Here's how to get to the Barossa Valley for your taste of South Australia's wine country.
The visitor to the Barossa Valley can drive north on the A20 and then at Gawler take the B19 east to Lyndoch. From Lyndoch it's a short drive north to Tanunda and Nurioopta and east to Angaston. These towns all lie in the upper heart of the Barossa Valley.
Or one can travel in a more roundabout way southeastward on the M1 through the colorful German town of Hahndorf before heading north to Birdwood and Williamstown and thence to the Tanunda-Angaston area. The shorter route to Birdwood would be to bypass Hahndorf by taking the A10 in an east-northeasterly direction.
If coming from Melbourne one drives northwest to Mt Pleasant and Springton, and from there takes one of several routes to the heart of the Barossa Valley.
Meet all the well-known names
The Barossa Valley wineries number more than 50 in the area between Mt Pleasant and the Sturt Highway in the north.
You come across such well-known names as Wolf Blass, Seppelts at Seppeltsfield, Penfolds, Kaiser-Stuhl, Saltram, Hardy’s, Leo Buring, Yalumba, St Hallett, Bethany, Krondorf, Orlando and Chateau Yaldarra.
There's no better way of knowing particular wines than going right out to the wineries and having a taste. Here's a sampling of Barossa wineries to visit:
- Bethany Wines at Bethany is a family-operated winery, well-known for its port.
- Chateau Yaldarra, at Lyndoch, rises from the ruins of a 19th-century winery and flour mill. For visitors, it offers an antique collection and, for a small fee, conducted tours.
- St Hallett at Tanunda, while small, is distinguished for some of its wines. A keg factory nearby is also well worth a visit.
- Seppelts at Seppeltsfield was founded in the middle of the 19th century, in contrast to the newer Wolf Blass north of Nurioopta which was founded fairly recently, in 1973, but has become highly popular for its wines.
Among the smaller Barossa wineries is Greenock Creek just south of the Sturt Highway in the heart of the valley.
Also at Nurioopta is brandy producer Tarac Australia.
Vintage Festival time
One of the best times to visit the Barossa wineries is during its Vintage Festival during the Easter season. It is held every other year on an odd-number year.
- In 2007, the Barossa Vintage Festival takes place from April 7 to 15.
This is a great time for carousing through the South Australia wine country while having a taste of its best vintage.
There’s a host of activities and attractions from arts and crafts exhibitions, wine and food fests, and a look at tradition and the heritage of the Barossa Valley.
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