Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

SIDE TRIPS FROM ADELAIDE 505
So Much Wine, So Little Time
If you have the choice of exploring the Barossa or the Hunter Valley in
New South Wales (see chapter 4), I recommend the Barossa, which
despite being a little more touristy, has more to offer in history and
architecture.
Another famous wine-producing region is the Coonawarra, 381km
(236 miles) southeast of Adelaide and near the border with Victoria; it’s
particularly convenient if you’re driving from Melbourne. The area is
just 12km (7 1 ⁄2 miles) long and 2km (just over 1 mile) wide, but the scenic
countryside is crammed with historical villages and 16 wineries. The
Clare Valley, 135km (84 miles) north of Adelaide, is another pretty area;
it produces some outstanding examples of cool-climate wine. Finally,
the McLaren Vale, south of Adelaide, offers some 42 vineries producing
some of Australia’s best aromatic white wines as well as shiraz.
www.grayline.com), offers a day trip visiting three wineries and other attractions
every day. It costs A$75 (US$49) for adults and A$37 (US$24) for children,
including a restaurant lunch. It also offers a daylong Grand Barossa Tour stopping
off at two wineries, the Adelaide Hills, and Hahndorf. This costs A$85
(US$55) for adults and A$50 (US$33) for children, and heads out Monday
through Wednesday and Friday in summer (Wed and Fri in winter). Both tours
depart at 9am from the bus terminal at 101 Franklin St., Adelaide. Another
option is the Barossa Wine Train (& 08/8212 7888), which departs from Adelaide
Railway Station on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. There are a variety of
day tour and overnight packages available. Another option is to do it in style in
a vintage car with the Mirror Image Vintage Touring Co (& 08/8621 1400;
www.mirror-image.com.au). Chevrolets, stretch limos, or Caravelles can be
hired from an hour to 2 days with a chauffeur/guide.
VISITOR INFORMATION The Barossa Wine and Visitor Information
Centre, 66–68 Murray St., Tanunda, SA 5352 (& 08/8563 0600; www.barossaregion.org),
is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturday and
Sunday from 10am to 4pm. It’s worth popping into the center’s small audio-visual
display for an introduction to the world of wine; entry is A$2.75 (US$1.80) for
adults, free for children. You’ll need an hour or so to look around.
Wines are often cheaper at the Tanunda Cellars bottleshop, or retail outlet, at
14 Murray St., Tanunda (& 08/8563 3544; tanundacellars@dove.com.au) than
at the winery door. This historic 1858 stone shop also houses one of Australia’s
finest collections of vintage wines, so pop in if you appreciate classic wines.
TOURING THE WINERIES
With some 50 wineries offering free cellar-door tastings and/or daily tours charting
the winemaking process, you won’t be stuck for places to visit. All wineries
are well signposted. Below are just a few of my favorite places, but don’t be shy
about just stopping whenever you come across a winery that takes your fancy.
Tip: Try a sparkling red. It may turn up noses elsewhere, and it takes some getting
used to, but bearing in mind the world’s wine industry now hangs on Australia’s
every wine offering, it may well be the great tipple of the future.