A Complete Guide to the Best Wineries in the Barossa Valley

By reading this, you confirm that you are over 18 years of age.

Sitting north-east of Adelaide in South Australia is the Barossa Valley winemaking region, a wine lovers heaven. Out of the 50 estimated wineries in the Barossa region, the best wineries in the Barossa Valley are certain to ignite your palate with incredible flavours and textures that will have you leaving tempted to buy a bottle (or ten!). If you are visiting Australia, the Barossa Valley should definitely be on your list of things to do, this experience exceeded our expectations and is worth the money to explore this amazing region in the South.

There is something for everyone to enjoy in the Barossa Valley, even if wine is not your thing or you are the designated driver. The culture food and incredible scenery make for a great day out in this beautiful region of South Australia. With so many incredible places to choose from, deciding on your own Barossa Valley wine tasting itinerary can be difficult, so to help you out, we have put together a list of the best wineries in the Barossa Valley.

No time to read now? No problem, save a pin to your Pinterest board for later!

Want to see more travel guides? Follow us on Youtube by clicking here

In this guide, we will discuss all of the below wineries, including how to get to each one, the best way to get around and what else you will need to prepare for your trip to Barossa.

Whistler Wines
Kalleske
Tscharke
Murray Street Vineyard
Penfolds
Peter Seppelt Wines
Preparing for your trip to the Barossa Valley

The Best Wineries in the Barossa Valley

This list of wineries is in no particular order, spanning all throughout the Barossa Valley. We loved every single one we visited, however, make sure you read on to the end to find out which one was our favourite and what wine we loved the most!

Whistler Wines

Whistler Wines is tucked away from the scenic Seppeltsfield Road, perfect for a place to chill out and enjoy some fabulous wines. Surrounded by the 15 hectares of vineyards, this tranquil winery not only has some delicious wines to try out, it also features a large outdoor area to stroll through and even some rescued kangaroos to watch as you enjoy lunch.

Tasting wines at the Whistler Wines is not free, however, the $10 tasting fee is fully redeemable against any purchase you decide to make.

At Whistler Wines, organic and biodynamic practices are used to create easy to drink wines that are light in style. If you are not usually a red wine drinker (like us), you may find yourself being converted at this winery, as the red wines here are much lighter and fruitier than usual. You can grab yourself a bottle of your favourite wine from Whistler Wines, prices ranging from $22-$60.

Kalleske Wines

Located in the small town of Greenock, is the beautiful Kalleske winery. Kalleske is certified as an organic winery, meaning that every part of their supply chain has been through intense testing to ensure the wine is sourced and processed sustainably and ethically.

Shiraz and Granach are the predominant varieties on the 120-acre vineyard, however, this is not the only wines that they make at Kalleske. In addition to their wide range of red wines, they also feature two delicious and fruity white wines and one rosey wine.

A tasting session at the cellar door in Greenock, just down the road from the vineyard in Moppa, won’t cost you a cent. Greeted at the door by the incredibly friendly wine expert, you are free to try all of the wines on the menu, until your tastebuds are completely satisfied.

Our favourite was Lorraine Semscato, a light and slightly fizzed white wine with a citrus aftertaste. In fact, we enjoyed this one so much we came back to enjoy a bottle of it in their outdoor garden area, with a cheeseboard to wash it down of course. This was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

The bottles of wine in Kalleske range from $20-$50, and they also offer two platters for you to enjoy with your wine. There is the choice of a cheeseboard for $12 or a fuller platter for $20, both of which should be tasted in the beautiful private garden behind the winery.

Tsharke Wines

Also situated on Seppeltsfield Road is the Tscharke winery. Tsharke was one of the more unique wineries that we have visited in the Barossa Valley, offering a selection of Mediterranean wines on their tasting menu. With grapes imported from countries such as Italy, France and Spain, these wonderful flavours are unique in the Barossa Valley. Chat with the wine expert about these different varieties and learn about the sustainable viticultural practices of Tscharke’s wines.

The tasting experience comes at no cost and the wines will be chosen to suit your taste. The tasting foyer is a beautiful room with exposed wood and hanging decor, a fantastic place to enjoy a taste of Europe in the heart of Australia.

A bottle of your favourite wine from Tsharke’s is incredibly reasonable with prices ranging from $10-$20. This is mainly due to the fact that they do not sell their wines outside of the winery, bringing costs down and offering a more budget-friendly experience in Barossa Valley.

Murray Street Vineyard

Located in Greenock, Murray Street Vineyards has been offering experiences of high-quality wines for over a decade and has a reputation for producing the most intensely flavoured grapes in the Barossa Valley.

Enter under the archway, through the gardens to the cellar door and you will be offered a free tasting of your choice from a variety of wines. The friendly wine expert will sit and chat to you about the different kinds of wine, helping you decide on which will be most suitable for you.

The unique thing about Murray Street Vineyard is the close proximity of the vineyard to the cellar door, with the tasting veranda actually overlooking the vineyard itself. This means that when you visit Murray Street Vineyard, you will not only be spoiling your tastebuds but also your eyes with the gorgeous view. You can choose to sit indoors in the converted house or outdoors on the vine-covered veranda, overlooking the vineyards in the valley.

Penfolds Cellar Door

This Nuriootpa based cellar door can be found in the Provenance venue, alongside a variety of other food and drink shops. The close proximity to the town centre of Nuriootpa makes it the perfect place to end the day with an extra couple of glasses, before making your way back to your accommodation.

Founded in 1844, this 170-year-old winery has been passed down through generations, each tweaking and perfecting it to the winery it is today. The Penfolds in Barossa is just one of two cellar doors in South Australia, with the first wineyard situated just outside of Adelaide’s CDB.

Wine tasting at Penfold’s is not free, however, once again the $10 tasting fee is redeemable against any purchase you make.

Peter Seppelt Wines

Located on the south side of the Barossa Valley, Peter Seppelt Wines is one of the more underrated wineries in the Barossa region. Sitting far out of the way from other wineries, this winery is perfect for a full day of wine-tasting and pizza-loving. For more than 150 years, the Seppelt family has been making exquisite wines, passing down and perfecting wine-making techniques through the generations.

The age of this winery is what makes it truly special, with the old stone buildings being fully restored and continue to be used onsite. The cellar door experiences on this remote winery are by appointment only, however, you will be wanting to book a table for food anyway. It is really hard to choose what is better at this winery, the wine selection or the handmade pizzas.

From the stunning architecture of the buildings to the peace and tranquility of the grounds surrounding them, this winery is a beautiful place to spend the day in the Barossa Valley.

Our Favourite Winery in the Barossa Valley

Making this decision was definitely a difficult one, with so many wines, foods and incredible views to choose from. However, there is definitely one winery (and one wine) that stands out amongst the rest. The Kalleske winery was our favourite out of all the wineries we visited in the Barossa Valley, purely due to how friendly the staff were, how delicious the wines are and how reasonably priced the experiences they offer are.

We highly recommend enjoying the beautiful Barossa Valley weather in the back garden of this winery, with of course a cheese board and bottle of wine to compliment it. Perfect for after a long day exploring the Barossa Valley.

When to Visit the Barossa Valley

The best time of year to visit the Barossa Valley is definitely during the Autumn months of March through to June. This is when the harvest has just finished and wineries are preparing for the amazing Barossa Vintage Festival. This 9-day celebration is filled with food, live music and, of course, great wine.

The Sping months of September through to December are also a fantastic time to visit, with the temperatures starting to pick back up after the long winter. You will also start to see new leaves and buds starting to grow on the vines of the old vineyards, a truly beautiful sight.

Before You Go to the Barossa Valley

Before you head off on your trip to the Barossa Valley, there are a few things to organise to make sure your trip runs as smooth as possible. These include getting around the Barossa Valley, what to pack for your trip and where to stay during your trip.

Applying for an Australian Visa

If you have yet to leave for Australia then this is a section of interest for you. There are a LOT of different visa options for people arriving into Australia, from tourist visas to permanent residence visas. The most common visas, however, are the 3-month tourist visa and the Working Holiday Visa.

If you are only visiting Australia for a short period of time then a tourist visa is your best option. These are easily obtained and relatively cheap, costing roughly $140AUD, and allow you to stay in the country for up to 12months. These can be applied for on the government website here.

If you wish to work and travel in Australia, a working holiday visa is your best option. These cost around $480AUD and allow you to stay in Australia for up to 12months, whilst working and earning money to travel. This visa also gives you the opportunity to extend your stay in Australia by up to 24months by working in certain job sectors.

For all of the information you need to know about the Australian Working Holiday Visa, read our full guide over here.

What to Pack for the Barossa Valley

Depending on which season you visit the Barossa Valley, what you will need to pack will vary drastically. During the summer months of December to February, temperatures around South Australia can reach blistering highs well into the 40s. The average temperature around the hills of Adelaide is around the mid-20s and is very much summer clothing only, as there is very little rain.

During the other months, temperatures and weather around this region is very temperamental, with frequent fluctuations between 30oC and 10oC. We highly recommend that you pack a rain jacket and some warm layers, however, also pack some light and summery clothing for the days blessed with sunshine.

If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.

When it comes to toiletries, we recommend that you pack as much sunscreen as you can. The sun in Australia is strong, and even the darkest skin tones can get easily burnt. No matter what the season is or how warm you may feel, you should always wear sunscreen in Australia.

Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around Barossa, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.

You can read what else we keep in our camera bag over here.

Photography Equipment

Main Photography Camera – Sony A7 Mirrorless Camera

Main Lense – Sony F3.5-5.6 28mm-70mm

Camera Stand – Neewer Portable 177cm

Vlogging Camera – Sony HX90v

Action Camera – GoPro Hero 7 Black

Drone Camera – DJI Spark

Camera Bag – Yahan Camera Bag

What is the Best Travel Insurance for the Barossa Valley?

Regardless of what type of trip you are heading on, one thing that is essential for everybody is good travel insurance. Accidents can happen anywhere and at anytime and unexpected hospital bills will ruin a holiday. Remove the stress from your next adventure and get covered for the worst.

World Nomads Travel Insurance provides budget reliable travel insurance that will keep you covered for any level of adventure.

You can get your quote before you leave on your trip right here.

How to Get to the Barossa Valley

The Barossa Valley lies 60km northeast of Adelaide city centre and is easily accessible by car. If you have your own vehicle then this makes for a very straight forward trip to the Barossa and you can read on below to find out the best places to stay in the region.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, you can either hire one or book a tour guide. We highly recommend the former as it means you can explore the area at your own pace and follow these fantastic itineraries as you do so, however, if you are in a rush or want a more stress-free adventure, a guided tour is the way to go.

View the best prices for car rental right here.

See below for the best wine tours in the area that will save you the hassle of organising the trip yourself, and will also get you to and from your accommodation quickly and easily.

How to Get Around the Barossa Valley

Getting around the Barossa Valley is a challenging thought for some, considering it’s a wine region and many people like to visit and taste the wine. If you are on a guided tour then it is not something that you will need to worry about, however, if you are wanting to tour Barossa by yourself you will need to find a way to enjoy both.

If you are driving yourself around the Barossa Valley it is always possible to nominate a designated driver who can choose not to taste the wine, or even to taste and spit the wine. Of course, this is not nearly as fun as it should be, so it is not a popular choice for most people.

There is also the option to hire bicycles in the area, which is how we chose to get around and recommend as the best way to tour the Barossa Valley. This will allow you to explore the beautiful countryside, soak up the gorgeous weather at a leisurely pace and taste the best wines the region has to offer.

Bikes can be hired from the Barossa visitor centre in Tanunda at $44 for 24 hours or $35 for 4 hours. This option gives you the freedom of going where you want when you want to. The full-day rental also offers the opportunity to explore around the local towns the next morning before you return the bike.

NOTE – It is illegal to cycle under the influence of alcohol. If you do wish to drink more than the recommended amount then you will have to push your bike instead.

Where to Stay in the Barossa Valley

There are many beautiful places to stay in the Barossa Valley that will suit any budget. We were surprised to pay as little as $5 a night when we were there! Whether you like luxurious villas, cozy cottages or enjoy a little bit of camping, the Barossa Valley has the perfect place for you.

Luxury – The Louise is a top class luxury hotel in the Barossa Valley. The suites include a patio and spa bath as well as an outdoor shower and access to the gym and sauna.

You can book your stay at The Louise here.

Mid-range – Greenocks Old Telegraph Station is the perfect location for your trip around the Barossa Valley. This cottage was built in the 1800s, this self contained cottage offers a spa bath, private patio and fireplace. Breakfast is also included.

You can book your stay at Greenocks Old Telegraph Station here.

Budget – The Seppeltsview Cabins offer a self-contained accommodation complete with a kitchenette. Enjoy the beautiful sunrises the Barossa Valley has to offer with the spectacular Seppeltsfield Road right on your doorstep.

You can book your stay at The Seppeltsview Cabins here.

Camping – If you choose to camp around the Barossa Valley, there is a range of campsites available. For a cheap stay, head to Greenock and camp up in the Oval for a $5 donation. There are toilets on site and if you need a shower, there are showers available at the Barossa Visitor Centre for $1/3mins.

There are many wineries within walking distance of Greenock to explore and even a local tavern to wind down the day and enjoy some of the local wines you tried earlier.

If you want to follow our route, check out our one-day cycle itinerary to the wineries around the Greenock and Seppeltsfield area.

Caravan Park – The Barossa Valley Holiday and Caravan Park in Tanunda is great caravan park if you are looking for something a little bit extra during your stay in the Barossa Valley. At this park, you will have access to a waterpark and swimming pool as well as free wifi. A great place to cool off in the warmer weather.

If you are wanting to base yourself in Nuriootpa, BIG4 Barossa Tourist Park also has a swimming pool as well as a fire pit and even wine tasting is available.

So there you have it, your ultimate guide to the best wineries in the Barossa Valley. If you are visiting this breathtaking place and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! If you have already been, let us know how it was! What was your favourite part of the Barossa Valley? What wineries did you visit? Let us know in the comments below!

Also remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to tour with. Sharing is caring and we want to inspire as many people as we can to visit this unbelievable part of the world.

If you are planning an Australia trip soon then check out our other Australia content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from the Barossa Valley and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.

Now Read:

This article may contain affiliate links that provide us with a small income. For more information read our Affiliate page.