Our Living History

Bring your tastebuds, you inner desire to connect with the land, and prepare to be charmed by genuine warm hospitality coupled with an abundance of stories and time to connect.
There's nothing else like it in the world, where a rich European heritage lives on, combined with down to earth Aussie spirit. The Barossa, just one hour's drive from Adelaide, is Australia's destination for wine, food and culinary adventures.

Our story

After establishing the South Australian Company, philanthropist and entrepreneur George Fife Angas employed Johannes Menge, gifted linguist and mineralogist, in the late 1830s to explore the local colony above and below the ground. After his expedition, Johanne wrote to George detailing the Barossa as ‘The Cream, the Whole Cream and nothing but the Cream'. After this positive advice, George assisted the passage of an entire European community brought from various Prussian provinces including German speaking settlers from Silesia (now part of Poland), to set up a piece of the ‘old world' in the ‘new world'. Following this movement, the tiny hamlet of Bethany was established in 1842, and was soon followed by other settlements thereafter.

The settlers were orderly, hard working people. They cleared land for mixed farming, built churches and schools and planted small vineyards, some of which have remained in the same family name until this day.

The Barossa we know today, is a 1,970 square kilometre region which encompasses the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. The region contains four communities including Angaston, Lyndoch, Nuriootpa and Tanunda, and a collection of tiny hamlets in Bethany, Cockatoo Valley, Eden Valley, Greenock, Keyneton, Light Pass, Marananga and Seppeltsfi eld, Mount Pleasant, Penrice, Rowland Flat, Springton, Stockwell, Truro and Williamstown. This type of settlement is unique in Australia and is a wonderfully preserved enclave of British and Prussian heritage.

Gawler, on the western boundary of the Barossa, was among the first to be proclaimed a township, in 1857, and in 150 years has grown to become one of the Barossa tourism region's biggest regional centre. Similarly Kapunda, on the northern edge of the Barossa tourism region, is renowned for its copper centre and very rich history. The heritage value of these towns is now fiercely protected, with strict limitations on where development can take place.

Wine and Food

The Barossa is one of the world's great wine regions; revered alongside Bordeaux, Napa and
Tuscany. With consistently outstanding vintages over the past 150 years, six generations of grape growers and winemakers have established the Barossa as Australia's leader in crafting wines of
great distinction. While the reputation of Barossa wines has strong international appeal, the region's food exhibits the same integrity, quality, diversity and heritage.

Whether it's a visit to a winery, farm shop or fine restaurant you can enjoy the most memorable meal of a lifetime. Or simply visit artisan butchers and bakers, award winning cheese makers and micro brewers and cafes - an entire world of gastronomic delights awaits you in this picturesque region of villages, rolling hills, stone churches and vineyards. Every Saturday morning, locals turn out to source the very best from the producers of the Farmers Market; you'll never know who you'll bump into; chefs, foodies and winemakers. The slow food philosophy thrives in the Barossa, showcased by a year long calendar of festivals, celebrations and events.

Food Barossa products at Blond Coffee in Angaston

Heritage

The Barossa has several trails which link many of the key heritage sites throughout the region. They take you on a journey through the back roads of the region and lead you past many white painted storybook churches, whose spires mark the spiritual centres of this still deeply religious community. You will also see many humble slab-sided barns and pug cottages, steep roofed farmhouses and houses built from locally quarried blue, iron and sandstone.

Explore

While authentic food and wine experiences are easily accessible, you can also enjoy hot air ballooning over vineyards, bushwalking or a relaxed stroll through one of our many charming country towns enjoying art galleries, antique shops and boutiques. Nowhere else in Australia can you experience this compelling combination.