raw Scratchings
Here are my notes from my writing as the song lyrics took shape.
