Whether you're a keen wine connoisseur or just looking to kick back at a local cellar door for the day, we've rounded up the must-visit wineries and cellar doors in the Barossa Valley. From organic and biodynamic cellar doors pouring feel-good drops, to a heritage winery boasting Daniel Ricciardo as spokesperson, sip your way through the very best of the Barossa Valley with our guide to this world-famous region's cellar doors and wineries.
Seppeltsfield Winery and Estate
Want to taste 100-year-old wine? Visit this renowned Barossa destination and sip century-old tawny amongst the barrels of a heritage cellar. Established in 1851, Seppeltsfield Estate is an Australian institution, which today includes a cellar-door, restaurants, distillery, art studio and various tours and experiences for curious visitors. Drive down Seppeltsfield Road's famous 'Avenue of Palms', before sipping your way through the centuries with the Taste of History Tour, no time-machine necessary.
Artisans of Barossa
If you can't decide on just one tipple, make your way to Artisans of Barossa, where eight small-batch Barossa wine labels are housed under the one roof. This cellar door is no shrinking violet - the recently constructed mammoth of glass and steel rises above the surrounding vineyards, guiding thirsty visitors to the door like moths to a flame. With a wide stretch of lawn behind the main building boasting a beautiful Barossa outlook, plus a casual eatery, Delikatessen, Artisans is the perfect place to while away an afternoon with family and friends. Writer's tip: Artisans also has a pet-friendly policy, so no-one needs to be left at home!
David Franz
Rustic charm? This winery has it in spades. A local favourite of in-the-know Barossans', this cellar door is named after owner and winemaker David Franz Lehman, who inherited his deep-seated love for all things wine from his vigneron father. After learning the winemaking ropes, David forged his own path in the Barossa Valley - crafting small batches of wine, hand-designing each bottle label and opening an intimate cellar door in a converted 1860s cottage. Famously one of the best spots in the region to watch the sunset, make your way to David Franz and enjoy a glass (or two) of your favourite drop and a platter of local produce.
Hayes Family Wines
In the heart of the Barossa Valley, you'll find a rustic cellar door with tin walls, exposed beams and barrels lining the walls - here you can gaze out at the vineyards while sipping on your favourite tipple. Welcome to Hayes Family Wines - the sustainable winery making it just a little bit easier to enjoy your next drop. Marrying innovation with tradition, this organic and vegan winery produces vintages that are easy on the conscience and delicious on the palate. Writer's tip: visit in Autumn to see the vines ablaze in hues of red and orange - the views from the tasting room are spectacular.
Murray Street Vineyards
If you didn't make it to Europe this year, then it's time to don your best linen outfit and soak up the Mediterranean vibes on offer at Murray Street Vineyards - no passport necessary. The first thing you'll notice when you pull up to the Greenock tasting room is the wisteria-covered trellis over the front veranda, under which you're sure to find patrons sipping on deep red varietals, or perhaps a lighter rosé in summer. As you take a seat and let the Murray Street experts lead you through a tasting, it's all too easy to imagine that you're sipping vino in your very own French villa. Writer's tip: for the ultimate Barossa immersion, don't forget to add a platter of local cheese. Their fruity, dry rosé makes for the perfect companion. Santé!
Hentley Farm
If the name Hentley Farm rings a bell, it's probably because this winery has built a reputation for itself as a top producer of single estate wines in the Barossa Valley. Perhaps one of the most unique cellar door experiences in the Barossa, Hentley Farm is housed inside a petite heritage cottage that looks imported from the German countryside. Their award-winning onsite restaurant - The Atrium - has a strong focus on local produce (some of which is even grown in the estate's own garden). Writer's tip: the cellar door and restaurant are geared towards intimate experiences, so capacity is limited - make sure you book ahead of time!
Yalumba
This impressive estate is the only winery in the southern hemisphere with an onsite, operational cooperage - making it a popular stop on any Barossa itinerary. With a rich winemaking history that dates back to early settlement days, Yalumba boasts an array of tours and experiences throughout the grounds, as well as six different tastings within the Wine Room. Writer's tip: learn about the ancient art of barrel-making in the cooperage, before kicking back on the pristine lawn with an estate picnic.
St Hugo Wines
With a legacy that stretches back to 1847, St Hugo Wines is a proud producer of some of the Barossa's most prestigious wines. Located at Rowland Flat, just over an hour from Adelaide, this cellar door has an impressive facade to match its rich history. Think old-fashioned stone masonry, open fireplaces and a sun-soaked courtyard that will transport you straight to Tuscany. Oh, and did we mention that this cellar door is also the stomping ground of Daniel Riccardo? That's right - St Hugo has partnered with the F1 legend to create a bespoke collection of fine wines called DR3, so you can grab a bottle and take Riccardo's creation for a spin.
Alkina Wine Estate
Did you know that the word Alkina is an Indigenous Australian girl's name, meaning 'moon' or 'moonlight'? With a name that beautiful, it's no surprise that this winery strives to operate in harmony with the land, while paying heed to the natural forces that shape it. Proudly organic and biodynamic, Alkina produces wines that reflect the vitality of the soils and ecosystems in which they are grown. Discover miniscule batches of 'Spice Garden' shiraz or taste the 'Night Sky' GSM, labelled with artwork by Adnyamathanha artist Damien Coulthard. Open seven days a week, drop into Alkina and try their micro-terroir wines for yourself.
Tscharke
Do you spend hours poring over wine lists, debating tannins and learning the difference between viticulture and viniculture? Then this might just be the winery for you. Just one of three estates in the Barossa Valley to receive organic and biodynamic certification, Tscharke (pronounced 'sharkie') is doing things a little differently. In a world-famous wine region where tasting rooms wait at every corner, Tsharke has thrown out the playbook and removed its cellar door altogether, instead offering exclusive experiences in its new state of the art wine venue called The Protagonist. Wandering what exactly this mysterious space has in store for you? Well that's all part of the intrigue - you'll have to book to find out.
LINGER LONGER IN the barossa...
Here for a few days? Start planning with our Trip Planner by checking out our Barossa itinerary, from the best places to stay, spots to eat and things to do. Eat your way around the region with our guide to Barossa Valley's best restaurants.
