Tips for visiting the Barossa in Autumn

by Jess Ruciack

The Barossa is a fantastic place to visit year-round, with each season having its own perks. If you are planning a visit to the Barossa this Autumn, we’ve put together some information that might be handy and some insider tips and thoughts on what to see and do while you’re here enjoying the area – live like a local for a few days.

VINTAGE

Right now is the time of grape harvest, so it’s busy across our region with wineries in the swing of vintage. You’ll see harvesters, trucks carting grapes, pickers in vineyards and even vintage workers at the local shops with splashes of purple on them after a hard day in the winery.  We are nearing the finish of vintage, with a few more blocks of fruit to come in. 

AUTUMN COLOURS

Autumn is also a time of change in Barossa – the colours, the temperature, the wine we drink… The vineyards become a beautiful blend of yellows, oranges and reds as leaves turn in the cooler nights and drop as the vines head into dormancy for another winter. Paddocks will begin to be sown with winter crops like wheat, barley and canola.

WEATHER / WHAT TO PACK

Whilst the days are generally beautiful – sunshine and low-mid 20s – the nights become quite a bit cooler again.Barossa.com suggests, “Pack light clothing during the day with warm clothes for the evening. Local tip: even if the day has been warm to hot, once the sun goes down it will get chilly!”

I always like to have layers with me during Autumn, because even if it has been 27 during the day, by 4 or 5pm it can definitely be time for a cardigan or jumper. The sun seems to drop quickly!

WHAT’S ON IN AUTUMN

Around us the vineyards are being harvested, but it is also the time of stone and pome fruit harvest. You might be lucky to see paddocks covered in halved apricots or pears as they dry in traditional fashion – by the sunshine! Check out Trevallie Orchards for some further insight.

The Barossa Farmers Market, just up the road from our Cellar Door, is open on Saturday mornings as a great way to start your day before booking some wine tastings.

Through April the region celebrates the Barossa Arts Festival. The Barossa Arts Festival is a biennial event bringing together the best artists from across South Australia for a month long festival of interactive workshops, classes, music and art events. At our Cellar Door you can wander the garden and admire sculptures by local artist Tony Howard. Head to the Festival website for more details – there are so many great events to choose from while visiting!

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL TIP

 

Tips from our Production & Export Manager, Rebecca:

What is your favourite place to visit within the Barossa, during Autumn?
I love to meet my running group at Bethany Reserve and run up along the Heysen Trail all the way through Kaiser Stuhl conservation park to Tanunda Creek Road and back (it’s about a 20km round trip). The views and serenity are spectacular and it’s right on our doorstep, if you love a good trail run/walk.

If you had friends or family visiting during Autumn, where is the one spot in the Barossa you would take them?
Vintners Bar & Grill for lunch or dinner, and the Elderton Cellar Door, of course!

Any favourite activities/places to visit with kids during the school holidays?
We love to bike ride as a family from Angaston to Nuriootpa (and back) with friends and enjoy a gin at the Barossa Distillery followed by lunch at Home of the Brave or Ember.

 

AND OUR CELLAR DOOR, OF COURSE!

As always, we welcome you to our Cellar Door. Book ahead for a tasting experience – a tasting flight from across our range. Or if you love bold, Barossa Shiraz check out our Command Vertical tasting.

After your tasting, our garden is perfect for relaxing, with a ‘small bites’ plate and a glass of wine. A bottle of crisp Eden Valley Riesling or Barossa GSM are perfect on the verandah – sit back and look over the 1894 Command Vineyard.

Through April we are hosting a sculpture exhibition by Tony Howard. Wander our garden to admire his works!

For upcoming events, check out our Events page for events at our Cellar Door and for events and tastings throughout the Barossa, check out the Event Calendar on Barossa.com. Barossa.com is also a wealth of information to help plan your visit –  from accommodation and transport, to dining and suggested itineraries. Check out http://www.barossa.com/visit.

When you are here, the Barossa Visitor Information Centre in the main street of Tanunda is also a great place to start for information.

And if you’re one of our Elderton Commanders, then contact Jodhi in Cellar Door to access our concierge service, to help plan the perfect Barossa autumn getaway.

Cheers!