Things guests ask
Answers about our cooking classes, venues, accessibility, dietary needs, bookings, and more. If your question is not here, get in touch and we will help directly.
About Fleurieu Food and Wine
Who is Fleurieu Food and Wine?
Fleurieu Food and Wine is an award-winning, family-run mobile cooking school and food tourism business based in Normanville on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. We specialise in hands-on cooking classes and food and wine experiences that feel like a mini holiday, not a classroom.
Many guests find us when they search for the best cooking school in Adelaide or foodie day trips from Adelaide.
Where is Fleurieu Food and Wine located?
We are based in Normanville on the Fleurieu Peninsula, around 60 to 90 minutes drive south of the Adelaide CBD. Our classes run at five venues. In Adelaide at Jackson Square. On the Peninsula at Chapel Hill in McLaren Vale, Cut Hill Wall Distillery in Hindmarsh Valley, and Bungala House and Lot 50 in Yankalilla.
What makes Fleurieu Food and Wine different?
Your class is held in historic homes, a distillery, a winery, or a city venue, never just a classroom. Every experience is small group, hands-on, hosted by Jackie and John, and designed so you can easily recreate the recipes when you get home.
Fleurieu Food and Wine is the 2025 South Australian Tourism Awards Gold Winner for Excellence in Food Tourism, and Highly Commended at the 2025 Australian Tourism Awards. We hold Quality Tourism Accreditation and TICSA Sustainable Tourism Accreditation.
Is this the same as a cooking school in Adelaide city?
We host classes at Jackson Square in Adelaide, so yes, we are now a cooking school option in the city. Most of our classes still run on the Fleurieu Peninsula in working venues like cellar doors and distilleries, which is what makes Fleurieu Food and Wine different from a city-only cooking school. You can choose the experience that suits your day.
Who runs Fleurieu Food and Wine?
Fleurieu Food and Wine is owned and operated by Jackie and John Mazzocato. Jackie is the resident foodie, recipe developer and lead teacher. John brings more than forty years of wine industry experience and hosts the wine and spirits side of the classes as well as looking after venues and guest comfort.
Are your classes suitable for beginners?
Yes. Every class is step-by-step and hands-on. Jackie is trained in Adult Education and designs the classes so beginners feel supported and more confident by the end of the session. Confident home cooks still pick up new techniques, flavour ideas and tips for entertaining at home.
What types of cooking classes do you offer?
Our core classes include:
- Pasta Like Nonna Makes and other Italian-inspired classes
- Mozzarella and cheese making masterclasses
- The Sausage Making Masterclass with lunch
- Hibachi steak and meat-focused classes
- Spice and flavour-driven workshops
We also run seasonal events and occasional retreats on the Fleurieu Peninsula, in McLaren Vale, and now in Adelaide at Jackson Square.
What makes your classes hands-on?
Guests roll, knead, stretch, fill, mince and cook their own dishes. You are not just watching a demonstration. Every guest has their own or shared work station and completes each step with support from Jackie, John, and any guest chefs. The goal is that you feel confident to repeat the recipes at home, not that you simply watch someone else cook.
Are the classes suitable for international visitors to South Australia?
Yes. Many of our guests travel from interstate or overseas and build our classes into their South Australian holiday. The mix of cooking, local produce, wine and spirits, and the coastal and countryside setting make it a very personal way to experience the Fleurieu Peninsula and a day trip from Adelaide that feels like more than a standard tour.
What do I wear to a cooking class?
Comfort is key. Please wear enclosed, flat shoes and clothes you are happy to cook in. We recommend avoiding long loose sleeves and dangling jewellery. Aprons are provided for most classes and we will let you know if there is anything special to bring in your pre-event information.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
No special equipment is required. We provide all ingredients, cookware and recipes. Some classes include recipe book to take homes or printed recipes to take home. If you wear glasses for reading, please bring them as you may be looking at printed recipes or labels during the class.
Are your classes suitable for families and children?
Our classes are designed primarily for adults and older teens, due to the use of knives, hot equipment and the style of the experience. We do not run separate school holiday programs or children-only classes at this time and all participants must hold a paid ticket. If you have a mature older teen you would like to attend with you, please contact us to discuss suitability for a specific class.
Classes and experiences
What cooking classes can I do on the Fleurieu Peninsula?
Fleurieu Food and Wine offers hands-on pasta, mozzarella and cheese making, sausage making, spice-focused classes, and hibachi steak masterclasses at venues across the Fleurieu Peninsula and now in Adelaide at Jackson Square. See the current schedule.
What are the best cooking classes near Adelaide?
Many guests tell us Fleurieu Food and Wine is the best cooking class experience near Adelaide because it combines a hands-on class with a scenic coastal or wine region venue and time to explore the Peninsula. We are around 60 to 90 minutes from the Adelaide CBD, and we now also run classes in the city itself at Jackson Square.
Fleurieu Food and Wine is the 2025 SA Tourism Awards Gold Winner for Excellence in Food Tourism and Highly Commended at the 2025 Australian Tourism Awards.
Can I do a cooking class in Adelaide city?
Yes. We host classes at Jackson Square in Adelaide. This is our newest venue and brings Fleurieu Food and Wine classes into the city for the first time. If the Peninsula is too far one weekend, this is where we will meet you instead.
Can I do a cooking class at a winery or cellar door?
Yes. Our Chapel Hill Winery classes in McLaren Vale combine a hands-on class with one of McLaren Vale’s most scenic cellar doors. Many of these classes include a Chapel Hill wine tasting or wine pairing.
Can I do a cooking class at a distillery?
Yes. Cut Hill Wall Distillery in Hindmarsh Valley hosts a number of our classes, often paired with spirits tastings. It is a working distillery on a 40-acre property, which gives the class a rural setting alongside the cooking.
Can I do a class with wine pairings?
Many of our classes include wine tastings or pairings. John brings more than forty years of wine industry experience and curates the wines for each class. Pairings are designed to match the dishes you cook, not just to provide a drink. Each event listing notes whether wine pairings are included or available as an add-on.
Do you teach Italian cooking classes?
Yes. Italian-inspired classes are a big part of Fleurieu Food and Wine. Our Pasta Like Nonna Makes class focuses on hand-shaped pasta, orecchiette, filled ravioli and authentic Northern Italian sauces, drawing on the techniques Jackie learned from her mother-in-law and decades of cooking together. We also weave Italian-style dishes into some of our special events and retreats.
Do you use native Australian ingredients?
Yes. We incorporate native Australian ingredients into a number of our recipes, especially in sausage making, steak masterclasses and some seasonal events. You might see wattleseed, lemon myrtle, saltbush, bush tomato or pepperberry in rubs, marinades, sauces or accompaniments.
Our sister business the Fleurieu coast Experiences offers nature-based 4WD tours that include native food tastings and stories, which complements our cooking school well for visitors who want to explore more of South Australia’s landscapes and flavours.
Can I do a solo cooking class?
Yes. Many of our classes welcome solo bookings, and we have guests who travel solo from Adelaide and interstate to attend. The small group format and shared meals make it a friendly experience whether you arrive alone or with a group.
Are your cooking classes good for couples or date nights?
Yes. Couples are a common booking for us, particularly for the pasta, mozzarella, and hibachi steak classes. The shared cooking and long-table or shared-meal format makes for a relaxed and memorable date experience. Several of our Peninsula venues are also ideal for combining with a weekend away.
Do you do hens day cooking classes?
Yes. Hens groups often book our pasta, mozzarella, sausage or steak classes as a hands-on alternative to traditional activities. We can tailor the format and the wine or spirits component to suit your group. See our private bookings page or get in touch.
Do you run corporate cooking events?
Yes. Corporate team building experiences are a major part of what we do. We design experiences that encourage collaboration, creativity and connection, whether for a relaxed social event, a structured skills session, or a multi-day retreat. We can host at one of our venues or, in some cases, an off-site venue near Adelaide or McLaren Vale. Contact us with your brief for a customised proposal.
Do you run school holiday classes for kids?
No. We do not currently run school holiday programs or children-only classes. Our classes are designed for adults and older teens due to the use of knives, hot equipment, and the style of the experience. If you have a mature older teen who wants to attend with you, contact us to discuss suitability for a specific class.
What is included in each class?
Inclusions vary slightly by class, but typically:
- All ingredients and use of equipment
- Step-by-step tuition from Jackie and the team
- Time to enjoy what you have made or a sample plate
- Recipes or recipe book to take homes to take home
- Coffee, tea, or a small sweet treat in some classes
Some classes also include wine or spirits tastings. Please check the specific class page for full inclusions and timing.
How long does each class go for?
Most of our cooking classes run for around 2.5 to 2.5 hours, with some set up as half-day or longer experiences. Occasional retreats or special events run across multiple days, such as our three-day, two-night immersive retreat in McLaren Vale. Class duration and schedule are listed on each event page so you can choose the best fit for your Adelaide or Fleurieu itinerary.
Can I take home the food I make?
In many classes you will enjoy a portion on the day and take some of your creations home, for example sausages, cheese, or sauces. Where food safety allows, we encourage guests to bring a small cooler bag if they are planning to travel on after class. If a class is designed only for on-site consumption, this will be mentioned in the event details.
Can I buy your cookbooks at a class?
Yes. Our cookbooks are often available to purchase at classes and events, and many guests take a signed copy home as a reminder of their Adelaide or Fleurieu experience. You will also receive recipes from your class so you can recreate what you have learned. Our seven cookbooks are also available on Amazon if you prefer to purchase before or after your visit. See all seven cookbooks.
Which classes include a meal?
Classes such as Pasta Like Nonna Makes, the Hibachi Steak Masterclass, and the Sausage Making Masterclass with lunch usually include a sit-down shared meal or generous tastings. Cheese making classes focus on making products to take home with a lighter on-site tasting. Please check each event listing for the balance between tastings, meals, and take-home components.
Which classes are most popular?
Our most sought-after classes include Pasta Like Nonna Makes, Mozzarella Making, the Sausage Making Masterclass with lunch, and the Hibachi Steak Masterclass. These are also the classes most frequently booked by visitors from Adelaide and interstate, so they can sell out quickly during busy periods and holiday weekends.