Ask about Australia’s favourite wine and most people will think of the Barossa Valley. It’s the abundance of cellar doors, breweries, cider houses, cheesemakers, bakers, restaurants and eateries that give the region its well-deserved reputation as a foodies and oenophiles dream. The Barossa is also one of Australia’s most picturesque regions, with plenty of attractions other than food and drink, making it perfect for day trips, road trips and longer stays.
But if you only have a long weekend to spend in the Barossa, here’s how you should spend it.
Friday
Morning: A short one-and-a-half-hour drive from Adelaide and you’ll pull into Barossa Shiraz Estate, where you’ll shack up for the weekend. Your lavishly appointed luxe cottage is private and fully self-contained. Unpack and just try to ignore the views over the vineyards and the Barossa Ranges.
Image source: Barossa Shiraz Estate
Make your way to the Barossa’s most iconic winery – Seppeltsfield – a striking 19th century property featuring iconic architecture, tranquil gardens and stunning vineyard vistas. There’s a lot to see here, and you’ll best cover the whole property on a Segway Sensation tour.
Afternoon: Enjoy an amazing lunch at Fino Seppeltsfield, smack bang in the middle of Seppeltsfield Estate. The contemporary restaurant shares the original 1900s bottling hall with Seppeltsfield’s cellar door and serves regionally-sourced cuisine.
Image source: www.southaustralia.com
After lunch, taste tawny port from the year you were born directly from the barrel, then work-off your long lunch and lovely libations with a stroll down the main street of Tanunda, Angaston or Lyndoch.
In Tanunda, Chef Tuoi Do at FermentAsian creates a myriad of dishes honouring her Northern Vietnamese heritage, using the freshest Barossa produce, much of it grown by Tuoi and her parents. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better place for your day-one dinner.
Image source: FermentAsian
Saturday
Morning: The Barossa Farmers Markets are the perfect place to start your day. Sample fresh local produce and pick up a wheel or two of award-winning cheese from Barossa Valley Cheese Co, then drop into Seppeltsfield Rd Distillers for a cheeky sample glass (or two) of artisan gin.
Image source: www.southaustralia.com
Afternoon: The Maggie Beer Farm Eatery run by her daughter Elli is a modern casual restaurant that’s ideal for lunch. Here, the Beer family’s quintessential South Australian cooking style shines in a range of dishes that will have you wanting to stay all afternoon …
… but you can’t, because then you’ll miss out on some of the Barossa Valley’s finest wineries. Close by are Rockford, Yelland and Papps, Murray Street Vineyard, Artisans of Barossa, Whistler Wines, Two Hands Wines, First Drop Wines or Yalumba. Make sure you take a bottle or two back to sip by your cosy log fire at Barossa Shiraz Estate.
Sunday
Morning: Breakfast at El Estanco Café will set you off on the right foot before visiting the Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre, where you can spend the morning concocting your very own wine blend or taking part in a specialty gourmet cooking class.
Image source: www.southaustralia.com
Afternoon: Now’s the time to stock up on the region’s finest wines before your drive back to Adelaide or home. Head to the favourite wineries you found on the weekend or try a few you didn’t visit the day before. Either way, you’re bound to find at least a few good bottles to take home.
This is just a sample of the itineraries you can create when you plan your own Barossa trip. Head to www.southaustralia.com to find more accommodation, winery and eatery options.
Itinerary supplied by the South Australian Tourism Commission.
Have you recently been to the Barossa? Do you have an itinerary you can recommend to our members?
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