At Home in the Barossa

Hot on the heals of active sporty pursuits, we quickly reverted to our comfort zone and headed to the famous Barossa valley to investigate the best and the worst of Aussie plonk. With a campsite cabin booked, ready wallets and an empty boot we jumped into the Nyland mobile and headed east (we think). Barossa is home to Jacob's Creek (which we crossed, and seems to sponsor the whole town with signposts and all) and Penfolds, but we put our faith in our boozy hosts who seem to be known around these parts and have their own favourite vintners.
First port of call was Grant Berge, fifth generation winery and showing it, with coach parties of old people everywhere and lots of award plaques. This turned out to be our fave winery of the tour and 3 of us (Kerry was duty driver and looking miffed) plowed through the whole range from whites to ports...I freely admit we were a tad light headed afterwards, and wallets loosened for the first purchases. As it was early days we thought we'd try a few more establishments, but feeling a little peckish headed off to soak up some of those tastings. In Australia a woman called Maggie Beer is famous for her recipes and cooking shows, and it was to her establishment we meandered for some rich pate, sauces and relishes with a glass of red, even catching a cookery lesson and meeting the good lady herself. Nobody left that place without learning a little about cooking with verjuice, believe me.
The afternoon "session" proved a tadge more arduous as we decided to leave the car and walk to the afternoon wineries of Peter Lehmann and Langmeil (heavy German influence in this region, Riesling and Lutheran churches abound!) What we hadn't factored on was distance, and of course you tend to need lots of space to grow vines. Our totenmarch left us a little desperate for water rather than vino but thankfully we were well looked after, purchasing some good Merlot to take away for our evening meal in a BYO restaurant...even though that would mean carrying them home. Before setting out for the return leg, we grabbed a moment of calm to eat some fortifying cheese, pate and that favourite quince jelly we had been lugging with us in a cool box...
It was a slightly subdued foursome that stepped out for supper after a shower and some bed rest, but the group rallied to gourmet dining and feasted on scallops, duck, kangaroo, steak and halloumi washed down with the region's best vino collapso.
Overfed and over-boozed, next morning we dragged our sorry carcasses to do the last of the tasting and purchases, heading back to Adelaide to a promised diet of lettuce and water...