Memoirs from the Barossa Valley

It was almost a year ago in a post Christmas glow that I got the news that I had been hired as a seasonal vintage worker for Orlando Wines in the Barossa Valley. I had been in Australia travelling and working for almost 8 months at this point, but what I really wanted to do was to learn about wine from beyond the bottle. As such, I left the sunny beaches outside of Perth, bought the cheapest car that I could find (didn’t even make it through the entire vintage!), and began a new, invaluable chapter in my continuing wine education.

The Barossa Valley, as I would learn very well during my employment, is a special region. Arguably the most famous wine region in Australia, the Barossa Valley boasts 73 Cellar Doors, 150 Wineries, and the views to match the most elaborate chateaus. It’s no wonder why people come to drink through this part of Australia. The history of the region begins with early German settlers arriving in Bethany as early as the 1840’s and planting the first vines shortly thereafter. Something that really surprised me about the region is how compact it is; The Barossa Valley is only 40km by 30km with most of the wineries situated in between the towns of Lyndoch and Nuriootpa, with Tanunda acting as the “heart” of the region. The climate is hot and dry in the summers with autumn bringing a light chill in the evenings.

The most famous grape grown and produced is the classic Barossa Valley Shiraz, big in flavour and body. Cabernet Sauvignons don’t quite have the reputation of its Coonawarra counterpart, but do show well. The Eden Valley Riesling is the most recognizable white varietal winning recent worldwide acclaim. There is something very romantic about this region and you can’t help but be swept away while driving amongst the perfectly planted rows of vines, the barren hills surrounding the region, and the distinct, welcoming Cellar Doors. The first settlers were quoted as saying the Barossa was “the Cream, the whole cream, and nothing but the cream.” Couldn’t have put it better myself.

Upon returning home I immediately set out to find the best of the Barossa Valley that BC offers. Thankfully, Everything Wine carries a couple of my favourites. Just off Barossa Valley Way is St. Hallet. When you enter the winery the first thing to greet you is Stewy, the talking parrot. A fixture of St. Hallet, the staff claims that the parrot knows how to say every wine produced at the winery! The St. Hallet Faith Shiraz is a great value at $19.99, a full bodied wine complemented by huge flavor. This is a benchmark for Barossa Valley Shiraz with many producers comparing their entry level wines to St. Hallet’s.

My best tasting experience came at Langmeil Winery where I mentioned that I worked at Everything Wine and almost immediately found myself standing amongst the vines with a glass of their excellent Sparkling Shiraz in hand chatting with one of the owners. There is nothing like walking amongst and even touching the oldest Shiraz vines in Australia, the same vines that produce the iconic Langmeil The Freedom 1843 Shiraz. If you can’t afford the Freedom (well worth the money), then I would recommend the Langmeil Valley Floor Shiraz at $29.99, a complex, juicy Shiraz that brings me back to my time at the winery.

Lastly, a must taste while in the Barossa Valley, Torbreck Winery opens almost every one of their extremely high quality wines at their Cellar Door. Their Run Rig, which we carry at Everything Wine, is included at the highest level in the prestigious Langton’s Classification as one of the most consistent and highest quality wines produced in all of Australia! You know that with that kind of consistency any of their wines are going to be excellent and the Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz at $29.99 is a perfect example of this.

If you are interested in Australian wines and want to learn more about this exciting and dynamic region, join me and co-host Sean Rusling on February 22 in North Vancouver as we take you through a tasting of terroir focused Australian wines. At only $25 this tasting is filling up fast so don’t delay!