The Barossa Valley is located in South Australia and is the mainstay of the Australian wine industry. The name of Barossa Valley is derived from the Barossa Ranges and the name of the valley was decided by Colonel William Light. The valley is renowned for its diverse culture; it is home to a variety of festivals and boasts of a rich European history of home-made cooking and preserves, wine growing and handicrafts. There are about 80 wine makers in the valley and you can visit the vineyards and distilleries to see how wine is made.
The valley also boasts of spectacular natural beauty and features a wide variety of flora and fauna. You can trek through the Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park that is well-known for its wildlife; you can also walk through the Heysen walking trail or opt for a cycle tour of the Mawson cycling trail. All these places are rich in natural beauty and are havens for nature lovers.
One of the highlights of the Barossa Valley is its eclectic food culture. The place is a delight for every gourmet and that is why some of the well-known Australian foodies like Maggie Beer have adopted Barossa as their home. Amongst the many food outlets in the valley, Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop, the South Australian Company Store, the Barossa Farmers Market in Angaston and the famed Apex Bakery in Tanunda, are popular for their food specialties.
The week-long Barossa Vintage Festival is held biennially, in odd-numbered years. This festival is celebrated to mark the completion of the vintage season; it falls at the end of March and starting of April. An array of wine-related activities are held during the festival. They include wine tasting and musical events etc.
The Barossa Gourmet weekend is another wine festival held for two days in August every year. This festival is characterized by food, wine and music.
Barossa Valley Map
Facts about Barossa Valley
- The Barossa Valley covers an area of 912 sq km (352.1 sq mi).
- Tanunda, Nuriootpa and Angaston are the three major towns of Barossa.
- Bethany, the first settlement in the Barossa region carried out their first plantation in a vineyard in 1852.
Where is Barossa Valley?
The Barossa valley in South Australia can be reached by just an hour’s drive from north east of Adelaide airport.
Best time to visit Barossa Valley
The spring season from September to November and autumn season from March to May are the perfect times to visit the Barossa Valley.
More on Barossa Valley
Nearby Attractions: National Wireless, Adelaide Zoological Gardens, Haigh’s Chocolates, River Torrens, National Wine Center of Australia and Kangaroo Island.