Travel Guide Barossa Valley

Australia's most famous wine region lies to the east of the Adelaide Plains and 70 km northeast of Adelaide. Arriving from Adelaide from the south, Lyndoch and Williamstown are the first towns you come across. But the heart of the Barossa Valley is Tanunda, Nuriootpa and Angaston. These three towns are linked by a tourist loop called the Barossa Scenic Heritage Drive. Over one hundred and thirty-five producers, from small family-run businesses to large estates, supply half of Australia's wine production. The wineries are open to visitors, and some have fine restaurants. This picturesque region was settled by German refugees, and all Barossa Valley architecture reflects these origins. The climate is continental, hot and dry, especially in the valley, with relatively normal rainfall. However, the complex geography, with its series of hills and slopes, produces many cooler microclimates, depending on altitude. The first crops were planted by English emigrants in 1842. Legend has it that the plantations were planted by the German emigrant colony, nostalgic for Bohemia. In reality, these Silesian refugees learned the trade on the job, as their home region (largely in present-day Poland) had never been known for its wines. Be that as it may, the Barossa Valley became the most important wine-producing region of the second half of the 19th century, and most wine companies are still based there today. The Barossa and adjacent Eden Valley are a blend of English and German cultures. The region's three major producers are Jacob's Creek, Penfolds and Wolf Blass. Production is 68% red and 32% white. In reds, Shiraz (Syrah) dominates, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. White wines are made with Riesling, Semillon and Chardonnay. Shiraz is rich in red fruit aromas with a touch of chocolate, a strong character and a hint of eucalyptus. It's a round, powerful wine with a dark color and good ageing potential. In white, the classic Riesling expresses its typical Australian character with marked aromas of passion fruit, tropical fruit and citrus. It improves with age... The renowned Barossa Vintage Festival takes place in April of odd-numbered years.