fuchsia fragments: barossa valley

barossa valley

I'm pretty fortunate to have such an awesome family and to be able to spend time with them. Sit with them in a car ride for 8 hours and come out at the end alive!!

We took a few days over Easter this year to go to South Australia and wine country. Two wine regions: the Barossa Valley and Coonawarra.

So worth it.

We took the first flight out of Sydney and my goodness, I have never seen the domestic airport so packed and buzzing so early in the morning in my life. So lucky to have a very nice Jetstar lady help us with our tickets and pretty much get them straight away. And luckily, the line through security moved fast. Although, we were still pretty much the last ones to board the plane... AGAIN!

We got to Adelaide just after 8 and picked up our car. It was a Kia Cerato. Can't say I liked it much.

Drove to Hanhdorf and Beerengburg farm for freshly picked strawberries, jam, the best smoked salmon and German food!!!

Stopped by Penfolds on the way to our accommodation. It wasn't anything "special" which was disappointing. Way too commercialized, too many Asians and it seemed to be all about the money-making rather than the wine. Did walk away with 4 bottles though. The viognier was lovely and a good choice, the Autumn Riesling (in hindsight), not so much...

Was pretty late by the time we got back to Nuriootpa which is where we were staying in the Barossa. We stopped by one of the supermarkets that was actually open on Good Friday for dinner supplies to go with the breakfast basket our BnB provided. So we made Carbonara with a bottle of the Autumn (regrettable) Riesling.

Early night though.. think I was asleep by 8 after an eventful day and 4:30 a.m. wake up. Felt so warm with our wood fireplace. But the cottage and surrounds were so quiet it was almost... scary. And yes, I was also scared because Wendie was saying the cottage was so old it was probably haunted. No, I don't do well with ghost stories, haunted houses, etc etc.

This is funny in hindsight, but there were three bedrooms. However, my sister and I chose to share the double bed. Safety in numbers? Hahaha...

Another early morning. We went to the Farmer's Markets and pigged out. Organic raspberries, a cinnamon scroll, pastie, coffee (FINALLY), salami and golden delicious apples. That was just for the road. Then we bought some dried fruit souvenirs to take home.

And onwards on our 4 hour drive to Coonawarra. Dad's dream wine region... and was it worth it!

We had lunch at the positively reviewed Fodders (wood fire pizza, perfect ocean trout and melt in your mouth red beef with gnocchi) which turned out to be perfectly located across the road from the winery that we drove 4 hours for and my namesake (100% coincidental I assure you)... Wynns Estate.

And OMG OMG OMG... I fell in love. With the three houses on their label, with the acorn trees, with the vines and all those grapes and how you could literally get up and walk through the vines. The professional yet friendly service from the lovely Karen at the cellar door and most of all, the delectable Late Harvest Riesling. It was so so good. One case was never going to be enough... slight regrets now! And it was only $13 a bottle by the dozen. And you can only get it at the cellar door. WHY DIDN'T I GET MORE??? Oh yeah, and we bought a half dozen of their cellar door, Gables Shiraz. Should have got more of that too. Boo. Good excuse to go again. Soon.

Killed a lot of insects on the way back. Driving in the dark in the country is pretty dangerous. But... still drove fast. Haha. To try and make up some time to get back to the Barossa. Ended up getting back just after 7. Had quick dinner (we were prepared and bought instant ramen with fried eggs, tomatoes and lettuce).