Barossa Hidden Gems

[Matt]

Hi all
We are heading to the Barossa / Adelaide Hills next month and I am looking for some not so well known wineries that offer good value for money much like Mike Press etc. I know Barossa threads have been done before however however please tell me about your diamonds in the rough and must visit hidden gems.

Cheers!

[ticklenow1]

Matt,

Try Gomersal Wines. Their Shiraz is stunning for the price. If you are lucky Baz will be there and he is great value. A real Barossa character. Sieber Rd wines are another one and it's not that far from Gomersal Wines. Val is a real treasure and the wines are excellent. Reasonably priced as well.

Cheers
Ian

[timmspe]

I am currently working on a theory that the more difficult it is to access the cellar door (the worse the road), the more rewarding the experience overall

With that in mind, Greenock Creek is well worth a visit. Picturesque set-up, and the cellar door is actually in a slightly converted underground cellar (watch your head on the way in). Great cellar door experience. Wines were good enough. $30 for a decent shiraz. Gomersal Wines was also very good. The cellar door isn't as interesting, but the wines were great. $25 Shiraz, $50 Mataro and $50 GSM were memorable.

Artisans of Barossa showcase several boutique producers that do not have their own cellar door. Haven't been there yet but am meaning to go. Have also heard good things about Diggers Bluff, Laughing Jack and Willows.

[Brucer]

Check out Gnadenfrei wines, owned by Malcolm Seppelt and Tscharke. Both at Marananga. Willows is great, as is Heritage and Rolf Binder, as well as Burge Family.

[rosewaterwrx]

Try Villa Tinto just up the road from Rockfords.

I just bought a dozen Cabernet Semillon (yup 30% Semillon with cabernet....insane). It's really an amazing cheap wine (plush and acidic but it works) and for mine much more enjoyable to drink than anything I've tried by Mike Press. My mate had a bottle of this stuff open for 5 days and it was still drinking well.

Edit....forgot to mention that this is a $13 wine.

[mjs]

From my last couple of visits, I would suggest that you visit Tscharke. Damien's Barossa Grounds wines are exceptional imo. However, I can't think of anything that's really in the same price bracket as Mike Press (an interesting comparitor), but then again I don't happen to rate MP wines as others do, even though I have tried quite a few of their wines.

[Michael R]

Hi Matt

Not a diamond in the rough by any means, but just make sure you don't miss Torbreck. If you have to choose between the big names, prioritise it.
Dutschke, Artisans and Kabminye are others, plus a second vote for Gomersal.

[mjs]

Just a bit of background reading of a couple of reports from recent Barossa visits

http://forum.winestar.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=24110

http://forum.winestar.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23842

[coh]

Hi Matt, I took my staff to the Barossa from Sydney for our xmas trip/present last year, and had an amazing long weekend.
The picks for me were the usual suspects of rockford and charles melton, but we went to artisans for a few hours (wow...we drank some big wines there), and then almost directly across the road we visited 'Rusden'. The wine at rusden was excellent, well priced, but even better was we ended up playing backyard cricket in the family yard with all the staff for about 30 mins, glass of red in hand. Needless to say, we bought up big here also.

We didnt plan to go here, but the guys at artisans recommended it and it was great.

good luck and have a great trip

coh

[sjw_11]

I am currently working on a theory that the more difficult it is to access the cellar door (the worse the road), the more rewarding the experience overall

I like this recommended approach and on that basis I recommend you get out of the valley proper and into Eden Valley and visit Mountadam (impossible to find down several dirt tracks... their latest chardy is a ripper) and Henschke (but check opening hours as they are a bit funny)

You can also get a baguette in angaston or some dried fruit, whatever floats your boat!

[Matt]

Some great suggestions here and thank you. Its interesting to see Gomersal and Willows keep popping up in these types of threads. Torbreck and Artisans sound like must do's as well. I will endeavour to try most of the suggestions above!

Cheers

[odyssey]

Call Teusner for a booking. Some of the friendliest people around.

[limkeith]

Taste of Eden Valley in Angaston - one of my favourites

Something like Artisans of Barossa. Highlights include

Radford Wines - (made by Ben Radford, Rockford's winemaker)

Eden Hall

Torzi Matthews

Poonawatta

Irvine

There is a 2005 shiraz called the 12 saviours shiraz, parcels of grapes from the great 2005 vintage was contributed from 12 families in the Eden valley, Winemaking duties for Eden Valley Wines are in the hands of Stephen Henschke and James and Joanne Irvine. They are charged with selecting the best of the members’ fruit and wine for the Eden Valley Wines label.

[Hacker]

How does the collective wisdom here rate Head Wines? The Blonde, Brunette and Contrarian? Are they true/typical Barossan in structure? Would they be on your buy list?

Thanks for any guidance.

[ticklenow1]

How does the collective wisdom here rate Head Wines? The Blonde, Brunette and Contrarian? Are they true/typical Barossan in structure? Would they be on your buy list?

Thanks for any guidance.

In a word - Excellent. I've bought Alex's wines since the '08 vintage. Decent value as well. The Old Vine Grenache is my favourite.

I emailed Alex the other day to see when his release of the 2012 wines would be and he replied "in the next couple of weeks". With the strength (supposedly) of the 2012 vintage, I'd say get all you can. He did say they are of a very high standard.

Cheers
Ian

[Matt]

Call Teusner for a booking. Some of the friendliest people around.

Big fan - may well have to.
Cheers

[Matt]

Im very appreciative for all the suggestions - thank you.

Can anyone recommend Turkey Flat?

[Scotty vino]

Im very appreciative for all the suggestions - thank you.

Can anyone recommend Turkey Flat?

Turkey Flat worth a visit. Nice CD.

What about Heathvale wines in Eden Valley? Appointment only.
I've never been, but I bought some of their wines at the CD festival and loved them.
Super friendly chap sold them to me and I believe he's one of the winemakers.
Maybe worth a look.

[Michael R]

recommend Turkey Flat ?

Granted have only be once, last year, but easily the worst cellar door experience i've ever had.
There was a very nice blonde lady working there who tried her best to save the situation, but alas to no avail.

The link below has some more Barossa info, inc seperate Turkey flat experiences from Tiesto & me. But based on Daves post it seems they have since addressed the problem
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12640&p=101258&hilit=barossa+trip#p101258

TF wines can be decent though, and the cellar door is nice, so would be v keen to hear more up-to-date info if you do visit.

[sjw_11]

I have been to Turkey Flat many times most recently at Easter... the service was a bit so-so and the CD can get busy... but its a nice spot and they make nice wines (I enjoy their grenache and mouvedre, they also make one of the best cab's I tasted in the valley last trip)

[limkeith]

Im very appreciative for all the suggestions - thank you.

Can anyone recommend Turkey Flat?

Turkey Flat worth a visit. Nice CD.

What about Heathvale wines in Eden Valley? Appointment only.
I've never been, but I bought some of their wines at the CD festival and loved them.
Super friendly chap sold them to me and I believe he's one of the winemakers.
Maybe worth a look.

Heathvale wines are available at Taste of Eden Valley in Angaston. Do get the smoked pizza special at the Roaring 40's too!

[simon1980]

Regarding the question about Head wines, I love 'em! Agree on the comments about 2012: I have no doubt Alex will have nailed it, and I will happily buy before tasting. The "Head Red" is quite simply stunning value (declassified barrels from the top wines). They come across as from Barossa - but often have an elegance (and fragrance) that sets them apart.

simon1980

[rens]

One that comes to mind is Ballycroft. It is in Greenock. (1 Adelaide Road Greenock. (08)85628184). Small winery (125 cases/year) run by Jo and Sue Evans. Jo has worked at Rockford, Greenock Creek and a few places in between.
Their wines are typical barossa and well worth the look.

[Hacker]

I have liked the recent good attention given to Shobbrook Syrah. The 2010 was given good wraps, I haven't tried the 2011 but it is sold out anyway, and the 2012 is due out in June. I'm lining up for a six pack.
Cheers,
David M.

[MarKofQuality]

We did Clare / Barossa / McLaren Vale last year in May as our annual "Boys" wine trip. I would have a bias to Clare, however the highlights of Barossa (focussed around Tanunda / walking distance - didn't really do Greenock or Eden Valley) were ;
1. Langmeil - their circa $45 range were the best for me - Orphan Bank Shiraz, Jackamans Cab Sav. Am actually drinking a Ressurection Mataro as I write . For my taste, they hit right taste / right $.
2. Rusden - Black Guts Shiraz - at around $65 mark bigger price but very very good shiraz. Not shabby on their other offerings either
3. Small growers (<75t lots) - try Bibu in the main street of Tanunda to get a tasting session - lots of goodies there at reasonable price. Soul Growers and many others. Kate Milroy (she seems to know everyone and a lot about the area) did a FAB job hosting our 2.5 hour tasting session .... be prepared for some hard work ! You can order mixed cases from smaller local winemakers.
79-81 Murray St, Barossa SA 5352, Australia, Phone: 08 8563 0524, Email: kate@bibubarossa.com, open 10.30am-5pm Monday, Wednesday, Sunday and 10.30am - late Thursday-Saturday
4 . Chateau Tananda was worth the look, and their wines were pretty good once I got over my earlier childhood "Chateau Chunder" cheap and cheerful reminising. The Gerler family from Sydney have taken over and run the show now after abandonment by Seppelt. They have pulled in a number of local winemakers to help get things on an even keel and produce some great terroire shiraz's
5. Not there for the tasting, but the Penfolds GSM session (bookings essential) was fun - mix, trial, remix, retrial, bottle ... well worth an hour or so
Enjoy your trip !

[Mark Carrington]

Another vote for Dutschke. And it meets the dirt track criteria. Appointment sensible.

[TravisW]

Another vote for Dutschke. And it meets the dirt track criteria. Appointment sensible.

^^ What Mr Carrington said. Wayne Dutschke has just been made a Baron of the Barossa. A lovely bloke with some excellent wines. Just 50 meters down a dirt track on God's Hill Road (what a name!). Do call and make an appointment.

Cheers, Travis.

[Mark Carrington]

IIRC, There's an excellent plot of vines further down the road, Travis?!

[Mahmoud Ali]

How does the collective wisdom here rate Head Wines? The Blonde, Brunette and Contrarian? Are they true/typical Barossan in structure? Would they be on your buy list?

Thanks for any guidance.

I'd be somewhat hesitant to recommend going to the Barossa to get Head, whether from a Blonde or Brunette - just call me a Contrarian.

Cheers.............................Mahmoud.

[sjw_11]

Mahmoud, classic. In web speak, ROFL!