Angaston’s best wineries make up an impressive tasting trail of historic buildings and big-bodied red wines. Sample a vintage Grange at Penfold’s Cellar Door, where you can get hands-on in the lab and create your own mix of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro (something akin to the popular Bin 138 blend).
Saltram Winery
Saltram is one of the Barossa Valley’s founding wineries, and it’s still making full-bodied red wines that encapsulate the region. The sultry, glass-fronted restaurant at the cellar door is usually buzzing with families and groups who are keen to enjoy their wine with generous wood-oven pizzas (try the lamb, goat cheese, rosemary version), plus shared platters and steaks.
Its Rieslings are also very good, made from fruit grown in its own vineyards and sourced from the Eden Valley over the hills to the east and south of Angaston, as well as its old Mamre Brook homestead site. The winery adheres to the concept of “S” – Select, Simplify, Satisfy – which is reflected in its S series wines.
Yalumba’s beautiful old stone buildings and a very photogenic clocktower make it an impressive drawcard, while nods to the Hill-Smith family’s heritage abound throughout. This is Australia’s oldest family-owned winery and the site of its first vintage, in 1862. The current Chief Winemaker is Alex MacKenzie, who has been immersing himself in the winery’s history.
Lambert Estate Wines
Located near the village of Angaston, Lambert Estate is one of the best wineries in Angaston. Its shiraz is rich and full of intense flavours. It is the perfect wine for a special occasion or to give to a loved one. The winery is surrounded by beautiful vineyards and is a great place to visit for a relaxing day out.
The Lambert Estate The Commitment Shiraz 2017 is a rich and full bodied wine with intense flavours of blackberry and chocolate mint. This shiraz is perfect to pair with a steak or some slow-roasted lamb. It is also a great Christmas wine to give to a special someone.
Jim Lambert’s business travels brought him to Australia in the 1990’s and he soon realised that a life here was for him and his wife Pam. Their dream was realised with the establishment of the family owned and operated Lambert Estate.
Yalumba Wines
Located in the heart of Barossa, Yalumba is one of Australia’s most iconic wineries. It is the oldest family-owned and operated winery in the country. The winery has an extensive collection of old vines, and its two flagship wines – Signature and The Caley – are considered to be international benchmarks.
The winery has a stunning tasting room, which is filled with big oak barrels and family memorabilia. It is a must-visit for any wine lover.
The Hill-Smith family founded the winery in 1849, and it is still under family ownership today. Yalumba has an incredibly strong commitment to the art of blending, and it has been producing the quintessential Australian wine since 1962. Their wines are also renowned for their elegance and complexity. The winery produces a wide range of wines, from red to white and fortified. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular grape, followed by Shiraz and Chardonnay. Other varieties include Grenache, Mataro and Merlot.
Thorn-Clarke Wines
Thorn-Clarke Wines is one of Barossa Valley’s most well-established wineries. The company’s single vineyard wines are made from fruit sourced across their own estates in Barossa and Eden Valley. The family-owned Thorn-Clarke wines are highly regarded both in Australia and internationally.
Located in the heart of Barossa, this winery is one of the best places to sample some of Australia’s most lauded wines. The winery is known for its shiraz and offers tastings of the iconic Henschke Hill of Grace, which is a full-bodied red with velvety tannins and an intense flavour.
The company has three vineyards in the Barossa Valley, including Kabininge, St Kitts, and Truro, and two vineyards in Eden Valley, Milton Park and Mount Crawford. Each vineyard has its own distinct microclimate, allowing them to produce wines with different flavours. This shiraz is ruby in colour with purple hues and has well-balanced tannins that allow it to be enjoyed on its own or with food.