{"id":7285,"date":"2019-02-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-02-27T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/?p=7285"},"modified":"2020-04-02T05:36:39","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T19:36:39","slug":"18-barossa-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/sa\/food-and-wine\/18-barossa-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"18 must-know tips for a Barossa Valley getaway"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve done the research so you don\u2019t have to! Here\u2019s your guide to a weekend to remember in South Australia\u2019s beautiful Barossa Valley<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. Know your Aussie wine regions before you go.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It might sound obvious to passionate wine lovers, but if you\u2019re travelling to the Barossa in the hope of sampling a whole lot of chardonnay and pinot noir, you\u2019ll be disappointed. Different regions have different conditions and big, bold reds are what the Barossa is known for producing most.<\/p>\n

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2. Make peace with the fact you\u2019ll only scratch the surface.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With more than 150 cellar doors, you\u2019ll only get to sample a small selection of what\u2019s on offer and that\u2019s okay. It\u2019s a great excuse to come back again \ud83d\ude09 From our experience, three wineries per day is the sweet spot. Insider tip<\/strong><\/em>: Aim to be at your first winery by 11am. That will give you plenty of time to winery hop, lunch and settle back in at your accommodation. Morning wine sipping is totally acceptable here! If you\u2019re in a group, you may need to book ahead (or request a private tasting) at some cellar doors, especially on weekends.<\/p>\n

3. Have a big breakfast.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At the risk of sounding like your mother, a big brekkie to line your stomach before a day of wine tasting is a good move. After that, you\u2019ll often find you only need one other meal \u2013 maybe a long, lazy late lunch \u2013 so it helps the wallet and the waist too \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

4. Learn to taste, not swallow.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019m reliably informed this is the best way to truly savour the tasting experience. And it means you\u2019re not completely tipsy by your last stop for the day.<\/p>\n

5. Have a wine-purchase budget in mind. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

With free or cheap shipping and all that beautiful wine, it\u2019s easy to get carried away! Deciding how much you\u2019re willing to spend before you start is worth considering.<\/p>\n

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6. Get your Beer on.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If there\u2019s one person that\u2019s synonymous with the Barossa, it must be Maggie Beer and a visit to her Farm Shop<\/a> is a must. Sample and stock up on all her goodies, including jams, sauces, chutneys and, of course, her famous Verjuice.<\/p>\n

7. While you\u2019re there, be sure to have lunch at her daughter Elli\u2019s restaurant, The Farm Eatery<\/a>.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Opening in 2017, this former function centre has become one of the Barossa\u2019s hottest lunch spots. Its simple dishes, with their focus on fresh produce, are perfect for sharing and if it\u2019s a nice day, you can\u2019t beat that view.<\/p>\n

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The seasonal menu means the food is always changing but if the p\u00e2t\u00e9 or friend chicken are available, they are must-orders. On weekends and during busy holiday times, keep an eye out for wood-fired pizzas too.<\/p>\n

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8. Make your own wine blend.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s a cellar door experience with a difference! Don your best scientist get-up and learn how to make a GSM to your personal tasting at Penfolds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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For the bargain price of $65, you\u2019ll be taught about the winemaking process by one of the country\u2019s leading wineries. Experiment with different percentage combinations of grenache, shiraz and mataro and decide what split is to your liking, then make your own bottle to take home…<\/p>\n

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..or in the case of my travelling companions and I, to use for a blind-tasting later in the evening \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

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So… we\u2019re all moving to the Barossa and becoming winemakers \ud83d\ude1c\ud83c\udf77\ud83c\udf47 #redfernsdobarossa<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Nic Redfern<\/a> (@nic.redfern) on