Barossa Valley Wine region

This is Australia's most famous wine region...

But it is reinventing itself with a wide range of new varieties.

Some of the less common wine grape varieties of the Barossa Valley

The name was given to the area by explorer Colonel Light based on the supposed similarity of the Barossa Range to a similar range in Spain. The region is most notable for its red wines, particularly those made from Shiraz. But, as we shall see, other grape varieties, both red and white play an important role in the vineyards and wineries here.

The region generally about three hundred metres above sea level, but the altitude of many of the vineyards is much higher.

In the lower and warmer areas, red wine predominates while on the cooler higher slopes Riesling is common. In fact the Barossa abuts the Eden Valley wine region which is regarded as one of Australia's premier regions for Riesling.

The history of the region is inextricably linked to the influence of the German immigrants who were encouraged to settle in the region by local landowner George Angas. Many of these migrants were Lutherans from Silesia, who were suffering persecution in their homeland. By the 1850s viticulture was well established in the valley.

Among these migrants were Johann Gramp who planted the first vineyard of the region at Jacobs Creek in 1847 and Joseph Seppelt, whose name lives on in a famous Australian wine brand name.

Pictures from South Australian WIneries

Scroll through these images and click for details

Wines of the Barossa Valley

The wines of the region are dominated by reds made from either Shiraz or Cabernet, but if you are looking for a different experience then there is plenty of diversity to explore. The varietal profile of the Barossa is similar to that of the Rhone Valley, with the predominant Shiraz being supplemented by Grenache, Mourvedre, and more recently Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are being introduced.

But in the past decade there have been great changes with a much wider range of varieties being introduced.

Barossa Valley Producers and wine Varieties

Dell'Uva is one of the varietal pioneers in this region

The list below is of the wineries in the region and the alternative varieties that they are using.

The list below shows those wineries closely associated with the Barossa Valley and the alternative varieties that they are using.  In some cases wineries in this region have vineyards in neighbouring regions, especially in the Eden Valley so some of the entries below are not strictly accurate.

• 1838 Barossa Zinfandel
• Alkima Red Semillon
• Arete Tempranillo
• Arila Gardens Nero d'Avola, Saperavi
• Atze's Corner Wines Aglianico, Durif, Graciano, Montepulciano, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, Vermentino
• Ballycroft Durif, Montepulciano
• Barossa Valley Estate Tempranillo
• Blue Rock Wines Tempranillo
• Bosward Wines Alicante, Barbera, Touriga
• Bruno and George Montepulciano, Nebbiolo
• Burge Family Winemakers Roussanne, Souzao, Tempranillo, Tinto Cao, Touriga, Zinfandel
• Captain Barossa Durif, Petit Verdot
• Charles Cimicky Durif
• Charles Melton Bourboulenc, Carignan, Cinsaut, Meunier, Muscadelle, Pedro Ximenez, Picpoul
• Chateau Tanunda Marsanne, Roussanne, Zinfandel
• Craft vs Science Albarino, Touriga
• Curator Montepulciano
• Dandelion Wines Pedro Ximenez, Roussanne
• De Fazzio Wines Nero d'Avola
• Dewey Station Albarino, Graciano, Touriga
• Diggers Bluff Alicante Bouschet
• Domain Day Garganega, Lagrein, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Saperavi
• Earthworks Tempranillo
• Elderton Carignan, Marsanne, Roussanne, Zinfandel
• Epsilon Graciano, Montepulciano, Tempranillo
• Evan Evans Fiano, Montepulcaino, Nero d'Avola
• First Drop Arneis, Barbera, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Savagnin, Tempranillo, Trincadeira, Touriga
• Forage Supply Co Carignan, Montepulciano, Tannat
• Fox Gordon Fiano, Nero d'Avola, Tempranillo
• Frederick Stevenson Marsanne, Montepulciano, Roussanne, Sangiovese
• Garden and Field Refosco, Vermentino
• Gargoyle Wines Fiano, Malbec, Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• Gatt Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• Gibson Fiano, Graciano, Montepulciano, Nero d'Avola, Tempranillo, Vermentino
• Gormesal Graciano, Sangiovese
• Grant Burge Dolcetto, Fiano, Moscato, Nebbiolo, Ruby Cabernet
• Greenock Creek Wines Durif
• Groom Zinfandel
• Gumpara Winery Vermentino
• Haan Malbec, Petit Verdot
• Hare's Chase Tempranillo
• Hayes Family Wines Roussanne
• Head Wines Carignan, Montepulciano, Nero d'Avola, Grenache Blanc, Savagnin
• Hemera Estate Cabernet Franc, Graciano, Marsanne, Tempranillo
• Hently Farm Wines Garganega, Tempranillo, Zinfandel
• Hesketh Wines Arneis, Bonvedro, Fiano, Montepulciano, Negroamaro, Tempranillo, Touriga
• Hewitson Carignan, Sangiovese,Tempranillo
• Izway Wines Aglianico
• jb Wines Aligote, Meunier, Taminga, Tempranillo
• Jenke Vineyards Cabernet Franc
• John Duval Wines Marsanne, Roussanne
• Kabminye Wines Black frontignac, Carignan, Cinsaut, Durif, Kerner, Roussanne, Zinfandel
• Kaesler Barbera, Dolcetto, Durif, Garganega, Malbec, Palomino, Tempranillo, Touriga
• Kalleske Wines Chenin Blanc, Durif, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, Zinfandel
• Kellermeister Wines Gewurztraminer, Tempranillo
• Kies Family Bastardo
• Kurtz Family Vineyards Malbec
• La Maschera Vermentino
• Lambert Estate Durif, Tempranillo, Zinfandel
• Langmeil Barbera, Friulano, Malbec, Marsanne, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Savagnin, Tannat, Vermentino, Zinfandel
• Lienet Malbec, Picpoul, Roussanne
• Lindsay Wine Estate Tempranillo
• Loan Wines Alicante Bouschet
• Lost Penny Durif, Montepulciano
• Lou Miranda Sagrantino
• Mad Dog Wines Sangiovese, Savagnin
• Magpie Estate Cinsaut, Dolcetto, Gewurztraminer, Ruby Cabernet, Sangiovese, Tannat
• Massena Wines Barbera, Cinsaut, Dolcetto, Durif, Graciano, Roussanne, Saperavi, Tannat, Trincadeira, Zinfandel
• Michael Hall Wines Roussanne
• Millon Wines Tempranillo
• Mirus Cinsaut, Carignan
• Mr Black Aglianico
• Murray Street Vineyard Cinsaut, Marsanne, Zinfandel
• Muster Wine Company Colombard, Malbec, Pedro Ximenez, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Vermentino
• Neldner Road Marsanne
• Otherness Aglianico, Cabernet Franc, Montepulciano
• Paisley Wines Fiano
• Paulmara Estate Graciano, Lagrein, Malbec, Montepulciano, Nero d'Avola, Robola, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Touriga, Xinomavro
• Peter Lehmann Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Malbec, Montepulciano, Muscadelle, Tempranillo, Touriga
• Pindarie Wines Fiano, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Savagnin, Tempranillo
• Pirate Cru Marsanne, Montepulciano, Petit Verdot, Roussanne, Vermentino, Zinfandel
• Purple Hands Wines Aglianico, Montepulciano, Negroamaro, Pinot Blanc, Zinfandel
• Quattro Mano Tempranillo, Trincadeira, Tinto Cao, Touriga
• Quin Nebbiolo
• Redheads Barbera, Fiano, Graciano, Gamay, Gruner Veltliner, Malbec, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Sagrantino, Sangiovese
• Rockford Alicante Bouschet
• Roenfeldt Hill Zinfandel
• Rolf Binder Durif, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Montepulciano, Nero d'Avola, Saperavi
• Rollick Fiano
• Rosenvale Graciano, Negramoll, Tempranillo, Tinto Cao
• Ruggabellus Cinsaut
• Rusden Wines Chenin Blanc, Malbec, Zinfandel
• Saltram Fiano, Montepulciano, Moscato, Petit Verdot, Savagnin, Tempranillo
• Schulz Vignerons Zinfandel
• Schwarz Wine Company Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc
• Seabrook Malbec, Montepulciano
• Seppeltsfield Carignan, Lagrein, Nero d'Avola, Tinto Cao, Trincadeira, Touriga, Vermentino
• Shobbrook Wines Carignan, Cinsaut, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese
• Sieber Montepulciano, Tempranillo
• Slain Giant Barbera, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Tannat
• Small Victories WIne Carignan, Sangiovese, Vermentino
• Smallfry Wines Bastardo, Carignan, Cinsaut, Graciano, Marsanne, Muscadelle, Roussanne, Tempranillo, Trincadeira
• Sons of Eden Sagrantino, Tempranillo
• Sorby Adams Pinot Blanc
• Soul Growers Graciano, Grenache Blanc
• Spinifex Grenache Gris, Nero d'Avola
• St Hallett Tempranillo, Touriga
• Steinborner Family Vineyards Durif, Marsanne
• TeAro Tempranillo
• The Cutting Cinsaut
• The Grapes of Ross Ruby Cabernet, Sangiovese
• Thorn-Clarke Wines Graciano, Malbec, Nebbiolo
• Tomfoolery Cabernet Franc, Carignan
• Torbreck Vintners Marsanne, Roussanne
• Tregarthen Chenin Blanc, Fiano
• Troll Creek Tempranillo
• Tscharke Albarino, Graciano, Grenache Blanc, Montepulciano, Savagnin, Tempranillo, Touriga, Zinfandel
• Turkey Flat Vineyards Dolcetto, Marsanne, Pedro Ximenez, Roussanne
• Two Hands Saperavi
• Wines By Farquhar Aglianico, Albarino, Arinto, Barbera, Dolcetto, Durif, Carricante, Carmenere, Fiano, Freisa, Graciano, Lagrein, Mencia, Montepulciano, Nero d’Avola, Rabosa Piave, Saperavi, Tempranillo, Touriga, Verdejo, Verdicchio, Zinfandel
• Woods Crampton Bonvedro, Graciano
• Yelland and Papps Barbera, Cinsaut, Pinot Blanc, Roussanne, Vermentino, Zinfandel
• Z Wines Bonvedro, Muscadelle
• Zitta Nero d'Avola

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Visiting the Barossa Valley region

The Barossa Valley is easily visited on a day trip from Adelaide, but this wine region has so many wineries that you should consider at least an overnight stay.

The main towns are Lyndoch, Tanunda, Nuriootpa and Angaston. In these towns and in the many smaller villages you will find a large range of accommodation options including resorts, hotels, motels, cottages, guesthouses, caravan parks and camping grounds. The Vinodiversity Wine Hotels service will help you find the best deals on accommodation in the Barossa region.

When you are planning your Barossa Valley tour you should also make sure you try some of the regional food specialties. The local butchers and gourmet food shops will provide you with the Barossa version of some German delights. My personal favourite is the garlic mettwurst.

The region is also home to food writer and TV personality Maggie Beer, whose Farm Shop will sell you such delights as quince paste, local olives and Sangiovese verjuice.

As is fitting in such an area, there are many dining options, including restaurants at some of the wineries which will provide you with opportunities to try the local fare.

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