Finishing up my recent visit to Australia, I wanted to spend a few days in wine country. There are several different wine regions in Australia so it required some research. I settled on Barossa Valley, as it’s the oldest wine region in Australia, with some of the oldest vines.
Accommodation in the area is mostly little B&Bs. This works out well since there are wineries everywhere so anywhere you stay you’ll be in walking distance of at least a few. The valley itself is beautiful and we enjoyed exploring. In addition to vineyards and wineries there are farms and small towns. We were in Tanunda for the annual Christmas parade with stalls of food and drink and a local band.
The first day, we rode bicycles provided by the hotel owners. The bikes were not in great condition but were adequate to cover more ground faster and get some exercise. On the downside, it’s difficult to carry bottles of any wines you may purchase. After visiting the last winery, I had a total of four bottles in my backpack and struggled to stay upright. The second day we walked to a few local wineries, spending more time at each one.
I’m the first to admit I’m a novice when it comes to wine. But I’m learning. And there’s no better way to learn than wine tasting. Taste a few wines. Listen to the staff. Ask questions.
And I’ve learned a few things about wine tasting. First, don’t be afraid to dump out a wine you don’t like. Second, don’t taste everything. It can be hard to get paste the appeal of “free wine” but if you overwhelm your palate, or drink too much, you’ll have a lot more trouble distinguishing one wine from another.
I’m used to wine tasting in the US where there’s usually a fee, often waived if you make a purchase. But in Australia it’s free so I feel more pressure to make a purchase. That presents a problem when you’re traveling and carrying more than a bottle of two in your luggage is not really practical. And shipping overseas is not cost effective with the weight of the wine. So I ended up buying a case and shipping it to a friend in Brisbane. Enjoy, Scott!