Barossa Valley Wine Tasting

The Barossa Valley, South Australia’s world-renowned wine-producing region, includes Nuriootpa, Angaston, and Tanunda. Situated approximately 70km north of Adelaide, the Barossa Valley has the perfect blend of climate, soils and elevation. It has been producing delicious wines for more than 160 years.

Australian Wines

Australia is the world’s 5th largest wine producer, and 50% of that wine comes from South Australia. Moreover, South Australia accounts for almost 80% of Australia’s premium wine production, produced from some of the world’s oldest vines [PIRSA]. SA has a long history of winemaking, with the earliest vines thought to have been planted in 1836 by a settler named John Barton Hack in Chichester Gardens, North Adelaide [Wikipedia]. 

From delicious crisp whites to big, bold reds, South Australia produces something for everyone’s palate. In fact, South Australia has a reputation as the “food and wine state” of Australia with excellent reason.

Visit the Barossa Valley

With over 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors, you could explore the Barossa Valley for a week and not see or taste it all. Discover delicious wines, luscious food, local produce, an enthralling history, arts, crafts, and so much more. There is an abundance, and variety, of accommodation and exciting experiences to be had – hot air ballooning, Segway tours and cooking schools, to name a few. Many wineries offer tours, blend your own experiences, private tastings and educational wine flights.

One day in the Barossa

At the time of our visit, during the COVID pandemic, although South Australia had no active cases, there were still a few restrictions in place limiting numbers in venues. With this in mind, I went online and booked times for our tastings.

Given that we had only one day to enjoy the Barossa, we decided to start early. Allowing 45 minutes for each tasting and 15 minutes for travel between, I booked tastings for 1000, 1100, 1200 and lunch for 1300. The wineries we decided to visit were influenced by the venues opened and their proximity to our lunch venue.

Things to remember

Grant Burge

Our first stop was Grant Burge. Grant Burge wines are not new to us. We both love the Hillcott Merlot and drink it often. Because we always choose the same Grant Burge wine, we decided this would be an excellent opportunity to try more of their wines. I had booked a tasting online for Expressions of Shiraz, which is a taste of six different shiraz, starting with their sparkling shiraz. You can choose to do a sparking, fortified, or mixed tasting for $10 per person or taste the Icon wines for $40 per person. And the Meshach seasonal platter is also $40. The wines were lovely, and the staff pleasant and informative.

What is there? Wine tasting, seasonal platters.

Wine varieties include –Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Petite Verdot, Mourvèdre, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris.

Our pick – the Sparkling Shiraz Cabernet

Seabrook

This was our favourite winery of the day. Seabrook’s tasting rooms are located in an original settler’s cottage. We were greeted by the owner/winemaker Hamish and told to grab a seat anywhere we liked. Hamish makes genuine small-batch wines that he loves to drink. He told us about each wine and a little of the history of Seabrook Winery as we sat on the verandah sipping his mouth-watering wines.

What is there? Wine tasting and a tasting room small-eat menu (cheeses, pates, olives, small goods etc.). There is also a Signature Tasting + Barossa platter at $25 per person and a Winemaker Immersion Experience at $90 per person.

Wine varieties include – Cabernet Sauvignon, Mataro, Shiraz, Viognier, Riesling, Malbec, Grenache, rose.

Our pick – 2018 ‘The Merchant’ Barossa Valley Shiraz

Yalumba

Next, we stopped at Yalumba. Housed in a grand old building is Australia’s oldest family-owned winery. For six generations, this winery has been producing quality wine and crafting oak wine barrels. The Yalumba Cooperage is the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Again I chose to taste the red wines and tasted the Barossa Reds Flight for $10. For the same amount, you can taste the Eden Valley whites, both of which include four wines to taste. The Best of Barossa and Grenache can be tasted for $15. Likewise, Rare and Fine for $20, Fortified for $30, and on and upwards until you reach the Caley Vertical Tasting for $100.

What is there? Wine flights and tours, including the cooperage tours.

Wine varieties include – Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Reisling, Roussanne, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio.

Saltram

Our last winery visit was after lunch at Wanera Wine Bar. We stopped at Saltrams. They produce some of our favourite go-to table wines, including Matala, Mamre Brook and Pepperjack. We had not made a booking; however, I was able to do a tasting. I was offered a complimentary tasting of four wines by the friendly, informative staff. There are also wine flights available and heritage tours, one of which includes underground tunnels and lunch.

What is there? Wine Flights, tours, restaurant, weddings, functions and events.

Wine varieties include –Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Sangiovese.

Our pick –Pepperjack Malbec

Wanera Wine Bar

We decided to skip our favourite Barossa Valley restaurants and dine somewhere different. After looking at their menu online, we decided upon Wanera Wine Bar because they produce various dishes and a few of our favourites, such as pork belly. We were not disappointed. Choosing to sit outside, we started with soft shell crab, dukkah chicken, and potato rosti. Crispy Moroccan pork belly and kangaroo fillet with lentils, beets and red wine jus followed. With our meal we enjoyed a delicious bottle of Henschke Henry’s Seven. Ulitmately the meals were delicious and of excellent value, and we wouldn’t hesitate to dine there again.

More South Australian Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting in the Adelaide Hills.

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