2 Days in the Barossa Valley + Best Wineries

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There are enough wineries in the Barossa Valley to fill up at least a week of visits, however, I think 2 days is plenty of time to get a good feel for the wines and wineries in the region. This post covers how to spend 2 days in the Barossa Valley including sample itineraries and the best wineries to visit. It also includes where to stay and eat!

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Introduction to the Barossa Valley

Barossa Valley is one of many wine producing regions in South Australia. McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills, Coonawarra, and Kangaroo Island are also a part of the state’s wine producing regions, but the Barossa is the oldest and biggest. The first grape vines were planted by European settlers in the 19th century. Today, it is one the most prominent wine producing regions of Australia, best known for its Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grenache. The Barossa Valley has over 150 wineries and we will cover some of the best ones down below.

Where is the Barossa Valley

The Barossa Valley is located in the state of South Australia. It’s conveniently located about an hour north of the city of Adelaide, which is where most people will fly in and out of to get to the valley.

Interesting Notes About Visiting Wineries in the Barossa Valley

• Compared to some of the other wine regions I have visited in the world (i.e., Chile, Argentina), the pours are not as big, which in a way is great if you are visiting multiple wineries on the same day.
• It is perfectly acceptable to pour out wine you do not like or if you do not wish to continue drinking. They have buckets readily available
• Some wineries offer free tasting! You can choose any wines off their menu! Some even don’t have a limit to how much you can choose!
• Wineries are very laid back and the bigger ones are definitely equipped for lots of visitors

Should You Make a Reservation?

Most places do allow you to walk in but my recommendation is to make a reservation. It’s super easy to do as all the websites have an easy reservation system and by reserving a tasting, you are guaranteed that time slot and will have someone dedicated to do the tasting.

How Much Time Does It Take to Do a Wine Tasting?

Generally, it takes about 30 minutes for a tasting, which was very different from my experience wine tasting in places like Argentina and Chile. If you go to a place where you can essentially sample the entire wine list, then it may take a little longer but if it’s a set tasting of 4-5 wines, then 30 minutes is about the average time that I spent at a tasting.

What is a Cellar Door?

You may see this come up a lot as you are making reservations! A cellar door is a dedicated space at a winery where visitors can taste and purchase wines directly from the producer. Essentially a tasting room. This is a concept you will find in wineries across Australia and New Zealand. It can be rather informal, depending on the winery and some even only have standing areas.

How to Get Around the Barossa Valley

Self-drive

With 2 days in the Barossa Valley, the easiest way to get around is to have your own vehicle. If you rent a car, please have a designated driver or stick to the legal limits. There is zero expectation from any of the wineries for you to finish the entire pour (which are on the smaller size to begin with) and as I mentioned throwing your glass out after a few sips is not an issue. You can rent a car from Adelaide airport or the city.

Check out rental options below!

Private Driver

Another way to visit wineries in the Barossa Valley is to hire a private driver. This is a bit of an expensive option but worth it if you want to fully immerse yourself in the tasting experience and be able to taste wines without having any restrictions.

Group Tour

A third and more affordable way is to join a group tour. Now one thing about these is that you may not be able to spend 2 full days in the Barossa Valley or visit the best wineries on this list but it is a relatively more economical way to visit the valley.

Here are some well rated options. The hop on hop off options will give you the ability to tour more wineries than the other options.

Best Wineries in the Barossa Valley

There are no shortages to amazing wineries when there are over 150 to choose from! This best wineries in the Barossa Valley list comprises of establishments that constantly get rated highly by experts and novice wine drinkers alike. I’ve included a mix of boutique wineries, historical ones and ones that are famous world wide for producing high quality Australian wines.

Chateau Tanunda

Chateau Tanunda is a Barossa Valley must visit given its history in the region. It is considered the birthplace of Barossa’s wine industry and was established in 1890, with the first vines planted in 1840. They offer two cellar door experiences, with one of them being a hosted one that will guide you through the tastings.

See HERE to book and for more!

Two Hands

Two Hands is a boutique winery that specializes in Shiraz. They have a beautiful vineyard with a great vantage point and a cozy winery with a lawn perfect for sipping wine on a blanket on a nice sunny day. The winery was established by two friends who decided at someone’s engagement party that they should maybe start making wine and wine they have been making since 1999!

Two Hands also has various tasting experiences that you can book HERE.

Seppeltsfield

Seppeltsfield is another Barossa Valley classic and has been around since the 1800s. Their pride and joy is a 100-year-old signal vintage, which they release each year. They have all sorts of tasting experiences and non-wine related activities (i.e., jam making), a very popular restaurant and even accommodation!

Check out their tasting options HERE

Jacob’s Creek

Another Australian institution for wine! At Jacob’s Creek you can taste their double barrel wines where the wine is aged in traditional wine barrels and then finished in whiskey barrels. They have a beautiful and modern winery overlooking their vineyards. Their restaurant Harvest Kitchen, serves some really good food and their tasting experience was enjoyable. Everyone was nice and helpful!

Make reservations ahead of time as this is a popular one for tours! HERE is their site!

Yalumba

Founded in 1849, Yalumba is one of Australia’s oldest family owned wineries! Their pride is their iconic blends of Cabernet and Shiraz. Yalumba has a very cozy tasting room with a wide variety of tasting experiences. They also have extensive grounds that you can walk around in.

See HERE To book a tasting or experience.

Rockford

I really enjoyed my tasting experience at Rockford. Their cellar door in unassuming and they have an extensive wine list that you can choose tastings from. The small standing only cellar door was busy even late in the evening towards closing time! The best part is that it is all free! This small winery prides themselves in the traditional Australian wine making process.

See HERE for more on their cellar door experience (even their website is very unassuming!)

Elderton

Elderton gets raving reviews for both its wines and surrounding beauty! This family winery is run by second generation wine makers. The story is quite fascinating! The land had been growing grapes as far back as 1894. The current owners actually bought the house in the 1980s where the land was essentially given away for almost nothing. Their sons now run the business now along with their daughter’s in law.

See HERE for all their tasting experiences.

Penfolds

One of the biggest names in Australian wines! Penfolds is famous for its Grange wine which is produced using grapes from several different regions in South Australia. They have two estates with one that is closer to the city of Adelaide so check when you put them on Google maps. They have various experiences including one where you can make your own blend! Ideal if you want to get a feel for wine making.

Check it out HERE.

Henschke

The Henschke family boasts of six generations of wine making and have been growing grapes here for over 150 years. I doubt you will read any best wineries in the Barossa Valley lists that does not include Henschke. They offer a slightly elevated tasting experience and they highly recommend pre-booked visits due to their popularity as one of the best in the region.

See HERE for more!

Kies Family

Kies Family is a highly rated and award winning winery that you definitely should visit in the Barossa Valley. They pride themselves on the family feel when you visit. The wines are free to taste and you get to pick what you want from a good list. In addition to the Cellar Door experience, they also have a winery tour as well.

You only need a reservation for a large group/ You can learn more HERE.

How to Spend 2 Days in The Barossa Valley

You can easily visit about 5 wineries in one day. Most places start at 10 AM and the last tasting is usually around 4 PM. Below is a tried and tested itinerary for 2 days in Barossa Valley. As I mentioned, it doesn’t take long for a tasting but I kept enough leeway to take your time, visit the grounds and for the drive between wineries.

Day 1

• Henschke 10-11 AM
• Yalumba  11:30-12:30 PM
• Lunch  – David Franz 12:30-1:30 PM
• Elderton 1:30 – 2:30 PM
• Penfolds 2:30-3:30 PM
• Seppeltsfield 4:00 PM

Day 2

• Two Hands 10-11 AM (They start at 10 AM only for pre-booked reservations)
• Chateau Tanunda  – 11:30-12:30 PM
• Jacob’s Creek /Harvest Kitchen – 1 – 2:30 PM (includes time for a tasting)
• Rockford – 2:30-3:30 PM
• Kies Family – 4:00 PM

Where to Eat in the Barossa Valley

David Franz

This small boutique winery has raving reviews and it’s easy to see why! They have incredible wines and a small cellar door and back patio that overlooks the vineyards! Their build your own charcuterie is a fan favorite and has some solid options.

Harvest Kitchen

I had a wonderful lunch of Harvest Kitchen. They have 2 types of set menus. I got the chef’s choice option and every dish was delightful! Make sure to make a reservation ahead of time!

Bar:Musque

Located in downtown Tanunda, this restaurants has a nice set menu or you can pick and choose from their regular menu. They have nice seating outside and the service was great!

Black Bird Coffee House

Black bird coffee house is a solid option if you are looking for a quick bite to eat or a hearty breakfast! It’s tucked away and was a little hard to find but walk in through the pharmacy and it’s located at the back of it. I had the avocado toast and loved it!

Where I Stayed in the Barossa Valley

You can find all sorts of lodging from camp sites to luxury hotels in the Barossa Valley. I stayed at a very central location in Tanunda and had a great stay. It’s a hotel that is attached to a restaurant and bar. It’s also a few feet away from downtown Tanunda which has some nice stores and restaurants.

HERE is the link if you want to check the place out!

Other Places to Visit in Barossa

• Barossa Valley Chocolate Company – If you are traveling with kids, they may enjoy visiting the chocolate company. They have lots of chocolates, a small cafe and homemade ice cream
• Avenue of Palms – This is a famous road in Barossa that’s lined with palm trees. Please be careful if you get out of your vehicles!
• Mengler Hill Lookout – This lookout offers views of the valley from higher ground
• Maggie Beer’s Farm – Maggie Beer is a famous Australian cook and TV personality. You can visit her farm for a variety of activities like cooking demonstrations, cocktail making classes, gin tastings, cheese tastings and much more! Check out all the experiences HERE.

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Pin this post for later!

• See my post on visiting the Yarra Valley in the state of Victory HERE! It’s an easy day trip from the city of Melbourne
• Like visiting wineries? Read all my posts on wineries and wines from around the world HERE!