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South Australia
and the Barossa valley
South Australia produces excellent
wines ... Want a few tips on wine-tasting?
Now, how about a trip to one
of our premier wine-producing regions?
South Australia is a spacious, open land. Its
landscape ranges from huge desert plains dotted with salt lakes to wet lands;
from long lines of ancient weathered hills to towering coastal cliffs; from
fertile strips of land hugging coast and river to patchy scrub, all harbouring
an extraordinary variety of wildlife.
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Often known as the festival state, South
Australia is renown for its festivals, fairs and events ... and of course, wine.
Adelaide
Adelaide is located adjacent to the River
Torrens, which, with the installation of a weir system, has been
transformed into a beautiful recreational lake. The banks feature walking and
cycling paths and the Torrens River has a dedicated cycle track, that makes it
possible to ride from the North Eastern Suburbs all the way to Glenelg Beach.
South Australia's diverse cultural climate and
cosmopolitan nature is also reflected in its restaurants and shops. The
leader in this field is the outstanding Adelaide Railway Station, an imposing
building which, when built in the 1920's, almost bankrupted the state. The
fabulous architecture is assured of a protected future having been converted
into what many consider to be the most opulent gaming casino in the world.
The city is well planned with the
visitor in mind and many shopping precincts are restricted to pedestrians. The
Rundle Mall is a network of arcades filled with specialty shops.
Adelaide Arts Festival
Heading the celebrations is the Adelaide
Festival, a stunning biennial affair that lasts for three weeks in March. Every
conceivable form of the arts can be found somewhere in the city's theatres,
galleries, nightclubs, halls and open spaces. The Adelaide Festival
Centre, located close to the Torrens River, has a variety of auditoriums and
theatres that have been completed in the last 20 years. The two world renowned
festivals celebrated here are the Barossa Valley Vintage Festival, in
odd-numbered years, and the Adelaide Arts Festival in February to March of the
even numbered years.
Adelaide is very adequately equipped
with world class restaurants. An enormous influence has been the nearby Barossa
Valley which supplies some of the best wines in Australia.
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Barossa Valley
 The
Barossa Valley, considered to be the powerhouse of Australian winemaking, is
only an hour's drive to the north from Adelaide. A home to many major wine
producers, this area produces over half of the country's wine.
To the east of the valley flows the Murray River,
which is one of the largest river systems in the world. Irrigation introduced in
1887 transformed the northern section into lush paradise with a wide variety of
attractions, from water sports to wildlife and of course delicious fruits and
wine.
Each wine producing district has its
own character, its own way of showcasing its special qualities and differences.
In the case of the Barossa, that difference stems in large part from the culture
of its Prussian-German-Brandenburger founders. On the Wine Coast, the early
grapegrowers and wine makers were mostly British. Some of the more famous
wineries are Chateau Yaldara, at Lyndoch, Orlando winery at Rowland Flat,
Chateau Tanunda, Kaiser Stuhl at Nurioopta, Seppelts at Seppeltsfield. Penfolds
at Nurioopta, and Yalumba winery at Angaston. Exploration of the many vineyards
is the great attraction of a visit to Barossa. Sample the wines
of Australia wherever you are (just enter a search for Australia in the
search box!)
The Barossa is a place of restaurants, bakeries and smoke houses where they
still make wursts the traditional way. The Barossa is also the sound of music.
You can hear it in the brass bands based, like football teams, in the towns, in
the choirs and, each year, in a music festival which transforms wineries,
churches and picnic grounds into concert halls. Up to twenty kilometres wide and
about thirty kilometres long, the Barossa is, in the fullest sense, a taste of
the good life.
Weather and
Climate
Long periods of continuous rainfall
in Adelaide are rare. Average rainfall is 585mm with most of it between May and
August. Temperatures range from a mean maximum of 30 degrees C in January to 15
degrees C in July.
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