Barossa was in full bloom when we were there last weekend. Plum and almond blossoms greeted us everywhere and it was just gorgeous whenever the petals fell softly from the branches in the gentle wind.
Tip for any travellers renting a hire car. Before you drive off, no matter how tired, hungry, cold, excited you are for the trip about to begin, always inspect the condition of the car you have been handed thoroughly and check it off with the rental company. Europcar rorted us big time earlier this year when we rented from them and they never ended up sending us an invoice for the damages they claimed. They only reverted us to a quote. Super dodge....
PSA aside, Barossa was all green and blue and welcoming for us last weekend. We of course went wine tasting galore, visitng both the commercial ones (we had some novices on board) such as Jacob's Creek, Wolf Blass and Penfolds, where we consoled ourselves with trying the cellar door releases, and then the more well knowned boutique wines, such as Rockford, Torbreck, Grant Burge, Henschke and Turkey Flat.
We of course could not miss out on the farmer's market, especially being in the state of all these famous cookshow contestants that have made it to the finals, Poh, Adam Liaw, Marion Grasby, Callum Hanh of Masterchef ilk and my favourite finals of all MKR time: Nic & Rocco vs. Jen & Leigh. Something about the produce in this place must be the secret behind why they churn out so many fine chefs.
These were our spoils from 'pillaging' the market and vineyards in the one day.
I am certainly a wine snob and wouldn't step foot in here if it wasn't for the bright sunny restaurant and the lure of the freshly shucked oysters. Picking a light moscato to accompany our equally light lunch, we tore into the baked-on-premises mushroom and blue cheese bread, Marinara pizza, pork belly and side of potatoes after slurping up greedily our slivers of oysters resting on beds of rock salt. Absolute divinity that makes one almost forgive the commerciality of the wine label.
This meal at the end of the day however was quite the one to cheer me up. We had great accompaniments to the gourmet produce and reservedly polished off only four and a half bottles amongst seven adults (of course one musn't count the ones consumed at the vineyards throughout the day).
Our starters were paired with Turkey Flat's; Fresh Olive bread dipped in Turkey Flat Olive Oil, Spiced Salami, Udder Delights Heysen Blue cheese, Adelaide Hills musky brie and Aged Barossa Port & Duck Pate, matched perfectly with Turkey Flat's Pedro Ximenez, a mellow classice sherry that took away the savoury tinge every time it got just a bit much. A brilliant aperitif if I've ever had one.
Our delicious Saskia Beer roasted chicken was so juicy and tender, I dreamt of it that night when in bed. The tomatoes tossed in the mustard and lettuce greens were divine and the Pewsey Vale beef so awesome when paired with the Jacob's Creek Negro Amaro, we feasted like it was Thanksgiving dinner.
My favourite wine of the trip was from Torbreck. Money well spent I declare.
My favourite vineyard was Henschke Cellars, a famous brand albeit the humble, family-run production it is. And how cute is their cellar daschund - Lotte? They offered free freight for a case, so our purchases were shipped directly to Sydney instead of us having to worry about carrying the bottles onto the plane with us. This is also why you did not see those bottles on display in our array above.
A truly wonderful region to visit if you love Reislings and full-bodied Shirazs and GSMs. Our other great find from this region was the Frontignac, a floral and fruity light wine, which I coin, Cognac for the ladies. I may not have gone crazy with wine purchases due to the new living arrangements I have currently, but oh my, I would have run and hid in the valley to never come home just so that the weekend can repeat it self all over again.
