The Louise

Experience

The Barossa Valley is renowned as one of the world's finest wine producing regions with a rich culinary heritage. Home to more than 100 wineries (over 70 with cellar doors open to the public), the Barossa is a vibrant community with a rich 150-year old cultural and architectural heritage and the oldest continuous food culture in Australia.

The primary reason to make the Barossa a “must see” destination is the unsurpassed breadth and depth of its culinary and viticulture experience.

"An outstanding premium quality restaurant (Appellation) has emerged... It’s a powerful, perfectly executed hospitality statement in the wine country that any visitor would be mightily impressed by.” SA Life

This experience encompasses the flavours of the seasonal produce and traditional meats and breads that abound at the local Farmer’s Market, the specialist providores and on the tables of the Barossa. It is epitomised by the round-the-clock activities of harvest and vintage in the autumn months, and the seductive bouquet of wine aging gracefully in barrel as you enter the many wineries and cellar doors of the region. The authenticity of the experience is secured by the many great characters that define the Barossa and its passion for quality food, wine and lifestyle.

The Barossa is the undisputed wine capital of Australia, home to more than 600 grapegrowers and 100 or more wineries. Barossa shiraz red wines and nearby Eden Valley crisp white rieslings are perennial international world gold medal winners. The wine making experience may be shared up close and personal at more than five dozen cellar doors within a few minutes walk, bike ride or drive from The Louise.

And, a highlight of this food and wine experience all comes together at restaurant Appellation. A seasonally changing signature Wine Flight Tasting Menu of ten dishes created to pair with seven distinctive Barossa wines is among the top delights of touring Australia’s outstanding wine region.

This compact valley is easily explored, with nearly every turn and vista yielding unspoiled beauty and a sense of "place". The Barossa is filled with pastoral roads winding through a region referred to by our owners as "having the charm and ease of accessibility of Napa Valley thirty years ago." Wine is undoubtedly one of the main attractions to the Barossa which is home to some of the best known Australian wines in the world including Charles Melton, Jacobs Creek, Greenock Creek, Henschke, Penfolds, Peter Lehmann, Rockford, Seppelts, Two Hands, Torbreck, Turkey Flat, Wolf Blass and Yalumba, and as well as a host of emerging boutique and artisan winemakers producing the next generation of iconic wines.

Professional, attentive staff at The Louise have excellent local knowledge and are able to offer guidance about local wineries, specialist private tastings and touring options such as hot air ballooning, private guides and heritage sites.

Some recommended regional experiences include:

- Make your own blend at iconic Penfolds winery, an outstanding hands-on wine experience.

- Barossa Farmer's Market - an entrée to the Barossa food community. Saturday mornings from 7:00-11:00am. Guests staying overnight on Friday nights may, by prior arrangement, meet Appellation's Executive Chef or one of his chefs at the market and accompany them on their weekly rounds meeting and securing the freshest regional produce from local producers.

- The Barossa Wine Experience - Half or full day guided tours, private tastings with artisan, boutique and premium winemakers available by appointment only.

Activities

Tastings by appointment
A range of private tastings are available for guests staying at The Louise. These exclusive tastings are by prior appointment only and are an exceptional personal connection and introduction to some of the Barossa's outstanding winemakers and characters. Find out more »

Breakfast with the Kangaroos
Breakfast with the Kangaroos is a private, escorted, early morning easy walking tour of a nearby conservation park with a local guide, complete with gourmet picnic breakfast in the park surrounded by families of kangaroo. For guests whose priority is the food and wine offering of the Barossa, but who would not want to go home without seeing kangaroo in their native habitat. A wonderfully romantic and Australian bush expeirence. Find out more »

Make your own blend
Make your own blend at iconic Penfolds winery. This exceptional hands on experience includes a unique visit to Penfolds to try your hand at being a winemaker. Under the guidance of a wine educator blend and bottle your own vinous masterpiece during the “Make Your Own Blend” experience. As a special gift, take away your hand crafted Penfolds wine with your name on the label as Assistant Winemaker. Find out more »

Cycling through the vineyards
Cycling throuh the vineyards of the Barossa is an idyllic way to explore this compact region.

Hot air ballooning
The early morning start is worth the view as the hot air balloon skims across the vineyards and villages of the Barossa in the golden glow of first light. Find out more »