WanderList: Barossa
When it comes to wine, South Australia is spoiled for choice, with 18 wine regions peppered across the state. Jo Laidlaw visits perhaps the most famous, the Barossa Valley, for a taster of its renowned food and drink scene
Just an hour or so away from Adelaide, South Australia’s capital, lies Barossa. It’s an important name in the world of winemaking, planted with vines to create fortified wines that wouldn’t spoil after a long sea voyage back to the heart of the British Empire. In modern times, it became synonymous with big, bold reds. But a trip to today’s Barossa makes for a fascinating glimpse into current wine production, with big and small producers to explore.
It’s made even more charming by the tiny towns that dot the mainly rural landscape, like Tanunda. Home to around 4500 people, there’s a distinctly Germanic feel, thanks to Lutheran settlers who moved there to escape religious persecution in the 1840s. Built around a single main road, there are plenty of quirks to experience like the Tanunda Kegel Club’s skittles alley (established 1858), The Tanunda Town Band (the oldest brass band in the southern hemisphere) and Apex Bakery, where they’ve been making German pretzels and bakes daily since 1924.
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Barossa is poorly served by public transport: another good reason to base yourself somewhere like Tanunda with its walkable breakfast and lunch options. So even if you normally despise anything that looks like organised fun, a tour is a great way to get around the vineyards. Or go bougie and book private transfers from Wine Legends, where Ben Shillito shows off the best of the region with plenty of insider tips.
But back to the wine itself. Get orientated at Seppeltsfield Barossa, a slick, long-established estate that illustrates the region’s history alongside polished tasting experiences. It’s also home to Fino, one of the best restaurants around. David Franz Wines is a lower-key rustic cellar door, with a deck looking out over his beautiful vineyard. Franz is wine-making royalty and his left-of-field approach creates small-scale wines that blend the best of old and new Barossa.
The Cutting is led by rising star Belinda van Eyssen, who won Barossa Winemaker Of The Year 2026. Her small-batch wines are rooted in respect for the First Nations people who originally tended the land, creating light, cool and contemporary vintages. Or head to Wonderground for a combination of winery, art gallery and gorgeous grounds; Mirus and Wonderground wines are on pour in their renovated barn where you can also take art lessons.
Maggie Beer is the South Australian equivalent of Nigella Lawson and her eponymous Farm Shop is a sprawling spot where you can take part in cocktail-making or cookery classes before shopping for local wine and produce to take back for dinner. Or head to Vintners Bar & Grill for a seafood-heavy menu that epitomises modern Australian cooking with a wine list to get lost in.
Visit the official Barossa site; picture: Seppeltsfield.