A Wine Lovers Guide to the Barossa Valley
A World Renowned Wine Region, the Barossa is Shiraz Lovers Paradise
May 4, 2009
Like France’s Bordeaux region, the area around the Barossa is sparsely populated, with small towns and communities, but unlike Bordeaux, the Barossa is very accessible to International tourists.
Barossa Valley - Champions of Shiraz
The Barossa Valley owes it’s notoriety to the big red Shiraz grape. Of the warm climate variety, the Shiraz grape finds perfect growing conditions in the Barossa, which is hot in summer and mild in winter, and allows for the creation of a juicy, full-bodied wine style. The Shiraz (also known as Syrah) is characteristic of dark berry flavours, especially blackberry, along with flavours of chocolate, cinnamon and black pepper.
The Wineries
Australia’s three most internationally know wine brands have their cellar doors located in the Barossa. They are:
- Jacobs Creek at Orlando Wineries - The ‘Eiffel Tower ‘of Australian wineries. A must visit.
- Wolf Blass – Makers of easy drinking red range ‘Eaglehawk’.
- Penfolds – Makers of Australia’s most prestigious wine ‘The Grange’, and probably Australia’s most highly respected wine maker.
There are dozens of other wineries in the region of high quality and reputation in Australia and internationally, including the following top picks:
- Henschke – Makers of one of Australia’s most respected reds ‘Hill of Grace’. Their wines are expensive, but of very high quality.
- Grant Burge
- Yalumba
- Peter Lehmann
- Charles Melton
- Elderton
- Seppelt
- Rockford
- St Hallet
- Schild Estate
- Chateau Yaldara
Barossa Valley Tours
There are a range of tours around the Barossa Valley for varying budgets, some of which tend to run out of Adelaide as day trips. It’s ideal to pre book your tour, as some go from Adelaide, others start in the Barossa itself. Check the South Australian tourism website Baorssa tours to start your tour search.
Accommodation in Barossa Valley
There’s a good range of accommodation in the region, with a slant towards Bed and Breakfasts, small resorts and country motels. The best towns to use as a base are Tanunda and Nuriootpa, although there are a number of places nestled away, for a more secluded option. Check out the South Australian tourism webiste Barossa accommodation section for more details.
Getting There
The Barossa Valley is very accessible from the city of Adelaide, only an hour’s drive north of the city. Adelaide has a major International airport with multiple care hire options for a range of budgets, and with Sat Nav’s becoming standard in hire cars, finding the way is easy. In fact, the Barossa is probably Australia’s most accessible wine region for international tourists. There is a bus services that runs twice a day from Adelaide, for budget travellers.
Getting Around
Driving is the best option, though with the drinking of wine as your main purpose, you’ll have to watch your levels. A good alternative is either a tour, or hiring bicycles. Public transport is a little scarce in the area and tends to mainly accommodate locals, not tourists. The biggest advantage of car hire is hte ability to reach the more unique wineries in the region.
Things to Do in the Barossa
- Balloon rides over the valley are very popular. They’re pricey but the views are sensational.
- The Whispering Wall in Williamstown is an elliptically-shaped retaining wall at the Barossa Reservoir. People at one end speak, and people standing at the other end 140 metres away can hear quite clearly.
- The southern hemisphere’s biggest bike race, the Tour Down Under, is held every summer and a good section of the route goes through the Barossa.
- There are a number of other major wine regions within driving distance of Adelaide and the Barossa; the Clare Valley, McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. For more information about wine regions around the area visit this Adelaide Wine Guide.
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