Tastings can make you hungry

We stayed at Tanunda, which is a small town in the Barossa Valley, and obviously the first thing everyone wants to do in the Barossa Valley is visit a vineyard and our accommodation was within walking distance to at least three. We had one full day so we had to make the most of it –
Peter Lehmann  vineyard was just around the corner, which was about a ten minute walk. The problem was that I had a feeling that we would buy some wine, and a ten minute walk with 18 kilos is not my idea of being on holiday – so we drove the short distance.

The lady who showed us the wines, and discussed each one that we tasted, was very easy to chat to as she shared her knowledge. Jugs of water were available to help clean the pallet, and dilute the small amount of wine that we swallowed. There comes a time when spitting out wine is not an option. At the end of the half hour we’d bought a mixed case!

Good job we had our car.

Our next port of call was Maggie Beer’s farm shop. It was about a twenty minute scenic drive from the accommodation.
Not being a shopper by nature (I hate shopping), I wasn’t sure what we would see at Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop. I needn’t have worried as I found the place to be a pleasure to visit. All the pickles could be tasted before buying, as were the jams and mustard. Of course the wine (made by Maggie’s husband) was also available for tasting  . . .  the whole experience was very enjoyable because of the relaxed atmosphere, the helpful staff and the ability to try everything before you bought.

If you wanted to stay for lunch the facilities were available.

Everything was laid out for ease of shopping, and tasting without any pressure.

After leaving Maggies with pâté and pickles, plus a cookery book, and a couple of bottles of wine we decided it was time for lunch. Food & wine tasting can make one hungry.

At the accommodation we had been told of a pizza maker who had won awards, not just in South Australia, but nationally and they made gluten free pizza, so we had to go and try one of the gluten free pizzas, Maureen being a coeliac.

The 40’s Cafe, and sometimes I’ve heard it called Roaring 40’s Pizza is in a small area called Angaston, very close to Tanunda. There was nothing flash about the place, but the girls behind the counter were friendly.

We ordered a smoky meat pizza – all the various meats being smoked.
When it came I was surprised at the size – it would have fed four adults.

It fed Maureen & I for lunch and we took three large slices home!

On the way back to the accommodation we decide to stop at another vineyard called Chateau Tanunda, which is nearly in the centre of Tanunda town.

It is a beautiful setting for a vineyard. The above picture is the drive to the main house, and the picture below is the bowling green close to the tasting area. We only bought two bottles to take home to Sydney – the car was becoming quite full of honey and cordial from Beechworth, pickles and pâté from Maggie’s, wine from Tanunda, brochures and magazines from where ever we stopped and a large number of books from various second hand book shops.

Happy Hour at our accommodation.

We had to taste the wine and pâté before a swim in the pool.

The accommodation at Langmeil Cottages was self catering, which included a bottle of bubbly on arrival and and breakfast supplied – they have four cottages. Ours was a very comfortable cottage with plenty of space to spread out – bedroom, living room, kitchen etc