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Tosh's Favourite Barossa Varietals...

SHIRAZ...THE LION!
Big, ballsy shiraz! Barossa Shiraz is the lion king of red wines. Strutting around, chest out, the jungle boss ... Barossa Shiraz is a wine that has ego; is as proud as punch; and dares anyone to question its wine-ulinity! Old, low yielding vines produce intense fruit that translate into full-bodied, rich, complex styles under the steady guidance of experienced wine makers (or lion tamers as I prefer to refer to them as!)These masculine beasts are then tamed with the soft stroke of fine oak - blossoming into opulent, refined souls with luscious berry fruit, dark chocolate and vague minty characters. One of the great wine region styles of the world.

GRENACHE...THE 'G' SPOT!
Grenache is best known for being a part of that famous wine trilogy. We aren't talking the Holy Trinity here. Nor Lord of the Rings. Not even The 3 Stooges... we are talking of course, about Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre (GSM) blends. It is the G spot of this wine style! Barely known and rarely drunk as a straight wine varietal in Australia, Grenache has delicious raspberry/strawberry overtones, tempered by peppery earthiness with a dash of spice in its vocabulary. The Spanish and French have been fighting about where the 'G' Spot was first found, but we all know that the Barossa (and to a lesser extent McLaren Vale) is home to this fine wine style. Me thinks that the Barossa GSM may soon overtake straight shiraz as the regions most loved drop.

MOURVEDRE...THE SILENT PARTNER
Not dissimilar to Grenache in many ways,Mourvedre is the final, almost 'silent' partner in this great Barossa GSM trilogy. As an aside, in Australia Mourvedre is also known commonly as Mataro. Not Monaro (I dare say if it was known as the Monaro of grapes it would probably be one of our most loved wines!) In saying that, the grape was quite often used in our 'Claret' blends of years ago, around the original Monaro time... before labeling laws were more strictly applied. Earthy in style and very rustic in many ways, this wine style is perfect with stews, baked vegetables and meat dishes. Very heartening, almost comforting in style. Probably what it brings most to the Shiraz and Grenache pairing - a bit old good old, down home softness and hospitality. Like a grandmother's kiss on your forehead!

FORTIFIEDS... THE ELDER STATESMEN
Back in the day these were more commonly known as sherries and ports. They dominated the still wine industry long before it exploded into the gigantic business it is today. Using brandy (locally made in most cases) to fortify them, these sweeter style of sipping wines are still made by most wineries in the Barossa. Spanish style, award winning sherries are also made in the traditional style. Both the sherries and ports, without doubt, are some of the Baross'a best achievements, and if aged fortifieds is your thing, then the Barossa is very, very hard to beat.

Image Barossa Valley
South Australia

The Barossa Valley of South Australia is regarded by many as being the wine capital of Australia. It is a name that conjures words and images of but one thing, first and foremost. And that is wine!

The Barossa Valley lies less than an hour from Adelaide airport and city precinct. It is generally regarded as fairly Mediterranean in climate. It is without doubt one of Australia's premier - if not the premier - grape growing and wine producing regions of Australia. You can throw in the world for that matter too. The Barossa is that good. Full of German heritage and winemaking know how, you literally struggle to find a bad drop of juice.

It isn't only wine though that brings many to the area. Beautiful countryside, fabulous restaurants and food, as well as a litany of villages that belong on the front side of postcards, as well as the odd golf course or two, and well... there is just about something for everyone.

On the wine side of things you simply never have enough time to see everything.Cellar door after cellar door. Superb wine after superb wine. The palate is shot and the day is dot very quickly in this fine neck of the woods!

Getting down to styles, without doubt the Barossa Valley is best known for Shiraz. It is the flagship grape. Bit of history for you - in the 1800's it was only strict quarantine that allowed the vines to escape from the dreaded 'phylloxera' disease (one of many diseases that have literally wiped out grape growing areas over the decades). This means the Barossa has some of the oldest vines in the country.

In fact, it is the Langmeil Winery of the Barossa that apparently has the oldest vines in Australia. Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Seppeltsfield, Stockwell, Light Pass, and Greenock are other towns in the north of the valley that can also lay claim to possessing very old vines.

The southern zone of the valley, much cooler in climate and temperament, hosts the towns/areas of Rowland Flat, Lyndoch, and Williamstown. All are known as some of the finest premium wine producers, with some of Australia's best loved brands either drawing fruit from or producing wine from the grapes grown in these towns.

Heading over to the hills and it is the delightful town of Angaston that plays hub to popular Pewsey Vale, Vine Vale, Penrice and Bethany regional wines.

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