Sept 18, Tuesday & Sept 19, Wednesday

Sept 18, Tuesday   & Sept 19, Wednesday

Tuesday:   This is the day I go on my Wine Tour to Barossa Valley.  Because I’m not staying in the downtown area, I have to take the bus into the city and get picked up in front of the Museum on North Street.  It is a sunny day and although it is a bit cool, it should be a great day.

This is a small group tour and I’m the last one to be picked up.  I get to sit beside the driver !  Great view. 

We will be visiting four wineries today but first we have to drive north east to get to the Barossa Valley.  Scott our driver takes some of the smaller country roads to get us there, through Kesbrook, Williamstown Cockatoo Valley and Lyndoch. 

 Driving to the Barossa Valley

 A lake created by a reservoir catchment area

 Sorry for the reflection off the glass, but check out the sheep !

 On the way we stop at the Barossa Reservoir, a water catchment area where the dam is referred to as the whispering wall.

Our driver walked over to the other side (140 meters away) and spoke in a low voice; we understood every word as clearly as if he had been standing beside us.  AMAZING !   It took 400 workers three years to build the dam, which was completed in 1902. It was the first “arch” dam building in South Australia

 Driving to the Barossa Valley

 We start to see vineyards !


 

The first winery is in “the beautiful and historic Chateau Yaldara”. They make award winning McGuigan wines. We tasted a Semillon Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Moscato, a Shiraz and a port.

McGuigan wines at Chateau Yaldara

 Our tour van today

 Vineyards

Our second winery was in Tanunda where we first stop in the town for a coffee.  We then make our way to the Peter Lehmann winery, where not only do we sample some wines, but we have a delightful lunch here as well.  Our tastings here included:  a dry Riesling, a Pinot Grigio, a blended white, a Shiraz, a Cabernet Sauvignon, and a sparkling Shiraz. (YES, sparkling shiraz; very different)  

 Peter Lehmann Winery

 

I'm really enjoying this....   and I'm so glad I'm not driving today !

Our lunch consisted of a nice platter of cold cuts, olives, almonds, bread, cheese and the most delicious pickled beet spread.  I bought a jar of the Zimmy’s Beetroot Spread, Barossa Valley Produce.

Our third winery was just a short ride away (we could actually have walked there), the Langmeil winery. Here we actually got to see a working winery (well, the buildings anyway since it’s early spring and the vines don’t even have leaves on them yet). 

 
 
OK... now I'm really interested !  Look at all those casks, and no spigot in sight !
Here we sampled a Dry Riesling, a Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé, a Shiraz, a Mataro and a Grenache.  (I’d never heard of Mataro before today !)

This vineyard as some of the oldest vines in the world ! ! !  YES, older than European vines which had to be replaced because of a blight.

From Tanunda we drove to Angaston and up to a lookout point over the Barossa Valley

 
Really had some nice sculptures as well

Our fourth and last stop was at the Murray Street Vineyards on the other side of the Barossa valley. 

 

Isn't that a beautiful sight !

Here we tasted a blended wine (shiraz, Grenache & Mataro), a shiraz, a mataro and a brandy.  The other vineyards we visited use irrigation systems for their vines, but Murray Street Vineyards just relies on nature.  May explain why most of the wines we tasted were quite dry.  (HA, HA, HA)  I think I drank too much.

That was it for our wine tour.  Our 72 km drive back to Adelaide was quite fast since we were on freeways all the way in.  

 Fields of ..... I forget the name.... you make vegetable oil from it !


I got dropped off again in front of the Museum and caught the bus back to the motel.

That was a very enjoyable day.   The people in our group were all very nice.

Wednesday:   I’ve caught a cold. Car or no car, I just have to rest today to try to nip it in the bud.