Touring The Barossa Valley, Australia's Answer To Napa
Located a little more than an hour northeast of Adelaide, the Barossa Valley is Australia's largest wine-producing region. Shiraz is the grape variety for which the Barossa is most highly regarded, with some of the current vines dating back to the late 1840s, when German and English pioneers planted the first cuttings. There are more than 100 wineries that call Barossa home. Here are a few to try on your next visit.
Hentley Farm Wines
Set along Greenock Creek in Seppeltsfield, Hentley Farm is a boutique single estate vineyard. Built in the 1880s, the farm's cellar door is housed in an old shearing cottage. Under the direction of chief winemaker Andrew Quin, Hentley Farm has gathered a collection of notable awards, including Wine Companion's Winery of the Year 2015. Particularly impressive are their "The Beauty" and "The Beast" wines. If planning a visit, make sure to enjoy the fabulous food and views of the vineyards at their newly renovated restaurant, which features two set menu options crafted by chef Lachlan Colwill using ingredients from the farm's 150 acres.
Jacob's Creek
The large Jacob's Creek Visitors Center houses the modern Jacob's Creek restaurant (open for lunch and private functions only), winemaking displays, and a large tasting room. The Center overlooks beautiful views of the Barossa Valley.
Outside, visitors can view and learn about 14 different grape varieties in the vineyard display, enjoy a walk alongside the banks of Jacob's Creek, or enjoy a cooking class from Jacob's Creek in-house chef, Veronica Zahra. Chef Zahra's two-hour cooking lesson includes a tour of the winery's gardens and a chance to assist her in preparing a four-course lunch utilizing local ingredients. Guests can enjoy their cooking efforts at the lunch with perfectly paired Jacob's Creek wines while gazing across sweeping views of the vineyards.
Penfolds Magill Estate
On the ride back to Adelaide, a visit to Penfolds Magill Estate provides history, wonderful wines, and delicious dishes in the newly renovated restaurant and cellar door.
The property houses the largest premium red wine barrel hall in the Southern Hemisphere and offers guests a rare chance at tasting Australia's best-known wine – the Grange blend.
A new modern Magill Estate Kitchen offers indoor and outdoor dining on beautifully crafted courses from chefs Scott Huggins and Emma McCaskill.