9-10: Clare and Barossa Wine Valleys

Before heading back to Adelaide, Shannon's parent took the two of us on a wine tasting trip through the Clare and Barossa wine valleys. Most people have heard of the Barossa. South Australia makes famous wines and many of them are at your local liquor store, so go support South Australia now and buy a bottle or four. I enjoy SA shiraz very much. I'm learning to like it almost as much as chianti classico.


On our first day we stopped at Sevenhill winery in the Clare Valley. The winery was started by some Jesuit priests in 1851. They make good wine. And there's a church on the site. It was too busy for wine tasting, so we spent our time walking around.

Inside the church, there were some people practicing Gregorian chants. So amazing. And you know churches have good acoustics, so it's bound to send chills down your spine.

Ah, the Barossa, amidst some rain clouds. But who doesn't love to see acres of grape vines and lush green grass? The view was just as amazing as all the wines we tried. And we ate some great cheese as well.

The last winery we went to, Grant Burge. It had amazing gardens.


There are heaps of ruins throughout the countryside. So many beautiful abandoned old homesteads. This wasn't the most beautiful, but I liked it because it was nestled among the grape vines.

I really love wine tasting. Free wine and I improve my palette. Not to mention, I just have the opportunity to learn what I like and what I don't. And did I mention free wine? As my first wine tasting experience, it was certainly a wonderful time. And through incredible country. This certainly beats the Napa valley in my opinion. I am a fan of the rich tasting reds that come from South Australia.