It’s no secret that a holiday in the Barossa Valley is a world-class food and wine experience with a plethora of intellectual wine speak and tasting opportunities.
Think ‘toasty’, ‘berry’, ‘liquorice’ and ‘tobacco’ with Barossa being one of the world’s great wine growing areas. With more than 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors that have been nurtured by seven generations of growers and winemakers, this fertile land is one of Australia’s top wine regions.
The Louise—a vineyard retreat
On a gentle hill surrounded by hundreds of acres of vines, with breathtaking vistas across the valley, suites here are casually elegant with soft contemporary design. Our recommendation: Number 29, a Stonewell Suite, is said to be the nicest of the ten suites that revolve around the entrance piazza—access is via a private courtyard. The liv- ing and sleeping spaces are decorated in seductive mod tones (from raspberry to aubergine). And, who wouldn’t be gob-smacked by the lux bathroom complete with under floor heating, walk-in shower, spa tub with rubber ducks, recessed candle nooks and an enticing outdoor shower for star-lit cooling off. The terrace is the best spot for an evening glass of local red overlooking the vineyard. If you come with family or friends, Number 33, called the Estate Suite, is a two-bedroom affair in a separate wing with even grander vineyard views.
Rolling hills
Located 70 kilometres (43 miles), or just over an hour’s drive, north of Adelaide. the area is home to the biggest names in Australian wine, including world-renowned Pen- folds, Henschke Cellars, Wolf Blass and Jacob’s Creek; as well as many boutique and artisan winemakers.
The Barossa has a picturesque cluster of villages, stone churches and vineyards that can be explored by bicycle, motorbike, vintage car, hot air balloon or helicopter. What a perfect way to wine and dine your way around some of Australia’s finest restaurants, wineries and cellars.
Marsuipal watching
The guides arrive at dawn for the 20-minute drive from The Louise to the Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park. It is a comfortable, 15-minute bushwalk to reach an open clear- ing where the bucks and flyers are enjoying breakfast al- fresco with their young families. In a spot adjacent to this year’s joeys and their parents, guides who double as break- fast hosts, prepare a gourmet feast that’s laid out on picnic blankets. Clearly, a one-of-a kind setting and a memorable way to engage with kangaroos: a picture-perfect photo op.
Horsehead and Stringbark
There are two other delightful walking trails within Kaiserstuhl Park which pass through a variety of land- scapes; creeks, rocky outcrops, areas of low forest, scrub and open grassland. But best of all are the panoramic views across the ranges to the Barossa Valley. The Wallowa Hike has scenic lookouts and amazing rock formations—perhaps the most popular is the Horse Head Rock. Weathering and erosion have produced the Horse Head formation which, as the name suggests, resembles a stallion’s head. Capped Rock, a horizontal rock slab perched on a vertical outcrop, is an exciting photographic challenge for both amateurs and pros. The Stringybark Loop also provides a brief look at the park’s diverse flora and fauna.
Murphy’s Appellation Restaurant
With local food that creatively reflects a sense of place and embraces and evolves menus using ancient food traditions and techniques, Executive Chef Daniel Murphy and his kitchen team are dedicated storytellers of the region, its produce, and its people. Here, virtually nothing is wasted, whole beasts are broken down to provide our butcher meats and fruit and vegetables are preserved at their peak freshness to be used throughout the year.
Switching off
The stunning Marananga hilltop, a relaxed atmosphere, gnarled old vines and The Louise’s unique, Barossa Valley culinary experience is definitely the perfect recipe for time away from the daily grind.
Taste your birth year
One of the country’s oldest wineries, Seppeltsfield, is the only winery
in the world to release a 100-year-old single vintage wine each year: Langton’s Para 100 Year Old Vintage Tawny. The Taste Your Birth Year tour allows you to sip a fortified wine made the year you were born.
