At a little over 75 kilometres from Adelaide, you can base yourself at Tanunda and leave the car behind. Take a walk along the picturesque tree-lined main street full of interesting shops. Explore some local history and then sample the gourmet trail, Barossa style!
Pass the impressive Tabor Lutheran Church which was built in 1849. It’s been extended over the years to include the tower, choir gallery and belfry containing three bells imported from Germany. The German heritage of the region is still obvious with hearty pub meals and abundant places to buy wurtst. Local wine makers and grape growers descended from the original settlers, making up some of the over 180 wineries in the valley.
While you’re walking in Tanunda, stop for a beer tasting paddle at Barossa Valley Brewing, conveniently located across the road from the caravan park. Established in 2005, this craft brewery has relaxed outdoor and indoor areas for tasting their truly unique brews while enjoying tapas or a tasty wood fired pizza. The beers are called unique names like ‘I can’t believe it’s not bacon’ and ‘Peanut Butter Chocolate Milkshake Stout’.
After you’ve explored Tanunda, take a short drive to discover what else the region is so well known for. The iconic Barossa Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning in Angaston. Around ten kilometres from Tanunda, this town is full of the best produce the region has to offer. The market is popular with locals and visitors for the range of gourmet food available. Some of this includes meat, dairy and poultry, vegies, preserves, honey and sauces, handmade chocolates, fudge, pastries and more.
It pays to get in early when the market opens at 7.30am for the freshly made coffee, teas and breakfast burgers which are not to be missed. There are usually more than 50 local farmers and producers located in this huge indoor Vintners Sheds with more stalls spilling outside.
From Angaston it’s a short drive to Menglers Hill Lookout. Here you can get a sweeping view of the valley and take a walk through the sculpture park.
Of course no visit to the Barossa would be complete without visiting a few wineries! There are many within close proximity to each other. I’d suggest picking up a map of the cellar doors and mixing your visit between some of the larger impressive cellar doors. Bigger ones are Wolf Blass, Jacobs Creek and Seppeltsfield. There are also smaller more intimate ones like Rockford Wines, Tscharke Winery and Turkey Flat Vineyards.
The choices are wide when it comes to wineries but there is also a new standout establishment in the Barossa, Seppeltsfield Road Distillers. The very funky setup of timber clad shipping containers with an outdoor deck. In between is a comfortable spot where you can take a gin flight and sample some award winning gins. Or, just enjoy the surroundings with a gin and mixer of your choice.
On your return drive to Tanunda take a detour to Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop & Café. This legendary Australian cook and icon needs no introduction. A visit here is as warm an experience as you would expect.
Set in a stunning off-the-beaten-track location, the farm shop overlooks a lake. You can easily settle in and pass a few hours while you enjoy picnic fare from the shop. Stock up with Maggie Beer’s gourmet products and books before you leave. You can also see the kitchen where filming of the popular ABC show “The Cook and the Chef” took place and where cooking demonstrations and workshops still occur.
The final stop for a gourmet tour would have to be the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company. You can see chocolate making in the process and buy some smooth dark chocolate to go with the Barossa reds you’ve purchased during your stay. A match made in heaven.
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