The Barossa Valley is an absolutely iconic Australian wine region, but it may not be what you expect. Barossa is known worldwide for its big, bold reds. But visit this region and you’ll discover that there is so much more to it. The Barossa Valley is a region with a rich history and an incredible community that is producing incredible wines with something for everyone’s taste. In this Barossa Valley winery guide, I highlight some of the wineries we visited and absolutely loved on our recent trip to help inspire a trip of your own.
We barely scratched the surface of the Barossa Valley, with more than 250 wineries making up this incredible wine region. But what I loved most about visiting the Barossa Valley was the community. You really felt the love that everyone has for each other in the region, and rather than competing to be the best winery in the Barossa, everyone is supportive of lifting the wine region up together. It was such a special thing to be welcomed into, and the wineries we visited made our trip incredibly special! Thank you for making our visit so memorable.
So let’s dive into this Barossa Valley winery guide to give you a rundown of some of the wineries we visited – in alphabetical order. Because I am not playing favourites!
Artisans of Barossa
Visit for: Tasting different wines from several producers
Artisans of Barossa is not only a beautiful cellar door, but it is the perfect spot to head if you want to try wines across a few producers. It is owned by a number of directors who each have their own wine label, which means you can try many wines from wineries without cellar doors. This includes John Duval, Sons of Eden and Purple Hands, along with many others.
We did the Barossa Rarities tasting and it was definitely worth the cost of the tasting. You could either choose wines to try yourself or go with what was recommended. We let Ian take the reins and it was such an incredible tasting. We tried a lot of wines side by side, and even things that we’d never thought to try before. It gave a really good insight into the range that can be found in the Barossa. We lost track of time getting lost in the wine list!
Artisans also has a restaurant and Deli attached, so is a great spot for a tasting and lunch, or to spend a good few hours at in the sun.
Find out more here.
Charles Melton
Visit for: Red wines
Charles Melton wasn’t on our original list but we found ourselves with a spare moment between tastings and our tour guide suggested we visit. We ended up really enjoying the tasting, and the wines were absolutely incredible. Charles Melton is known in the Barossa for working with a small band of Barossa winemakers to turn their winemaking efforts to unfashionable varieties at the time: Shiraz and Grenache.
Charles Melton is known for their red wines and it is easy to see why. Although they dominated the tasting list the reds were all unique in their own way and absolutely incredible with plenty of aging potential. We absolutely loved the Nine Popes which is one of their well-known wines, as well as the Kirche. The cellar door staff were absolutely delightful and incredibly knowledgeable too! Although it was one of the more expensive tastings, it was worth it to try such a big range of reds.
Find out more here.
Cirillo Estate
Visit for: Delicious wines and the oldest Grenache and Semillon vines
Cirillo Estate is known throughout the valley for having the oldest Grenache vines, but they also home some of the oldest vines of other varieties like Shiraz too! Marco, the winemaker, is absolutely brilliant at what he does. He has a smaller range of wines that you can taste in the winery itself by appointment. It is definitely worth visiting for the wines alone, but especially to taste wines from the oldest Grenache and Semillon vines in the world.
The Cirillo family became custodians of the vines in 1970 with the original vines being planted in 1848. Now, Marco produces incredible wines to allow the family legacy to live on. He even took us out to have a look at the vines which made for a seriously memorable experience. Although you have to make an appointment to visit, it is worth seeing if Marco is free for a tasting as it is one to remember.
Find out more here.
Eperosa
Visit for: Beautiful wines and great tasting experience
If you are in the Barossa Valley on a Friday or Saturday, visiting Eperosa is definitely worth doing. Brett does his tastings out of what can only be described as a wine bunker which has been built to keep the barrels and wine temperature controlled perfectly. The wine list is written on the wall, and unfortunately had plenty crossed out when we visited. A testament to how good his wines are.
Brett won winemaker of the year in 2021 and it is easy to see why from his wines. Each was complex yet beautifully balanced. But what I loved most about the visit was being taken through the wines by Brett. He was really friendly and loved to chat about the wines and winemaking. My husband asks a lot of questions and Brett was more than happy to answer them for us.
Find out more here.
Gibson Wines
Visit for: A range of new and classic style wines
Gibson Wines was one we were familiar with and they did not disappoint. While the cellar door experience is more of your classic one where you have a tasting list, the range of wines available meant there’s something for everyone. The Discovery Road range offers lighter style, Mediterranean varieties which are more fruit driven. Then you have the classic Barossa-style wines.
We paid a bit extra for the premium tasting (redeemable on purchase) and it was definitely worth it to try their old vine shiraz from both the Barossa and Eden Valley. Trying these two wines and seeing the difference between them was really special.
Find out more here.
Hayes Family Vineyard
Visit for: A wide range of wines and a great tasting experience
We had a great time at Hayes Family Vineyard in their cellar door, so I knew I had to recommend them in this Barossa Valley winery guide!
Hayes Family Vineyard is a great spot to visit if you’re not sure what you like. They make over 50 wines in smaller batch, so you are sure to find something that hits the spot! The best part is that Nikki, the cellar door manager, is incredibly personable and will take the time to find something you love with her. She gave us one of the best cellar door experiences we’ve ever had in terms of catering to what we liked, and how the conversation went. We could have spent hours trying the wines.
What’s great about Hayes Family Vineyard is that with so much range you can try different wines of the same varieties side by side. This means you can really explore the differences between different sub-sites of the Barossa Valley. I absolutely loved exploring the wines this way, and the journey that Nikki took us on throughout the wine list. It was an incredibly memorable experience, and one I would highly recommend.
Find out more here.
Hutton Vale Farm
Visit for: Beautiful cellar door and great wines (oh and wine dogs)
After trying a few of the wines from Hutton Vale Farm last year, it was so great to visit the cellar door and meet Cait in person. The cellar door is located in Eden Valley but definitely worth the trip as it is absolutely beautiful. It is located in the old stables from Hutton Vale Farm which has a rich history in the area and has been beautifully done up for a cozy experience.
Cait offers a really personal experience for tasting her wines that makes you feel so welcome. Combined with her parent’s very cute dogs, it is an experience that leaves you all warm and fuzzy long after you leave. The wine list is curated as they are single vineyard, so only produce when they have good years. What they do create is absolutely incredible, and definitely worth a trip to try and hear Cait’s story, as well as to learn more about the area and community.
Find out more here.
Kurtz Family Vineyard
Visit for: Simply delicious and affordable wines
I tried some of Steve’s wines last year and it was great to visit Steve while we were in the Barossa. Kurtz Family Vineyard is run completely by Steve, and so there isn’t a cellar door to visit. You’ll need to make an appointment. But it was worth it to get a behind the scene’s look at how Steve produces the wine, and then have a tasting with Steve of the range.
Steve’s wines are simply delicious, and they are very affordable for their quality. Many of his wines are under $20 a bottle and are seriously tasty. But he also has a good range of wines that move beyond everyday drinking. He brings his wealth of experience to everything he does, and it shines through in the wines. The personal experience of visiting really tops it all off!
Find out more here.
Lambert Estate
Visit for: Great wines and beautiful food
We visited Lambert Estate for lunch and Vanessa and Kirk really made us feel so welcome almost like we were family! They are the winemakers at Lambert Estate, having met at Adelaide University despite both being from overseas. Many of the wines are named after their love story which I think is so sweet! The winery is family-owned, started by Kirk’s father Jim who is still involved in coming up with brilliant new ideas for the winery to increase its sustainability. He even took us for a ride on his new state-of-the-art electric buggies around the vineyard which was so much fun! It’s so lovely to meet the family as you’re trying the wine.
The wines at Lambert Estate are absolutely delicious (here is my review of their Commitment Shiraz), and they have a great range whether you like lighter styles or more classic Barossa wines. Owing to the slopes that their vineyards are on, they’re able to produce more varieties than other areas in the valley including a delicious Chardonnay. But our favourite of what we tasted was their Zinfandel which was a beautifully light style and not like anything we’ve ever tried before!
Lambert Estate is also a great spot for lunch (more on that next week).
Find out more here.
Langmeil Winery
Visit for: Iconic wines with rich history
I wasn’t sure what to expect visiting Langmeil Winery, but we had a really memorable experience. John took us around the winery and talked us through the rich history of not only Langmeil Winery but Barossa itself. Langmeil has a long history in the area, and some of the buildings on site were part of the original town of Langmeil. If you visit for that reason alone, it is worth heading to. The tour we went on was so informative, and we really got a sense of the history of the place. We also got to see the world’s oldest Shiraz vines, which was seriously special. Thank you Leigh and John for your time!
The cellar door itself is cosy and there are plenty of beautiful wines to try, including wines that are from their old vines. Not everything is available for tasting because their vines make so little quantities, but it is well worth a visit to try their range. I absolutely loved the old vine Grenache which was absolutely to die for. They also have a number of wines that are lighter in style and often not as available at other wineries, such as the Mediterranean varieties and even a crisp Chardonnay. I also absolutely loved their Rosé.
Find out more here.
Rockford
Visit for: Unique cellar door
It wouldn’t be a Barossa Valley winery guide without some iconic wineries. We couldn’t get into Rockford when we first went but managed to make it when we tried again another day. It is a busy cellar door because it’s popular, but also it is quite small for a well-known winery. It is definitely worth the wait though, because this cellar door is really unique with just a small tasting area inside an old dairy. Barrels of fortified wine are supported on the beams above you as you go through the tasting, and the low ceilings make it feel cozy and intimate. The cellar door staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and if you come during harvest time you can actually see the wines being made in the courtyard outside the cellar door!
Rockford is well known for its basket press, but this sells out quickly every year. Best to visit in March if you want to get a taste of it! If you can’t make it in March, however, there are plenty of other great wines to try!
Find out more here.
Small Victories/Elderton
Visit for: A fun tasting experience at Small Victories, and Iconic wines at Elderton
Elderton is a bit of an icon in Barossa wine, and so it wouldn’t be a Barossa Valley winery guide without them! But did you know that Small Victories and Elderton are both located at the same cellar door? I recommend checking both out while you are there. I’ve had a few Small Victories wines now, and so it was great to visit the cellar door and meet Jess as well as Bec the winemaker.
The Small Victories and Elderton cellar doors are co-located in the old family home which has been remodelled into a beautiful tasting area. The Small Victories tasting room is fun and vibrant with bright colours and a beautiful outlook over the garden. The Elderton Cellar door embodies the brand with a classy and elegant fit-out that still feels like a home.
At Small Victories, they have a tasting experience where you pair their wines with different flavoured chips. This was one of the most unique tastings I’ve done and right up my alley. I couldn’t believe how well the different chips paired with the wines from the range (especially sweet chilli and the Rosé). It was such a fun tasting experience and definitely one I’d recommend.
The Elderton tasting experience is also great and gives you a really good idea of the range beyond their iconic Command Shiraz. I absolutely loved their Cabernet Sauvignon and found plenty of new favourites! The cellar door has a really nice feel to it, and is definitely worth a visit!
Find out more here.
Thorn-Clarke Wines
Visit for: A wide range of wines at different price points
Thorn-Clarke Wines was the first cellar door we visited and really blew us away. Pete, the winemaker, took us through their extensive wine list and I found so many wines that I loved. What I think is great about Thorn-Clarke wines is that they have a number of ranges that suit all budgets and taste preferences. Their wines are quite affordable and absolutely delicious, whether you’re after something lighter or more fruit-driven, or something bolder. We absolutely loved their Rosé from the Sandpiper range but also loved their classic Shotfire Quartage. The single vintage Cabernet Sauvignon absolutely blew me away as well and was relatively affordable for a premium offering.
Thorn-Clarke Wines is located in the Eden Valley but definitely worth a visit if you’re up for the slightly longer drive. They have a cellar door with a beautiful view that also has a lovely tasting area outside perfect for enjoying a tasting in the sun.
Find out more here.
Torbreck
Visit for: A beautiful cellar door and iconic wines
Torbreck is a must-visit for the beautiful cellar door alone. They’ve expanded it from the original building to allow more room for tastings, and the renovation is absolutely stunning. Although we were there on a rainy day, there was still so much natural light coming through.
There are a few tasting options, and I recommend opting for the premium tasting so that you can try some of their iconic wines. We absolutely loved their range of wines, and the Factor Shiraz was our absolute favourite. But some of their more affordable wines were absolutely delicious too. You’re sure to find something you like no matter what your budget is.
Find out more here.
Two Hands
Visit for: Red wines
Two Hands was recommended to us by a few people and it didn’t disappoint. Although it offered more of a traditional cellar door experience, the staff were lovely and knowledgeable. They also did a few side-by-side tastings which I loved because you could see the difference between the wines you were tasting.
Two Hands is known for their red wines and they produce a number from not only the Barossa Valley but using fruit from other areas of South Australia. This meant you could try and compare wines from different regions and sites to see the difference between them despite being from the same year.
Find out more here.
In summary: Barossa Valley winery guide
I hope this Barossa Valley winery guide helps you plan your own trip to the Barossa Valley. I absolutely loved visiting, and can’t wait to get back. I know we’ve really only scratched the surface. I think you could spend months here and still not see everything there is to see. But the best part about it is experiencing the community throughout the wineries. Everyone is so friendly and supportive of one another. It makes for a great trip, with or without the incredible wine! No matter what you like, there really is something for everyone. Even if you don’t like a jammy Shiraz!
Let me know in the comments below what other wineries we should visit for the next Barossa Valley winery guide! And don’t forget to check out my guide to the Barossa Valley next week for more.