The Auswine Forum

I recently returned from my first trip to the Barossa. We (wife and 8 yr son) stayed in Tanunda at Treasured Memories which was within walking distance to the heart of town. I think I picked up the Treasured Memories suggestion from someone on this forum.

I prefer those wineries where I feel the winemaker, working in parallel to the owner / operator, is the one making the decisions as opposed to the accountants. Consequently, the wineries visited which left a positive impression included:

Artisans of Wine - Great tasting experience across all six. Loved the open setting and view across the vines.
Rockford - I understand the fuss now.
Torbreck Vintners - New cellar door
Kellermeister Wines - Very impressive, perhaps nicest setting out of all (Kid friendly)
Two Hands Wines- Nice enthusiastic young chap on the counter.
Seppeltfield - Showed interest and asked the right questions so was treated to a private tour of the 100-year barrel room with a tasting of the 1917. Length of the 1917 lasted 20 minutes. Tour and tasting great bargain at $60.
Lindsay Wine Estate – if you love your vinyl.
Whistler Wines – low key but nice friendly setting and CD

Wineries that didn’t overly impress
Grant Burge Wines: Too much sense of a corporate feel at the CD.
St Hallett: Corporate feel. Wife was horrified that they were offering tasting plates with Tasmanian cheeses when there is good fresh local cheese produce available
Saltram Wine Estate: Nice CD but again sense of corporate feel.

When I say ‘corporate feel’ I mean CD is all flash and impressive however the knowledge and passion of those working in there is not commensurate.

Purchases:

Z Wines
4 x 2015 Riesling
2 x 2008 Shiraz
6 x 2015 Grenache

Artisans of Wine
6 x 2015 The Schiller Schwarz Wine Co Shiraz (Wine of the trip)

Rockford
6 x 2015 Riesling
6x 2016 Alicante Bouchet
2 x 2013 Basket Press Shiraz (East End Cellars as CD sold out)

Kellermeister
6 x 2013 Wild Witch Shiraz


Was very impressed with the Barossa – relatively tight knit area centred around quaint towns that have maintained their historic feel and heritage. Will return.

Drove back to Adelaide via Adelaide Hills and popped into Shaw and Smith. Unimpressed and recommendation to avoid. Was told there was only a 6 x 45ml tasting on offer at $14. I said I was driving and only wanted to try small select tastings. Response was a shrug of the shoulders from CD so I departed.

Regards

Additional photos

Thanks Rocky for the write up. I agree with you that It is certainly a better experience when you visit a smaller CD, whith a connection to the family/winemaker, for some reason it makes the wine taste better even when you return home with your purchase.

Wow, Torbreck's new facility looks pretty flashy compared to the old one.

Thanks for the write up!

Rocky wrote:Drove back to Adelaide via Adelaide Hills and popped into Shaw and Smith. Unimpressed and recommendation to avoid. Was told there was only a 6 x 45ml tasting on offer at $14. I said I was driving and only wanted to try small select tastings. Response was a shrug of the shoulders from CD so I departed.

You're not alone, I have suggested to numerous people to go there and check it out, all to walk away saying the exact same thing as you. I've done the flight and its great, but if you want less, there is no other option unfortunately.

Great to hear you like the Schiller. I am a fan, have 08,10 and 12 stashed away. They need a few years to chill out.
I think a cellar door experience comes down to the person looking after you firstly, and then comes the quality of the wine.

To be fair to Shaw and Smith...
They do provide more than just the wine (Or used to).

And there is nothing preventing someone from spitting the wine and trying through the range..or not trying through the whole thing...

If you're driving you probably want to be spitting anyways..

While the 'paid tasting' is fairly unusual to most Aussies, $14 is not much while in holiday mode, and at least a 45ml pour does give an opportunity for a few good mouthfuls to get a real feel of a wine, most of which can be spat out, a touch can be swallowed if desired. If they have their better/best wines in that tasting, I'd say well done to them, but the main factor is the staff you encounter during the intro to their CD experience, and this sounds like it was a less than ideal experience in that respect.

I agree with Brucer, staff and wine maketh a CD, although if the wine is great, I could forget a few poor staff experiences!