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WINE TASTING AND WINERY TOURS
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Wine tasting and touring our many fine South Australian wineries have become increasingly popular with discerning peole who want to experience tourism with "a bit of class".
This can be done as a self organised adventure, or on organised winery tours.
Travelling through some glowingly beautiful countryside- especially in autumn as the vines and deciduous trees take on glorious rich colours in reds and golds- is a journey worth undertaking, and visiting the many vineyards and cellar doors along the way just adds an extra element.
On Adelaide's doorstep is the Penfolds Magill Estate. You can go on a guided tour through the historic, working winery, encompassing the 60 year old Shiraz vineyard, Bluestone Vintage Cellar and the Underground Maturation Cellar and then indulge yourself in a wonderful food and wine experience in their private cellar.
In the Barossa Valley, Penfolds offers a really unique experience. You can join the winemaking team on their "Make Your Own Blend Tour". This first takes you on a walking tour of the winery and its cellars- including the largest red wine barrel hall in the Southern Hemisphere. Next you move on to tasting some of Penfolds fine wines. Finally you get down to the special part- learning how to blend your own wine, to suit your personal taste, in the Penfolds Winemaker's laboratory, using Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre, like Penfold's Bin 138. At the end you get to take your wine home, in a personalised bottle with your name on it as Assistant Winemaker! Well worth trying this unusual activity!
Other tours in the Barossa area introduce you to many other fine wineries (there are close to 100!), such as the Wolf Blass Wines- Black label, Grey and Gold labels. You can even glean knowledge from a Wolf Blass Wine Educator, on your tour!
Take a tour through Australia's premier cool-climate wine region, the Adelaide Hills, which is South Australia's oldest wine region and boasts more than 50 wineries! It is said that Australia's purest and most desirable sauvignon blanc is created in this area.
Clare Valley has over 40 wineries, and is especially famous for its Australian Riesling. You can visit the historic Sevenhill cellars, the oldest Vineyard in the Clare Valley. It was settled by Jesuit Priests who fleed religious persecution in 1848, to start afresh here in SA. Seeing the magnificent cellars and watching the current vignerons at work, is a rewarding experience- as are their wines!
The Coonawarra region of the state's South East is a magnificent location for wineries, with it's rich soils and good climate. There are dozens of them in the area, so you should have no trouble filling a day or so touring what they have to offer.
McLaren Vale also offers some great wineries, with tours, tastings and, of course, wine sales.
Research online for more information about wine tasting and wine tours, in the area of your choice.
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