Basically all we did was eat and drink (don't really know what else to do there) but I'm certainly not complaining. And we've been once every year over the past 3 years.
1st time in McLaren Vale, and visited 3 wineries and food highlight was at The Elbow Room which was quite, small, great view and pretty good food. Not a huge wine list, and chose some random wine i'd never heard of to match with our food.
WIneries we visited were:
Kays - Their basic wines were quite nice, a few 2011 which fell very short including the Block 6. They had a 2010 Block 6 open which I tried and loved so bought a bottle. Another highlight was their Basket Press Shiraz and the Cuthbert Cabernet which was delicious. only one other group of 2 there and one person behind the counter at the cellar door. The guy (Don) I think it was wasn't too knowledgeable on the wines, but was helpful nonetheless.
Foggo - Herb who is also the winemaker was there to assist us, and he was great. We were the only people there so got to have a nice long chat about wine and life etc... The wines were quite good. Some have too much oak, some maybe a bit too much alcohol, but quite decent and not over priced. Predominately Shiraz and some Grenache. The only white he had was a 2010 chardonnay which has been in a fair bit of oak, but supposedly fermented in a fridge (cold) environment). Never had anything like it, and was complex but didn't seem quite right. We bought half a case of 2010 Red Dodge Shiraz and he threw in a 2010 Chardonnay cause he liked us
The red dodge had american oak the other shiraz on that "level" had french oak I think. Olivers Taranga - We got to them just before they closed, so we were the only ones again and went through their full list except for the M53. Overall, quite disappointed and alot of the wines fell short. I liked the 2010 DJ cab though. The 2011 HJ shiraz was ordinary. The have quite a few alternative grapes (Mediterranean stuff) which was interesting but not too appealing to our palates.
Barossa:
I'll start off with the food:
We got stuffed on food each day with the grand highlight being Hentley Farm's Discovery Menu with matching wines (Some ones they have exclusively for the restaurant for the pairing which I thought was quite cool). If you've never been here before. Do it. The experience, the food shat all over everywhere else we've been and will go back next time we are in the area. Oh I also bought a 2008 The Beast Shiraz because they had sold out of the current release 2012 which I thought was better than The Beauty.
Fermentasian - We went here last time and thought it was amazing. But as I said before Hentley Farm was that much better. I;m not knocking the place at all and if you do come to the Barossa, again I feel its a must do. We got about half of the same dishes as last time we came (a year ago), again not complaining. This time we also asked for matching wines, but we werent too happy with the wines they offered but went with it anyway. Next time we'll just order off the list.
The Tasting Room (@ Artisans) - Very fresh food, and a whole lot of it. We were stuffed by the end of it and just sat outside in the sun in a food coma from about half an hour before we could do anything else. we tasted some wines at the cellar door in between bites which was good.
Wineries:
If there are any particular wineries you want to visit (particularly bigger ones) call ahead and get friendly with someone there. It makes the whole experience alot more personal when you get there and sometimes you get special treatment esp if you know or pretend t know about their wines and show interest.
Tscharke: Went on some recommendations from folk here. Very nice small, quiet boutique winery and again we were the only ones there. Another one of those wineries with a few of the alternate varietals that I wasn't particularly fond of. Lauren for some reason wanted their Eva (Frizzante) moscato style. She said she wanted it cause it was low alcohol and refreshing. and a couple of 2013 Gnadenfrei Grenache which was pure yum and would be great with food.
Henschke - Did the VIP tour and tasting - If you are a fan of their wine and you've never done this, then do it. It's really cool how they drive you to the HoG and Mt Ed vineyards in the 4wd and learn about the heritage etc. Emma who was the guide was very informative. The tasting was just as good with generous pours an everything including the premium stuff. The 2010 HoG is just on another level and she gave us 2 pours of that
Pity we can't afford it otherwise would have purchased. Didn't purchase any wines except for the Eden Valley Riesling because already had a few of the ones we liked at home. Also was really good to do this to avoid the packed tiny cellar door!Rockford - Was intending to go in but decided against it - too many cars parked out in front which prob = a packed cellar door. We've also been the last 2 times anyway. I'll order the Rod and Spur which is the one i'm interested in via mail order.
Langmeil - Tried to visit here last time, but was over run with tourists, so decided to call in to let them know were were coming a week earlier. So glad we did. Tracy Page (Michael Page's wife from Teusner who we met last time we were here) went through a full tasting including all the premiums. She poured us a generous glass of current vintage Freedom (2012) and took us on a walk through the vineyards including the Freedom vineyard. Was pretty cool to see these and compare to Henshcke. Anyway, the wines were pretty amazing and ended up buying some Valley Floor Shiraz, Jackamans Cab, A bottle of Freedom Shiraz, and their Sparkling Shiraz. Lauren normally dislikes the Red bubbly, but this one really appealed to her palate
Oh also there was a dead stump that had been cut off from one of the Freedom vines that was just lying there. We asked if we could have it to display at home and they more than happily allowed us to take it Turkey Flat - We visit here every year, and have always been lucky with no one else in the cellar door except us. Jo was working there this time and talked to us about the new upcoming release of "2012 The Ancestor" which I going to be made from only their ancestor vines which sounds pretty cool. I've signed my name up for a couple. Went through the tasting and not sure if we had palate fatigue but the 2013 range was not really doing the job for us. We usually buy every year, but didn't this time round. Also she informed us the 2012 Cab was the last year they will sell this as it's now gone due to disease
. I've got plenty of 2010 and 2012 Butchers block reds and Shiraz to last me though so all good. After telling Jo about the other walk throughs we did at Langmeil and Henschke, she was more than happy to take us through their vineyard and their ancestor vines. Again very informative and cool to just experience it all. EDIT - Forgot about Greenock Creek - Most of these wines were tough to drink. Not too inspiring. Tiny but quaint cellar door. Was a quick tasting and didn't buy.
For accommodation we stayed at the Novatel, I guess it was stock standard commercial hotel style nothing special, nothing particularly bad. Perhaps slightly overpriced.
Overall, we went to less wineries, but the quality of our visits were much better than last time. And the food was great and plentiful. Daily food and wine coma seemed to be the theme. I'm also going to start whitening my teeth after this Friday (the Rockford Wendouree Mt Ed) night.
Took quite a few photo's of various vineyards, food and wine as well, and if anyone is interested will upload some.
Cheers,
David
