Barossa Trip Recommendations

[vinscent]

Hi all

I'm going to the Barossa next weekend (7th and 8th May) and as I've never been before I wondered if anyone can provide recommendations of wineries to visit, best cellar door experiences, good restaurants, and any other suggestions of things to do!

Cheers

 

[Steady]

I like Rockford and their pours were generous when we were there as a group. The wines are also to my taste

 

[redbigot]

Hi all

I'm going to the Barossa next weekend (7th and 8th May) and as I've never been before I wondered if anyone can provide recommendations of wineries to visit, best cellar door experiences, good restaurants, and any other suggestions of things to do!

Cheers

Rockford, St Hallett (opposite sides of the main road)
Hentley Farm (also the restaurant there)
Murray St Vineyards
Peter Lehmann, Langmeil
Seppeltsfield
Artisans of the Barossa (show case of small makers)
Yalumba and go to Blonde Coffee on the way.
Elderton
Gibsons
Torbreck if you are willing to pay to taste all the big guns.

fermentAsian fermentAsian – Modern Southeast Asian Cuisine (may be wines to book rather than just turn up)
Linkes Butcher Meet the Producer: Linke's Butcher: Barossa
Roaring 40's reputedly great pizza

 

[RooFlyer]

Calling buzzard on the white courtesy phone ...

Rockford and Henschke are my favorites.

Search on 'Buzzard wine tour' here on AFF and you can see where we've visited as a group on a day trip. Try to come along on one - its a great day!

 

[TomVexille]

I like Hentley Farm, Rockford, Two Hands, Charles Melton and Rolf Binder as a wineries to visit. Go have a big bowl of pasta at Lou Miranda's to soak up the tastings

 

[Katy]

RedBigot's list includes some of my favourites already (Rockford for the old-style winery, Seppeltsfield where you can drink 100 year old port and Peter Lehmann for the gorgeous cellar door) but I'd also add Grant Burge because I like their wines and they're just down the road from Rockford, Burge Family Winemakers (where you are likely to have the place to yourself) for excellent wine and a brilliant, warm reception from Libby and Penfold's for the make-your-own-wine experience.

 

[Daver6]

Ferment Asian for dinner. You'll need to book ahead. I believe their wine bar has been completed too now.

 

[Pushka]

You must go to Maggie Beer's kitchen and try her amazing products. PLENTY of free samplings, and there is a bowl of salted caramel sauce that is to die for. And the Angaston market on Saturday morning. Which is where we saw Maggie shopping for the week. Although she is frequently seen in Adelaide anyway.

Loved Charles Melton winery and for lunch, try their wonderful pie - expensive for a pie but fantastic. Rockford's Alicante - love!

 

[Dr Ralph]

Artisans of Barossa great. Charles Melton ridiculously pretentious.

 

[Pushka]

Artisans of Barossa great. Charles Melton ridiculously pretentious.

Really? On what basis?

 

[Steady]

I've never visited Charles Melton so cannot comment on what their cellar door is like but I quite like their Rose of Virginia

 

[vinscent]

excellent, thanks for all the recommendations so far!

Have any of you done the Grange tasting for $150 pp at Penfolds in Barossa? Would you say it's worth it?

 

[Pushka]

The Grange tasting was undertaken on one of Buzz's tours. Sometimes you might just want to say you did it. I signed up MrP (was just an extra $50) and he gave me a sip.

 

[Pushka]

Charles Melton tasting was done around a large table. Very pleasant on a cold day.

 

[Conrad_S]

Tscharkes is one of my favourites. Great story, building, good value and excellent wines. It's near Seppeltsfield if you like the fortifieds. Taste of Eden in Angaston is a good option to provide some variety. There is a good dried fruit place called Gully gardens just outside Angaston as well.

 

[redbigot]

Really? On what basis?

The Melton cellar door cat can be quite aloof.

I haven't been for a few years now, don't know if they have dogs again after the last Dalmation passed away.

I've never found it/them pretentious over several visits, but staff changes could have happened. The staffer last time did try to describe/sell the wines a bit until we assured her we were familiar with their wines anyway and just wanted to assess the current vintage.

 

[Pushka]

We went to Melton Cellars 2 years ago - almost to the day. No cat and no dogs. Not that they would have been an issue anyway.

 

[penegal]

My favourites:
Rockford
Charles Melton
Henschke

Some of the bigger names are also worth a visit:
Peter Lehmann
Wolf Blass
Penfolds
Grant Burge


FWIW, I find most Penfolds wines overpriced, but their cellar door experience is quite good.


Others to consider:
Bethany
Hentley Farm
Kies - Bit of a surprise on one of the Buzz tours. Their Dedication Shiraz is about the only wine worth buying, but they were very friendly and accommodating at cellar door.

 

[penegal]

Charles Melton was fine last time I was there. They did push the point about how high some of their Halliday ratings were, but I didn't have a problem with the cellar door experience. Lunch was yum

 

[Daver6]

Murray Street Vineyards is an excellent place for lunch if you just feel like some platters. Food is excellent in a really friendly atmosphere. They also have a really good selection of back vintages available to purchase at reasonable prices.

I think someone else already mentioned it, but if you like your fortifieds, Seppeltsfield is a must. Last time I went, I did the private tour where you get to try both your birth year and 100 year old Tawny (and some other top end wines). You do need to book ahead for that. The wine's were worth every cent. Even without it though, they have heaps on offer plus the new restaurant there looked pretty good.