Part 4 of a series about this world class event held in Adelaide, South Australia.
If it seems that I’ve been short on wine (yea right!) then my last day visiting South Australia sure made up for that. It was off to the Adelaide Hills and then the Barossa Valley for wine tasting and touring, a day I was really looking forward to.
The day began with an interesting chocolate and wine tasting at Hahndorf Hill Winery. I’m not a big chocolate with wine person whatsoever, but I enjoyed the tasting and loved the views of this gorgeous estate. And yet again, let me mention the light in Australia. It’s beautiful.
After our tasting we headed to The Lane Vineyard and Bistro for a lunch prepared by chef Glen Carr. Oh, my heart be still. Exquisite food, beautiful wine, gorgeous views. The deconstructed caesar left me yearning for a way to recreate it here at home.
We explored more of the Adelaide Hills before settling in to the Kingsford Homestead. My Australian friends might recognize this estate as the setting for the TV series McLeod’s Daughters, and after an extensive remodel this 1856 two-story Georgian mansion is now a beautiful property available for booking.
Well rested with a morning full of flat whites, it was time to meet up with John Baldwin of Barossa Daimler Tours. John is an expert on all things Barossa and the perfect host for a day of sightseeing and tasting. He’s every bit as jovial as his smile might lead you to believe, and for the car fans, there’s this:
We visited the famous Penfolds Winery where we tried our hand at blending before heading to Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop. She needs no introduction, but to my American friends who might not now of Maggie, she’s an Australian icon who has dedicated her career to food, drink, and Aussie hospitality. I was thrilled to visit her shop and enjoy some pate, a few savory meat pies, salad, and of course some wine.
After lunch there were quick visits to the Torbreck and Rockford Wineries where we sampled various wines at their cellar doors. We also stopped by The Barossa Valley Cheese Company for a few cheese treats and a chat with the cheesemakers.
It was a fantastic day with fantastic company, and as my trip ended and John took us back to Adelaide, there was this:
I believe this is nature’s way of telling me that my second trip (two rainbows!) to Australia was nothing short of magical. And while I do understand it’s quite a trek to visit for many of us in the states, that shouldn’t stop you from visiting. It’s also a land filled with magic, smiles, contrasts and extremes, with delicious food and wine and amazing people. When I think back to my 7-year old self who dreamt of seeing Australia one day, I can say that a lifetime of anticipation has only been met with a greatness I was never expecting.
