tastethebarossa
By Dallas Coull Taste The Barossa Wine tours
Located a mere 60 kilometres from the centre of Adelaide, this world famous region has so much on offer that tourists and locals alike go there over and over to have a unique and memorable experience each time. In our opinion the Barossa Valley is definitely the best region for food and wine in Australia for many reasons.
Here are the top 7 reasons ….

The history

Some of the oldest vineyards in the world are located in the Barossa Valley. In the late 1800’s there was an outbreak of phylloxera (an insect that feeds on grapevines) that decimated much of the European grapevines. Through hard work and a little bit of luck the Barossa has never suffered from this infestation. At Langmeil Winery there is the opportunity to walk along-side one of the oldest Shiraz vineyards in the world!

The passion

The Barossa isn’t made up of businesses and employees, it’s made up of families… some of whom have been there for over seven generations! When a Barossa person becomes successful, like Peter Lehmann for example, he doesn’t buy a big house down in Adelaide or up in Queensland, he builds a nice house next to the one he grew up in! The Barossa is in the blood of the people who make it special.

The people

Wolf Blass, Peter Lehmann, Maggie Beer, Grant Burge are all names that ooze quality and passion. These are just a few of the many that have dedicated their lives to their products and now dominate the food and wine landscape in the Barossa Valley.

The products

From award winning wines at many of the wineries to award winning food, the Barossa continues to breed internationally recognised and successful producers. The list is impressive and growing each year!

Sub-regions

This is a reasonably new term for those on the fringes of the wine industry – however for those in the Barossa, this is central to what makes it special. There are sub-regions in the Barossa Valley that can deliver both a beautiful cool climate Riesling with all the zesty fruit characteristics as well as a full bodied Shiraz. Each region has its own climate and sub-climate that is ideal for many different varieties of grapes used in the wine making process.

The grapes

The Barossa is made up of over 800 families that grow grapes commercially. These families have over 150 years of knowledge about the relationship between the land, climate and the grapes, as well as the many and varied techniques used to grow them. Some families grow their grapes in a single tier format, some double. Some prune differently, some plant things in between the rows in winter and spring, like wheat or broad-beans and plough that into the ground to enrich the soil. After so many generations each family have fine-tuned their methods to make the best quality grapes for their vineyard.

The community

Whether its Tanunda or Nuriootpa, Angaston or Greenock, the Barossa Valley is very welcoming and the sense of community is everywhere. The enthusiasm and passion for the region in both the food and wine industries is palpable, bringing tourists back again and again!
The Barossa’s food and wine are elements of the community that people are passionate about and happy to share! If you’re a South Australian and haven’t been for a while, check it out on a long weekend as there are always new, interesting festivals and gatherings going on. If you are from interstate, it is always great to compare the Barossa to other wine regions around Australia. For the overseas travellers, the South Australian experience is not complete until you visit and enjoy one of our Barossa Valley wine tours.

Book one of our Barossa Valley Wine Tours

Our small group wine tasting tours (20 Max) depart Adelaide 7 days a week and cost just $119 pp. Our tours offer you tastings at 4 wineries and include the famous Peter Lehmann’s Weighbridge Platter Lunch.  For tour information and how you can book one of our Barossa Valley Wine Tours