The View_September 2018_F_Web

BEHIND THE SCENES AT CHATEAU YALDARA
BY EMILY SHARPE-HALL, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR − SATIC
Chateau Yaldara is a five-star rated
winery, producing award-winning
wines of international acclaim.
Located in the Barossa, Chateau Yaldara
features an elegant cellar door, historic
winery with vintage collections, two-story
function centre, landscaped gardens and
an acclaimed restaurant, showcasing the
best of South Australia’s produce.
General Manager Anthony Grundel says
the business has been working hard to
ensure that it provides the type of offering
that visitors are looking for.
“We have been focussed on refreshing
our wine packaging, evolving our wines
to capture a sense of place in every bottle
and creating unique fine wine and food
experiences,” he says.
“For example, the business has integrated
a monthly tasting list in the Wine Room
and is now offering a regularly updated
seasonal menu in Hermann’s Restaurant,
enabling visitors to enjoy a more seasonal
tasting experience.”
The business has also been busy evolving
their winery tours, which take visitors
behind the scenes into the Old Port Cellars
to sample Chateau Yaldara’s extensive
range of aged fortified wines.
Anthony says visitors to Chateau Yaldara
are becoming more environmentally aware
and seeking experiences that involve wine,
food and nature.
They have also been working on
redevelopment plans to enable visitors
to embrace the natural environment,
including the restoration of the
parklands and construction of walking
and cycling trails.
“As our guests’ tastes are becoming more
sophisticated, the focus on providing a
total wine and food experience is critical,”
Anthony says.
“It has moved beyond the standard
tasting to a more immersive, engaging
experience.”
As a regional tourism business, Anthony
says there is great value in working not
only with the local community, but with
metropolitan-based businesses and
organisations, including tour operators,
membership-based organisations, local
suppliers and government departments.
“We have been working with the Barossa
Grape and Wine Association on the
Barossa Be Consumed and Gourmet
Weekend events,” Anthony says.
“Our aim in working with these groups is
to build strategic partnerships and look
for synergies. This enables us to remain
current in our industry sectors and to stay
informed of upcoming opportunities and
future trends.
“Our overall aim with any of these
initiatives is to drive visitation to our
business and to the Barossa region.”
Involvement in the Australian Tourism
Accreditation Program (ATAP) has also
helped Chateau Yaldara benchmark
against their competitors, as well as
provide an opportunity for the business
to ensure compliance with legislation and
relevant codes of practice.
In late 2018 Anthony says Chateau
Yaldara will be starting some
transformative projects to further
increase their tourism offering.
“You will have to keep an eye out on
social media or come and visit us – we
might be able to give you a sneak peek.”
22 SATIC. SPRING 2018