Barossa Valley Wine Region

The Barossa Valley is undoubtedly Australia's most famous wine region. This wine region is situated about an hour's drive north of Adelaide, an ideal distance or a day tour.

You can see some sound advice for Barossa Valley Wine Tours from locals as well as visitors here

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 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.

Visiting the Barossa

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.

See this interctive map of the 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 many dining options, including restaurants at some of the wineries which will provide you with opportunities to try the local fare.

Use the search box below to help plan your Barossa Valley Wine Tour

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 region 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.

As the table below indicates Grenache is the leading minor variety here. It is used as a straight varietal wine, but perhaps more commonly in blends with Shiraz and Mourvedre. The latter variety is also known as Mataro, but the French version of its name is now almost universally preferred. Mourvedre is almost never used as a straight varietal but is rather used in blends.

Grenache is also used to produce some excellent rose wines.

Perhaps the most interesting innovator in the region is Robin Day who has plantings of Viognier, Sangiovese, Saperavi, Lagrein, Gargenega and Sangrantino at his Domaine Day vineyard.

Yalumba at Angaston is the acknowledged leader of the pack with its Viognier, but is also growing Cienna, Marsanne and Tempranillo.

Another regional innovator is Kabminye Wines who make a wine called Irma Adeline which is a blend of six Rhone varieties, namely Shiraz, Mourvedre, Grenache, Marsanne, Roussanne and Ugni blanc (Trebbiano).

Some alternative varieties that you may find in the Barossa Valley and the wineries using them

• 1847 Petit verdot
• B3 Wines Grenache, Mourvedre
• Barossa Ridge Petit verdot
• Barossa Valley Estate Grenache
• Basedow Grenache
• Bethany Grenache
• Biscay Wines Grenache, Viognier
• Burge Family Winemakers Grenache, Mourvedre
• Charles Melton Grenache, Meunier, Mourvedre, Muscadelle, Pedro Ximenez
• Chateau Dorrien Grenache, Mourvedre, Trebbiano
• Clancy Fuller Grenache
• Craneford Grenache, Petit verdot, Viognier
• Creed of Barossa Viognier
• Deisen Grenache, Mourvedre
• Diggers Bluff Alicante Bouchet, Grenache, Mourvedre
• Domain Barossa Grenache, Mourvedre
• Domain Day Garganega, Lagrein, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Saperavi, Viognier
• Elderton Verdelho
• Epsilon Graciano, Montepulciano, Tempranillo
• First Drop Albarino, Arneis, Barbera, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Tinta amarella
• Fox Gordon Fiano, Tempranillo, Viognier
• Gibson Barossavale Grenache, Mourvedre
• Glaetzer Wines Grenache
• Glaymond Wines Grenache, Tempranillo, Zinfandel
• Gnadenfrei Estate Gewurztraminer, Grenache
• Gomersal Wines Grenache, Mourvedre
• Gomersal Wines Grenache, Mourvedre
• Grant Burge Grenache, Mourvedre, Pinot gris, Viognier
• Greenock Creek Wines Grenache
• Haan Viognier
• Hamiltons Ewell Vineyards Grenache, Mourvedre
• Hare's Chase Tempranillo
• Heidenriech Estate Viognier
• Henry Holmes Wines Grenache
• Hently Farm Wines Grenache, Viognier, Zinfandel
• Hewitson Grenache, Mourvedre, Muscadelle
• Izway Wines Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier
• Jenke Vineyards Grenache
• John Duval Wines Grenache, Mourvedre
• Kabminye Wines Black frontignac, Carignan, Cinsaut, Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Zinfandel
• Kaesler Grenache, Mourvedre, Tempranillo
• Kalleske Wines Chenin blanc, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petit verdot, Viognier
• Kies Family Bastado
• Kurtz Family Vineyards Mourvedre, Petit verdot
• Langmeil Grenache, Mourvedre, Ondenc, Viognier
• Lanzthomson Wines Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier
• Laughing Jack Grenache
• Liebichwein Petit verdot, Tempranillo
• Limb Vineyards Mourvedre
• Linfield Road Wines Grenache
• Loan Wines Alicante Bouchet
• Lou Miranda Estate Grenache, Mourvedre, Pinot gris
• Mad Dog Wines Sangiovese
• Magpie Estate Grenache, Mourvedre
• Massena Wines Durif, Grenache, Mourvedre, Tannat, Tinta amarella
• Murray Street Vineyard Cinsaut, Grenache, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Viognier
• Orlando Grenache, Rubienne
• Paulmara Estate Sangiovese
• Peter Lehmann Chenin blanc, Grenache, Malbec, Mourvedre, Muscadelle
• Pindarie Wines Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• RBJ Grenache, Mourvedre
• Rockford Alicante Bouchet, Grenache, Mourvedre
• Roehr Grenache
• Rosenvale Wines Grenache
• Rosenvale Wines Grenache
• Ross Estate Wines Graciano, Grenache, Tempranillo
• Rusden Wines Chenin blanc, Grenache, Mourvedre, Zinfandel
• Saltram Grenache, Mourvedre
• Schild Estate Wines Grenache, Mourvedre
• Schulz Vignerons Grenache, Mourvedre, Zinfandel
• Schwarz Wine Company Grenache
• Scorpiiion Grenache, Mourvedre
• Sieber Road Wines Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier
• Smallfry Wines Grenache, Mourvedre, Petit verdot, Tempranillo
• Soul Growers Grenache, Mourvedre
• Spinifex Carignan, Cinsaut, Grenache, Grenache gris, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Trebbiano, Vermentino, Viognier
• St Hallett Grenache, Mourvedre, Touriga
• Stanley Brothers Sylvaner
• Stonewell Vineyards Grenache
• Tait Wines Grenache
• Te-Aro Grenache, Mourvedre
• Teusner Grenache, Mourvedre
• The Standish Wine Company Viognier
• Thorn-Clarke Wines Nebbiolo, Petit verdot, Pinot gris
• Tim Smith Wines Grenache, Mourvedre
• Torbreck Vintners Grenache, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Viognier
• Tscharke Albarino, Graciano, Montepulciano, Tempranillo, Zinfandel
• Turkey Flat Vineyards Dolcetto, Grenache, Marsanne, Mourvedre
• Veritas Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier
• Veronique Grenache, Mourvedre
• Winter Creek Wine Grenache
• Yaldara Grenache, Mourvedre, Petit verdot
• Yalumba Wine Company Cienna, Grenache, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Petit verdot, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Viognier

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Check out some other Australian wine regions from the Vinodiversity perspective.