Wine tasting in Canterbury with exclusive private tours to Waipara Valley, Canterbury Plains and the Waitaki Valley

The Barossa Valley is among the most important wine regions in Australia, and home to some of the world’s oldest Shiraz (known elsewhere as Syrah) vines that originally arrived in the country with the first German settlers in 1842.

That Germanic heritage still resounds throughout the region, which is home over 150 Barossa vineyards that can easily reached from the South Australia’s capital city Adelaide. Wineries range from small boutique estates to internationally recognised producers such as Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Jacobs Creek. The so-called Barossa Zone incorporates two officially designated sub-regions in the Barossa Valley and nearby Eden Valley Barossa Valley vineyards are most renowned for their Shiraz – Australia’s signature red wine that first earned the country a place on the international wine stage.

The red styles from the best vineyards Barossa Valley has to offer are similar in varietal profile to those from the Rhone Valley, with dominant Shiraz supplemented by Grenache, Mourvedre. Shiraz from Barrossa vineyards are known for being rich and full bodied with velvety soft tannins and an ability to age well if cellared correctly.

Eden Valley, meanwhile, is settled on high terraces where the cooler climate encourages the production of highly revered Riesling white wines with a distinctive style that can be aged well for several decades. Other prominent wine growing grapes from the region include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Semillon and Voignier, which tends to only appear in small doses as part of Shiraz blends.

The region is also regarded as a haven for food enthusiasts based on the traits of the early Lutheran settlers, with every town in the area being left with a legacy of fine butchers, bakeries and cheese makers, while the weekly farmers’ market is popular with locals and visitors alike.

At Wine Paths, our local experts can organise exclusive tours of Barossa Valley vineyards, which can include elaborate tastings, luxury accommodations, fine dining experiences and some unique opportunities. All of our private tours can be individually tailored to your needs, ensuing every detail is taken care of so that you can relax and enjoy the matter at hand – sampling the southern hemisphere’s finest wines in the company of stunning scenery.

The Mediterranean climate, which features warm dry summers and cool wet winters means the best time to visit Barossa vineyards is during harvesting between early February and the beginning of April.

winery visit australia - Wine Paths

A typical visit to Barossa Valley vineyards would include exploring several estates accompanied by a professional guide to explain the region’s characteristics and wine making process before the opportunity to sample a number of premium vintages, often accompanied by local gourmet food.

Since there are so many wineries to explore, we would recommend sending a few days in the region, especially since Barossa Valley vineyard accommodation is available at some  of the estates, many of which are boutique producers. The local surrounding towns of Lyndoch Angaston, Nurlootpa and Tanuna also have a range of Barossa Valley vineyard accommodation options.

The Barossa Vintage Festival was established in 1947 and is the oldest and longest running wine festival in Australia. It is held biannually – in odd numbered years – to traditionally mark the completion of the year’s vintage season. Barossa Valley wine yards hold a variety of wine themed events that include tastings, competitions, musical shows, local food produce and parades.

 

If you're interested in one of our Barossa Valley Wine Tours, please visit this link.

vineyards tours australia - Wine Paths

Wine experiences around the world

Discover other wine regions

Why book with Wine Paths?