Awesome wine tasting and wine tours in Barossa Valley, South Australia
The Barossa Valley in South Australia is well-known for its red wine and in particular its Shiraz, also known as Syrah. Other main grape varieties grown in the region include Riesling, Semillon, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. Fortified wines have been traditionally produced in the region as well. Join us to explore the awesome and best wine tasting and wine tours in the Barossa Valley, South Australia.
The Barossa Valley is a rich source of some of the oldest Shiraz vines in the world. Shiraz vines planted as early as 1847 by Johann Frederick August Fiedler on Lot 1, Hundred of Moorooroo (the township of Tanunda) are still in commercial production today by Turkey Flat Vineyards.
Fun Fact; Ancient “fake news”
“A long, long time ago, a Crusader by the name of Guy de Sterimberg, brought cuttings of vines from a town called Shiraz in ancient Persia (Persia is now known as Iran). He settled in France. He became a hermit and developed a vineyard on a steep hill where he lived in the Rhône Valley, which became known as Hermitage. James Bushby, the father of the Australian wine industry, traveled through Spain and France to collect plant material. Near the town of Hermitage in France, he harvested some vine cuttings of the local red wine grapes. He introduced cuttings of vines that were labeled “Hermitage”, “Burgundy” and even “Claret”. James Busby decided that the vines were, in fact, “Shiraz” and not Syrah!
Shiraz; wine tasting and wine tours in Barossa Valley
Shiraz, Australia’s go-to red grape variety, makes the most popular red wine and is at the core of the country’s incredible export success. The most widely planted wine grape in the country, Shiraz continues to dominate the Australian wine scene with its bold, ripe flavors and easy-drinking nature. The country has some of the oldest Syrah/Shiraz’s plantings in the world and some of the very few that survived phylloxera.
The country makes a range of styles, the most recognizable of which might be distinctively rich, ripe styles from both traditional (Barossa Valley), and newer (Heathcote) regions. Barossa Valley is considered by many to be the ‘spiritual home’ of Australian Shiraz.
The wine industry plays a major role in the Barossa, being the main source of employment for many residents. The many hectares of vineyards are the most distinctive feature of the area, especially when viewed from the Mengler Hill lookout, which is positioned on the Barossa Range which forms much of the eastern side of the valley. The success of the wine industry has historically been celebrated every two years with a week-long Barossa Valley Vintage Festival. The festival draws visitors from all over the world and has entertainment for all tastes including a huge street parade, concerts, and gourmet dining.
Barossa Valley Cheese
Renowned as a wine-producing region, the Barossa Valley is also home to an incredible array of world-class dairy producers and experiences. Wander through the Barossa Valley Market, or pop into an ice creamery or cheese cellar door to taste the best of the Barossa dairy region. The best wine tastings and wine tours in the Barossa Valley can be accessed from Adelaide.
Visit the Barossa Valley Cheese Cellar to enjoy luxurious artisan cheese, hand-made on-site. The Cheese Cellar offers the full range of Barossa Valley Cheese Company cheese products, as well as local gourmet condiments and a wide variety of cheese accompaniments. Tasting plates and experiences are available, as are delicious cheese platters and sit-down experience plates that match cheese to seasonal produce, wine, beer, and even tea! Whilst you’re tucking into artisan cheese, you can also watch a live stream that takes you behind the scenes of the cheese-making process onsite in the adjoining production facilities. The 3 best-known kinds of cheese from Barossa South Australia must surely be:
Allium Piper
Allium Piper is an Australian cheese hailing from Woodside. The cheese is made from a blend of Woodside Chevre (made from goat’s milk) and Allisford Farm’s organic hand-harvested garlic. The curd is drained for a few hours, then mixed with salt, crushed garlic, and black pepper. The combination is drained for 10 days before consumption. The texture is soft and creamy, the aromas spicy, fresh, and garlicky, and the flavors are spicy and garlicky. Allium Piper is often used on cheeseboards, and it’s recommended to serve it with lots of crusty bread.
Goat on a Hot Tin Roof
Goat on a Hot Tin Roof is a South Australian cheese made from pasteurized goat’s milk coming from Oskjberg and Towerview dairies. This rindless cheese has a soft and creamy texture, while the flavors are spicy and herbal because it is infused with a combination of pepper, berries, Tanami apples, chili, and saltbush. It is recommended to pair it with a drizzle of high-quality olive oil and warm crusty bread.
Mandolin
Mandolin is an Australian semi-hard cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk. The cheese is smear-ripened and wrapped in vine until it develops a typical rusty-red visual appearance. Its texture is supple, soft, and crumbly, while the flavors are best described as herbal and grassy.
