The Barossa Valley is an iconic Australian wine region that is definitely worth a visit. As one of the oldest wine regions in Australia (and with some of the oldest vines in the world), this wine region is rich in history and worth experiencing for this alone. But add in the incredible food, the vast array of wine and the beautiful community, and you get a truly memorable trip for any wine lover. In this Barossa Valley guide, I highlight some of the places we visited on our trip, along with some tips for planning your own.
Barossa Valley guide – a brief history
The Barossa Valley is iconic for a reason. It has a rich vine and wine history dating all the way back to 1842, with some sixth-generation grape-growing families still producing in the valley. Originally it was developed for agriculture after European settlement, and with many Silesian Lutheran emigrants from Prussia moving to the area, there is a distinct German influence. This was largely due to London banker and merchant George Fife Angas bringing them to Australia to escape religious persecution.
Although the Barossa Valley started growing many different agricultural products, including orchards and grains. From the late 1800s to the 1960s and 70s the wines were yet to make their mark on the world stage. There was popularity for fortified wines so this tended to be a focus which is why the Barossa has a lot of Grenache and Shiraz planted today. As Australia’s taste for wine grew, emerging winemakers in the Barossa Valley started to shape the region and build its reputation into what we see today.
Visiting the Barossa you really get a sense of the history with many restored buildings peppering the landscape. Many of the wineries are still owned by the families that started them.
Barossa Valley: not just for jammy shiraz
The Barossa Valley has a bit of a reputation for producing heavy, jammy Shiraz. This is definitely something that is taught widely in WSET, and so you would be forgiven for thinking that this is the only wine that the region produces. However, the Barossa Valley is so much more than a one-wine-wonder. There really is something for everyone from a broad spectrum of wines, from the classic, bold reds to lighter, fruit-driven styles. The Barossa is a warm climate, but winemakers are increasingly moving beyond the jammy styles of red to produce lighter styles.
We were surprised by how few jammy wines we actually found. The wines themselves are far beyond this, with big bold flavours yet a lot of balance, finesse and complexity.
Some of the grape varieties to expect when visiting the Barossa Valley:
- Shiraz
- Grenache
- Mataro
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Semillon
There are also a number of producers growing Mediterannian varieties that winemakers are experimenting with. You can also find a small number of Chardonnays, although these are not as common as Semillon.
From these varieties, you’ll also find a range of single varietal wines as well as interesting blends. There are also plenty of Rosés as well as fortified wines to try.
Know your geography: Barossa Valley and Eden Valley
The Barossa Valley is quite a large region, so it’s good to understand the main sub-regions. Although Eden Valley feels like a bit of a drive away from the main Barossa Valley area, it is definitely worth a trip. It’s also worth noting that within each main region there are also a number of sub-regions as they are so large. So winemakers have a lot to play with when it comes to terroir!
- Barossa Valley: The Barossa Valley subregion is mostly flat, meaning that it is warmer than the Eden Valley. Here you’ll typically find the grapes produce bolder styles of wines. The main area of the Barossa Valley sits in the ‘golden triangle’ between three towns: Angaston, Tanunda and Nuriootpa. Here is where you’ll also find the iconic Seppeltsfield Road.
- Eden Valley: Thanks to sloping mountains and elevation, the Eden Valley is cooler than the Barossa Valley. This means it can produce lighter styles of wines, and more white wine varieties than the Barossa Valley. There is a lot more farmland in this area so you will find the wineries are more spread out than in the Barossa Valley. But the scenery is breathtaking.
Getting to the Barossa Valley
The best way to get to the Barossa Valley is to fly into Adelaide airport. From there it is about an hour’s drive to the valley. We hired a car at the airport and the drive itself was very easy. Whilst you could do a day trip from Adelaide, you’ll get the full experience heading out for a few days. The Barossa is located West of Adelaide so in the opposite direction to McLaren Vale. That’s not to say you couldn’t do both regions in one trip – you would just need more time.
Barossa Valley guide: where to stay
There are plenty of options for accommodation in the Barossa Valley depending on your budget and what sort of experience you want to have. Whilst there are plenty of hotels, we opted for an Airbnb because we wanted to have a kitchen to cook in. We booked the Rusty Olive which was a beautifully renovated cottage in Angaston. The hosts really went above and beyond to make our stay memorable, and this cottage is perfect if you only have two people.
If you’re looking for places to stay and want to have the option to grab some dinner out, I would recommend staying in either Angaston or Tanunda. Tanunda is the larger of the two towns and probably has more dining options than Angaston, as well as a few wineries that are open late. However, we opted for Angaston as it has a beautiful main street and a cozy feel to it. It still had some great restaurants and a supermarket for everything you need. It’s also located near the farmer’s market which is on every Saturday morning.
Barossa Valley Guide: Getting around
If you want to visit a few wineries, I would opt for a wine tour or a private driver. We put an ad on Airtasker and had a lovely time with our driver across two days. We find this is usually the most affordable way to do it if you are like us and know where you want to visit.
If you don’t know where you want to go, opting for a wine tour is a great way to get a feel for the wineries of the area. I’d recommend finding one that is a small group so you get a more personalised experience.
Another option for the warmer months is hiring a bike. They have a bike trail throughout the main area of the Yarra Valley which makes it perfect for popping around the wineries.
There also aren’t any Ubers in the area, but there is a taxi service. Just be mindful that it only has a few cars for the area so you might need to wait a bit for a pick up. Just make sure you plan ahead.
Barossa Valley guide: Where to eat
While we were in the Barossa Valley we did have some incredible food, and it wouldn’t be a Barossa Valley guide without it. Here are my top picks:
Essen at Artisans of Barossa
We visited Essen for lunch and had an absolutely delicious meal. Artisan’s of Barossa has two options for dining depending on what you would prefer. Essen is the restaurant, and they also have Delikatessen which has more casual dining options. I’ve heard this is great too!
Artisans is such a beautiful venue, and Essen has a lovely, modern feel to it like the rest of the venue. When we visited they had an a la carte menu and my husband said the pork belly was the best pork he’s had in his life. I had the lamb and it was absolutely incredible. They had a great selection of options including wines from Artisan’s to enjoy with your meal.
It’s definitely worth a stop before or after a wine tasting!
Vintners bar and grill
We visited Vintners bar and grill as so many people recommended it to us and it’s easy to see why. It’s a popular spot with locals and tourists so make sure you have a booking because the food is worth the visit.
The restaurant offers three options depending on how many courses you want – we opted for two which were $70. They also have a number of smaller plates you can add on. If there is one thing you get, make sure it is the pig’s ears. We had so many winemakers recommend them to us, and we thought it sounded a bit odd. But once we tried them we saw why. It’s like pork crackling but better!
This is a great option for dinner, and they also let you bring your own wine for a corkage fee.
Lambert Estate
Lambert Estate is the perfect spot for lunch if you are visiting a few wineries. It is a la carte which makes it a great option if you don’t want to sit down for a multi-course meal. Although when you see the menu you might be tempted to like we were!
The food has a great range for everyone and has a Peruvian influence from winemaker Vanessa’s heritage. I haven’t had much Peruvian food and it’s safe to say I will be seeking it out more after this meal. The flavours were divine and gave the dishes a unique twist you may not find everywhere.
I had a delicious crispy chicken dish that included fresh herbs from their gardens (they grow a lot of what they use on-site), and we had the most amazing arancini balls for an entree. I didn’t think arancini was anything I would ever be blown away by, but these arancini were some of the best that I’ve ever had. The rice had beetroot in it so it was bright red on the inside, and came with a delectable spicy sauce.
Oh, did I mention the great range of wines to pair with your meal? Absolutely perfect! It was easy to see why the restaurant, which can seat a lot of guests, was absolutely packed.
Otherness
We had a few people recommend heading to Otherness which is conveniently located in Angaston where we were staying. It was luckily for us also Grand Final night which meant we were able to get in last minute, as Otherness is quite popular. It’s a wine bar with absolutely incredible food and delicious wines that tick all the boxes.
Otherness was started by Grant Dickson as a series of winemaking collaborations between local winemakers that has now become a cafe, cellar door and restaurant. Dinner you can either have as a la carte or opt for the feed me menu. We did this and it did not disappoint! Each dish was designed to share and packed full of seasonal, regional flavours. Some of my favourites included the burrata with broad beans and nduja, and the cheesy Brussels sprouts (I could have eaten a whole plate of these).
This menu is paired beautifully with the wine list which includes a great mix of wines and the Otherness Wines as well. We had a great chat with Grant who was serving on the night about his wines and loved the whole experience.
Murray Street Vineyards
Murray Street Vineyards is a great place to stop by for a wine tasting and cheese platter. They have a beautiful cellar door and affordable platters packed full of regional produce. It’s a great place to stop in if you don’t want to sit down for a full restaurant meal. But don’t expect just a bit of cheese and crackers, because this platter is next level! Freshly baked sourdough, pate, different cured meats and dried fruit accompany local cheeses. It was definitely enough to make a light meal and paired perfectly with the wines.
Barossa Farmers Market
The Barossa Farmers Market is on every Saturday morning and is worth a visit if you’re in the area. They have incredible produce to make a meal at home, or to pick up as souvenirs. They also have some good breakfast options including delicious bacon and egg rolls, dumplings and pastries as far as the eye can see! It is a lovely atmosphere and a great way to get a feel for the produce of the Barossa. We bought some sausages and vegetables to make a delicious meal for dinner one night and it was the perfect place to get everything we needed.
Barossa Valley Guide: Cellar doors to visit
I went into detail on the cellar doors that we visited on our trip in this article, so head there to find out more about the cellar doors that we loved.
In summary: Barossa Valley guide
I hope this guide helps to inspire your trip to the Barossa Valley. There is so much to discover, with over 250 wineries. We really only scratched the surface, and I for one cannot wait to get back and keep exploring! Between the beautiful scenery, incredible food, stunning wines and lovely community, you’re sure to have a fabulous trip!