Did you know that the Barossa valley is home to more than 150 wineries? You might not be able to visit them all in a weekend but that shouldn’t stop you seeing as many as you can.
Even if you’re not a big wine drinker, the beauty, tranquillity and delicious local fare make a trip around the Barossa one of the most delightful ways to spend a few days, or longer!
Seppeltsfield
While the Barossa is famed for its full-bodied reds, Seppelstfield Centennial Collection of Tawny offers the chance to taste a port from the year of your birth. Its irreplaceable collection dates back to 1878 and it’s the only winery the world over that releases a single vintage, 100-year-old wine each year.
For $75, you can experience the unbroken linage of this fine Tawny port and imbibe in a glass from the year you were born, married or any other year that’s important to you.
And if you want to make your visit even more memorable, why not relax with lunch or dinner at Fino? Offering the best of the Barossa’s produce, the food is simple and delicious. And if lunch at Fino is a little out of your price range, then grab some homemade bread – which it sells to the public on Fridays – and enjoy a little taste of what’s on offer.
Grant Burge
If Shiraz is your tipple, then head to the Meshach Cellar in Krondorf. Meshach by Grant Burge offers fabulous vintages year after year and tucked away at the top of Krondorf Road, overlooking the vines, is Meshach Cellar. Although used for events and conferences, you can book a tasting – $85 per person – for upwards of two people, which includes a taste of the back vintages of Meshach.
If that’s a bit rich for your budget, then you can enjoy a delicious light lunch in the café at Grant Burge winery – where you can choose your favourite wine to accompany your meal. If you’re not a wine drink (or are the driver for the day), enjoy a cup of tea and cake in the afternoon sun, overlooking the vines.
Hemera Estate
Although the sunny climes of the Barossa are perfect for producing deep, spicy Shiraz, at Hermera it means that the grapes can be harvested earlier, perfect for producing one of its latest offerings, Tempranillo. Situated in Lyndoch, towards the southern end of the valley, Hemera also offers Riesling, Semillon, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Mataro, so it’s a great place to try some of the wines with which you might not be so familiar.
The cellar door is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with a tour at 11.30am.
If you’re planning to visit Hemera Estate, then a night at the nearby Abbotsford Country House will make your trip extra special. This colonial country house consistently sits on Fodor’s Choice list of properties and with only eight suites, it’s ideal for relaxing.
Related articles:
Wining and dining in the Barossa
Australia’s best wineries
