Location: Various locations, Barossa Valley, SA
All the additional frills, trappings and supplementary activities in the Barossa Valley may be enjoyable enough in their own right, however it’s the wineries themselves that remain the undeniable stars of the show and which draw the hundreds of thousands of visitors that flock to the Barossa each year.
The Barossa is densely populated with such establishments both large and small, clocking in at over 150 in total in what is a relatively small and sparsely populated part of South Australia.
Its proximity to SA capital Adelaide helps, too; the region lies only 60 or so kilometres a way, and thus is highly accessible both for travellers and those who have relocated to try their hand at wine production themselves.
While it’s responsible for the production of all the major types of wines – and you’ll find wineries that specialise in different types dotted throughout – the Barossa’s specialty has always been Shiraz; largely a result of the region’s warmer continental climate.
Riesling, Cab Sav, and various others also feature prominently, with some labels ranking alongside the premier in the world, and others remaining delightful, hidden gems you’ll likely want to keep all to yourself.
Being located on the outskirts of the Barossa, food and drink unsurprisingly play a large role in the appeal of any stay here, with all of it beautifully presented and paired well with local wines.
Browsing through the list of Barossa Valley wineries reads like a “who’s who” of Aussie wine labels, and many of the flagship vineyards of each can be found here and come with gorgeous design touches, fully-fledged dining experiences, sprawling vantage points, or some combination thereof.
While it’s impossible to put together an exhaustive list, some of the brands you’re likely most familiar with – and their Barossa-based offerings – include…
Jacob’s Creek: One of Australia’s most recognisable brands spanning over 150 years’ worth of winemaking history, the label has a dedicated Visitor Centre with a wonderfully modern design that stands in contrast to the older of its ilk that has still been maintained. Magnificent grounds, excellent wines and a top-notch restaurant round out the experience here.
Langmeil Winery: Heritage-rich and historic, this critically-acclaimed winey possesses wonderful grounds, lovely architecture (including blacksmith), and staff who are obviously passionate and spare no attention to detail when it comes to all-things-wine. Sparkling shiraz is particularly noteworthy.
Murray Street Vineyards: Gorgeous, charming winery with a more private and intimate setting that feels less commercialised than some other, bigger offerings. Great cheese platters an excellent compliment to quality wines.
Penfolds: A large player that still makes efforts to retain its personalised charm, visitors to their Barossa winery will be able to sample some wine varieties from the label that they likely haven’t encountered in retail stores; great reds are a particular standout here.
Peter Lehmann Wines: A “younger” winery in terms of history yet not lacking a strong presence on the Aussie wine scene, their Barossa offering is housed in a wonderful, grand building that simply screams “wedding venue” and offers quality wines and ports to boot.
Seppeltsfield: Home to our aforementioned Segway tours, the winery and its surrounds are both gorgeous and draped in history, and serve as an attraction in and of themselves in addition to the friendly staff, lovely restaurant, and, of course, wines and ports.
Wolf Blass: A larger winery that is home to another comprehensive visitor centre with plenty to browse and look at, including an extensive array of historic items, awards and wall-to-wall wine bottles that hint at its extensive range.
Add in the potential for discovering the countless smaller boutique brands and their charming and often charismatic owners, and the enjoyment of exploring the Barossa’s wine scene is capped by only two things: time, and the capacity of your wallet.
