The Barossa Festival is a non-stop celebration

Approved by:
Paige Master, Gainesville Weddings in Gainesville Florida

Mention the Barossa Valley and the word “wine” springs instantly to mind. Mention “fine Australian wine” and the Barossa Valley will be mentioned by connoisseurs around the world. The Barossa region of South Australia is synonymous with wine, and for good reason. However, there is more to the Barossa than just vineyards. It is a great place to visit for many other reasons, too.

The Barossa Valley was originally settled by German immigrants in the first half of the 19th century. Originally, the settlers were Lutherans who were being persecuted at the time in their native country. After they discovered the rich soil of the Barossa was perfect for growing vines, more German immigrants arrived and their influence on the region remains strong to this day.

Those first settlers didn’t have it easy. They slept in tents and their first enterprise was back breaking labor in the limestone quarries. The first permanent buildings in the Barossa Valley were made out of those stones and their early building efforts are a testament to the skill, faith and labor of the early settlers. The spires of the many old Lutheran churches in the valley, set against the green vines in the vineyards, is a lovely sight.

The early settlers brought their vine roots with them. They soon discovered that the Barossa Valley possessed ideal soil and weather for growing grapes and as the vines matured, a new and prosperous industry was created. Today, the Barossa Valley Shiraz wines in particular receive international acclaim, but other varieties grown in the region include Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Semillon. The reds are grown primarily in the Barossa Valley, while the white varieties are grown in the hilly regions of Eden Valley and Menglers Hill.

Needless to say, a region that is celebrated for its wines holds celebrations in honor of its wines. In the Barossa Valley, the largest and oldest celebration is the Barossa Vintage Festival. This festival has been held every second year over the Easter holidays for over sixty years. The Barossa Festival is a non-stop celebration featuring jazz bands, contemporary music, a ball and an internationally attended wine auction.

While wine and everything associated with wine are the main drawcards to the Barossa Valley, the area offers many other attractions, too. With the prosperity the vineyards brought to the region came fine art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and European style alfresco cafes. The valley’s heritage is preserved in the fascinating museums in the region. One of them, the Barossa Historical Museum in Tanunda, is housed in a post office that was built in 1865, while another, the Herbig Family Tree is literally inside a hollow gum tree.

Be sure and visit the Herbig Family Tree when you’re in the Barossa Valley. It may not be your first choice as a Barossa Valley accommodation, but it is where young Friedrich Herbig called home in 1855 and where he took his wife to live in 1858. Their first two children were born there. Eventually, the Herbig’s outgrew their tree and went on to have 16 more children, but the tree remains. It is estimated that the still living red gum is somewhere between 300 and 500 years old.

Uncategorized Barossa Valley, South Australia, wine