The Barossa is one of the most iconic wine regions in Australia, and it's no surprise why. The Barossa Zone encompasses the Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Tanunda and surrounding land and boasts a vinous history dating back over 180 years. The region is best-known for its big, bold style of shiraz, but there's much more to the region than just this variety. In addition to the spectacular, diverse wine, there are walks, eateries and markets aplenty in the region, giving you more than enough to do.
If you're visiting, be sure to check out the six wineries below and sample their wines, especially Artisans of Barossa's 2021 Small Batch Blanc de Blanc, Château Tanunda's 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz, HATCH's Flaxman's Riesling, Levrier Wines' 2018 Cavall Merlot, Pine Drive Vineyard's 2021 Shiraz, and RedHeads Wines' 2022 Studio Touriga.
Artisans of Barossa
General manager Fraser Mackenzie says: The Artisans of Barossa are John Duval Wines, Spinifex Wines, Sons of Eden, Lienert Vineyards, Schwarz Wine Co., Purple Hands Wines, Hobbs of Barossa Ranges and Chaffey Bros. Wine Co. Eight small winemakers brought together by a shared commitment to protect and promote the art of small-batch Barossa winemaking.
H. How do you approach the winemaking process?
FM. To be an ‘artisan’ is very much about setting your own path driven by a human desire to explore, experiment and to express oneself. All of the artisans are deeply committed to the preservation of traditional Barossa small-batch winemaking, yet with innovation and a contemporary approach.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
FM. With over 20 different grape varieties and 40 wines open for tasting each day, no one covers the Barossa like Artisans of Barossa. Our cellar door is a must-visit, stay-a-day location. Dine at our restaurant Essen, by Artisans of Barossa, and take in the expansive lawn and views.
Favourite local spot: When we’re not tasting wine with friends or lounging on the lawn watching the sun play across the Barossa Ranges, we’re stocking the fridge and pantry at the Barossa Farmers Market (Saturday morning), walking the dog in the Barossa Bushgardens (leash on) or showing off the view from Mengler Hill lookout.
Wine to try
2021 Artisans of Barossa Small Batch Blanc de Blanc, Eden Valley
A meticulous blend of chardonnay and delicate riesling, hand-picked and whole bunch pressed, captures the purity and freshness that defines high-quality Eden Valley wines. Each bottle reflects a commitment to small-batch winemaking, with a year of maturation on lees lending to the development of complexity and texture. No dosage is added to leave the wine free from sugar additions, with just a whisper of barrel-aged Riesling for topping up after disgorgement.Best enjoyed: A natural match with oysters due to the citrus spectrum flavours the wine will impart on the pairing. Young and creamy camembert is also a perfect match. Traditionally served in a flute, but increasingly in a universal glass to allow aromatics to develop. From the fridge at 13 degrees is perfect, then into an ice bucket.
RRP $69 | Drink to 2025 | artisansofbarossa.com | Shop this wine
Château Tanunda
Premium winemaker Jeremy Ottawa says: Château Tanunda is one of Australia’s most historically significant wineries. Established in 1890, the Château is a cornerstone of the Barossa wine industry. The focus is on our unique Old Vine Expressions range from Barossa old vine vineyards of 50, 100 and 150 years of age, which produce wines amongst the world's elite. Recognised worldwide, the benchmark Grand Barossa Shiraz is found in over 35 countries and is a leading light in the reputation of quality Barossa shiraz.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Barossa?
JO. The Barossa is at the very core of what Château Tanunda is about. It is a unique region with textbook conditions for ripening and making some of the very best expressions of the shiraz grape. We are home to the oldest continuously producing vines of shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, semillon, mataro and grenache in the world. It is also a place with a great community spirit and respect for traditions, with a strong German heritage that shines through in our local produce and traditions.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
JO. Château Tanunda is a wine experience specialist. We pride ourselves on offering a wonderful range of wine experiences onsite for cellar door visitation that are bookable and showcase different aspects to the Barossa and our winemaking. We are also a very popular destination for corporate groups looking at fun and immersive wine experiences for their clients. Our premier experience is our Beyond the Velvet Rope tour that gets guests into the vineyard and winery for a behind the scenes privately guided view at what it takes to make great wine.
Favourite local spot: A wonderful place we like to take our VIP guests on tour to get their bearings is the Mengler Hill lookout. From there the entire Barossa Valley opens up to you from Lyndoch to Ebenezer and Greenock, and Tanunda directly in front. There is also a beautiful sculpture park there to wander around and appreciate the local craftsmanship.
Wine to try
2020 Château Tanunda 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz
"Shiraz sourced from two vineyards with an average age of 120 years in Nuriootpa and Vine Vale; aged for 24 months in French and American oak (20 per cent new). Deep crimson in the glass and bursting with choc-berry fruits, dark plum and mulberry notes underscored with layers of baking spice, licorice, cedar, vanillin oak and earth. Graceful with an elegant mouthfeel, plentiful tight tannins and a minerally acid cadence on its extended finish." – Dave BrookesBest enjoyed: Pair with roast duck or wagyu beef fillet. Keep at 16 degrees with 2–3 hours in the decanter before serving.
RRP $180 | Drink to 2033 | chateautanunda.com | Shop this wine
HATCH Wines
Winemaker and owner Chris Hatcher says: Affectionately known as Hatch, after 50 years creating wines for some of Australia’s most recognised labels, I launched HATCH Wines in October 2023 to continue crafting beautiful, classic wines that stand the test of time. Bringing together my winemaking skills and my love for 1920s jazz, art déco design and refined revelry, HATCH Wines offer affordable luxury in every bottle.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Barossa?
CH. The Barossa has a more than 180-year history of making wine and is home to some of the most ancient soils on earth, ranging in age from 200–500 million years old. It is one of the most diverse regions in the world to make wine. What I love most about the Barossa is the sense of community. Growers and winemakers work together to make exceptional wines that reflect the personality and diversity of terroirs within the region.
H. How do you approach the winemaking process?
CH. Launching HATCH, I wanted to make elegant and sophisticated wines using the best regional varietal expressions of fruit. My winemaking philosophy is simple. Make exceptional wines that respect the unique characters of the very best regions and varieties. Wines that show varietal purity, balance, elegance and finesse. Wines that are excellent when young and vibrant but will reward with ageing.
Favourite local spot: Food and wine are a very important part of the heritage and culture of the Barossa and today we have an amazing collection of stylistically diverse, modern restaurants and wine bars. Like wine, to single out one favourite is impossible. The ones I enjoy the most, in no particular order, are Vintners Bar & Grill, fermentAsian, Bar:Musque, Vino Lokal and Char Barossa.
Wine to try
2023 HATCH Flaxman's Riesling, Eden Valley
The HATCH 2023 Flaxman’s Riesling is floral with hints of lime and jasmine. The palate is elegant with intense fruit and fine natural acidity that is delicious now but will reward with medium to long-term cellaring.Best enjoyed: Enjoy with fresh oysters, prawns, seared scallops, salt and pepper squid and delicate Asian dishes or simply with friends on a summer’s day. Serve at 7–9 degrees celsius.
RRP $32 | Drink to 2039 | hatchwines.com.au | Shop this wine
Levrier Wines by Jo Irvine
Winemaker Jo Irvine says: Levrier Wines by Jo Irvine was established in 2014 as an alternative taste of the Barossa. Our focus is on the forgotten noble varieties of the Barossa, such as cabernet franc and merlot. We do have award winning shiraz and cabernet sauvignon in the range, but our love is to show the strength of the forgotten noble varieties as an alternative to the Barossa wines that we all know and love.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Barossa?
JI. As a second-generation winemaker of the Barossa I have been given access to some of those forgotten varieties that the original migrants brought to this country, and to this day still make amazing wines. I work with vineyards that have survived for generations in the ancient soils of the Barossa but are still producing a different taste and style that the new consumers are looking for in this day and age.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
JI. The Levrier Wines cellar door is open five days from Tuesday to Saturday from 11am. We offer guests a tasting of a range of wines from our extensive portfolio. An exclusive experience is a Sensory tasting platter for our guests that will allow them to develop their knowledge of the finer tasting/aromas of the wines from a visual and tasting perspective. One of the other unique experiences is that you can share this experience with your four-legged friends in the only truly dedicated dog park in the Barossa.
Favourite local spot: Barossa Farmers Market – a place you can meet the locals and purchase all the ingredients that you need to make your own tasting platter to share at the end of the day with any of the wines that you have purchased at Levrier Wines or some of our other Barossa friends.
Wine to try
2018 Levrier Wines Cavall Merlot
Dark blue-purple hues reflect the rich, fragrant aromas of plum, violets and cassis with an intense palate showing red berry, plum and cloves, with a soft and subtle tannin structure that gives this wine the elegance it deserves.Best enjoyed: Pair with slow roasted pork, beef or lamb with a deep rich red wine jus.
RRP $70 | Drink to 2029 | levrierwines.com.au | Shop this wine
Pine Drive
Vignerons Matthew Grayson and Bernadette Stewart say: Home is a simple cottage in Moppa next to a small vineyard located at the end of a dusty country road which is lined either side by skyscraper high pine trees. It might not look like much at first glance, but this country is renowned for red wines of great flavour intensity and elegant structure. That’s why we chose here to grow grapes and make delicious wine. Our ambition is simple – to be guided and assisted by neighbours, friends and the wonderful Barossa wine community to make wine that is true to the character of this special place.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Barossa?
MG & BS. Making wine at a single vineyard level in the Barossa means the character of your wine is ultimately determined by the subtle nuances of the geology, topography and microclimate of your vineyard location. The extraordinary diversity of the Barossa’s vineyard landscape creates the foundation for what we reckon to be one of the most exciting wine region’s in the world. Whilst we may share a common regional banner, no two wines are alike. Even when you break that down into a sub-regional level and simply enjoy wines from the Moppa region.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
MG & BS. If you make an appointment to taste wines, you’ll be hosted by me (Matthew). I’ll open a few bottles of our latest releases and invite you take a seat on the verandah overlooking the vineyard. It’s a special way to make the connection between a place, the craft of winemaking, and the enjoyment of a good glass of wine.
Favourite local spot: The Valley Hotel in Tanunda may not be the fanciest pub in the world, but the Cooper’s Pale Ale is cold and the front bar has plenty of local character. The place is often packed with growers, winemakers and members of the local wine community enjoying a catch up at the end of the day. It’s a great spot to get a sense of the Barossa.
Wine to try
2021 The Pine Drive Shiraz
The elevated site of our Moppa vineyard encourages afternoon breezes which cools the vine canopy allowing the fruit to ripen more slowly promoting complex flavours and retaining natural acidity. Our Shiraz wines are renowned for their powerful black fruit flavour profile which is framed by fine mineral edged tannins.Best enjoyed: Pair with sage rubbed spit roasted porchetta, garlic roasted whole chicken or a simple vegetarian lasagne. We suggest decanting the wine a few hours prior to enjoying. Serve between 15–18 degrees in a RIEDEL Veritas New World Shiraz glass.
RRP $35 | Drink to 2036 | pinedrivevineyards.com | Shop this wine
RedHeads Wine
Winemaker Alex Trescowthick says: RedHeads was first established in 2002 in McLaren Vale, but is now located in the heart of the Barossa surrounded by our own 8ha estate vineyard planted to shiraz, durif, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and touriga. Our winery was custom-built in 2018 with sustainability and small-batch winemaking in mind. We also work with a close community of passionate grape growers to bring in over 20 different grape varieties, from premium South Australian regions, all kept separate in the winery until blending.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Barossa?
AT. The soil and climate of the Barossa and its ability to make wines with power and finesse is why the region is, without a doubt, Australia’s most famous wine region, and why I love making wines here. Compared to cooler regions, the Barossa allows for more concentration and riper fruit characters in its wines.
H. How do you approach the winemaking process?
AT. Since RedHeads' inception in 2002, we have been focused on working with small batches – individual vineyard blocks or even just a few rows of fruit. We keep these separate throughout the winemaking process to give us plenty of blending options in our final wines.
Favourite local spot: Otherness! It’s across the road – food is fresh and approachable and really complements a range of different wines. Otherness supports a small group of local, small winemakers in the Barossa and surrounding regions.
Wine to try
2022 RedHeads Studio Touriga
A fresh, fruit-driven style loaded with cherries and Turkish Delight on the nose. The finish is savoury with silky tannins. A medium-bodied, new age touriga.Best enjoyed: This wine is best served slightly chilled, either at lunch or straight after a work day. In terms of food, pair it with barbecued marron with a lime cream sauce.
RRP $25 | Drink to 2034 | redheadswine.com | Shop this wine
