Wine and Dine in the Barossa Valley
Barossa Valley Vineyard
Australia’s most famous wine producing area, the Barossa Valley, is also an ideal place for a short holiday or a weekend break for those who enjoy great wine, great food and the great outdoors!
Situated in southern Australia, Barossa Valley, which is also often simply called the Barossa, is just 60km (37.5 miles) north east of Adelaide and easily accessible by car. The journey by car takes about an hour and it’s a lovely ride if you choose the scenic route through the Adelaide Hills then onwards via country roads and quiet towns.
The Barossa is where the majority of Australia’s best known wines are produced – names like Jacob’s Creek, Wolf Blass and Peter Lehman are just some of the famous brands you’ll find here. Wine lovers will of course be in their element in the Barossa as you have the opportunity to trundle from one vineyard (winery) to the next. Most, if not all, are more than happy to show you around and will also offer free tastings. The only thing stopping you will be the thought of having to drive back to your hotel!
If you’re staying in Adelaide, you may actually find it easier to join an organized tour to the Barossa Valley. This way you don’t have to worry about how many wine samples you try! We discovered that there are a number of companies offering Barossa tours, ranging from the more standard coach tour to a luxurious private limousine tour.
Once you’ve visited where the wines are produced, why not have a glass of your favourite with an excellent meal? The German heritage of the Barossa Valley is certainly noticeable when it comes to dining, as many of the restaurants serve traditional German cuisine, though if this isn’t for you there are other cuisines available as well.
For visitors planning to stay in the Barossa for more than a day you’ll find there’s a good selection of other attractions in the area to keep you occupied. What better way to accompany fine wine and dining than with a game of golf?! The Barossa Valley has four 18 hole and two 9 hole golf courses for you to try or if you prefer spectator sports the Barossa has a diverse calendar of events throughout the year – the Pro Cycling Tour Down Under has a stage here.
The Barossa Vintage Festival event which happens yearly in April, also known as “Celebrate the Blend” has been celebrated for more than 60 years by the Barossa community. The iconic festival is about celebrating the grape harvest and although wine is the main focal point, there is so much more to the festival. The Barossa region which has plenty tradition in the arts, from brass bands to world-class theatre and visual arts; thier love of the earth’s produce, from wine, to produce and food; thier strong religious traditions and thier pride in thier unique history, as show cased through ‘Heritage Hotspots’; and the opportunity for each community to show its differences through Town Day events. In essence the Barossa Vintage Festival is a reflection of the strong Barossa community spirit.
If watching the pro cyclists has encouraged you to get on your bike, you can rent one from the Barossa Visitor Information Centre and enjoy a self-guided tour, or even join a guided bicycle tour. Cycling was definitely our favourite way of seeing the area’s beautiful scenery and landscapes! And if you want to see some of this scenery in more detail, there are several recreation parks, forests and trails in the Barossa Valley for you to enjoy, such as the Mount Crawford Forest, the Lavender Federation Trail or the long distance Heysen Trail and Mawson Trail.
There’s certainly plenty of outdoor activities for you to try in the Barossa, and we’re sure you’ll love the mild climate and the great fresh air!
When it comes to Barossa Valley Accommodation, there is no shortage of great places to stay with beautiful bed and breakfast and self-contained cottages scattered all over the valley.
