What are the best wineries to visit in the Barossa Valley?!
What are the best wineries to visit in the Barossa Valley?
Answers:
Langmeil is excellent, and has a wine (Freedom Shiraz - expensive, though) that is made from the oldest shiraz vines in the world. You can walk from there through the vines to Richmond Grove - much more commercial. The other winery that has 1827 shiraz vines is Turkey Flat, but their flagship wine is a blend of 1827 and younger vines - still a friendly cellar door, though.
My favorite is Charles Melton in Krondorf Road - extremely friendly cellar door people, and a great variety of excellent wine. Their best known wine is 'Nine Popes' - the original Australian Chateu Neuf du Pape style Grenache-Shiraz-Mouvedre blend. Ask about the name - it's an amusing story (mis-translation of 'neuf' as 'nine', instead of 'new').
Nearby is Rockford - very popular, but a bit cultish - the most typical 'boutique' winery. Rockford's Basket Press Shiraz is famed, but may not be available. Even more exclusive is their cult wine Black Shiraz (sparkling shiraz), which may not be available, but Charles Melton's sparkling shiraz is near as good.
St Hallet, at the other end of Krondorf Rd is good, too.
For a world class wine, try Two Hands - also very friendly people, and they may even give you a taste of Aras - a most exquisite shiraz. Better known is Torbreck - very well known, but hellishly expensive, and you won't get to taste their top drops.
Another friendly cellar door to visit, with much more affordable but excellent wines is Bethany.
Similarly, The Willows is a little different, and a bit away from the main centres. They also make a good spakling wine "The Doctor".
These are all small, boutique wineries, but don't miss out on Seppeltsfield; quite an experience, although now owned by one of the major companies. They will give you a sniff, but not a taste (I kid you not!) of their 100 year Para Port - a unique wine, but unaffordable at $1250 a bottle.
Yalumba (large, but still privately owned) is of similar style.
Most importantly, talk to the cellar door people with genuine interest, and they will answer your questions. If it is obvious that you are truly interested, they will help; but they do get a bit sick of show-off type customers, who are merely trying to get a taste of the more exclusive wines, without buying any.
No, I do not have anything to do with the wine industry; but by coincidence, visited the Barossa last time a few weeks ago.