Journey of The Life

Say the words, “Barossa Valley” and the first thing anyone will think of is wine. Mention “fine Australian wine” and the Barossa Valley will be mentioned by connoisseurs around the world. The Barossa region of South Australia is synonymous with wine, and for good reason. However, there is more to the Barossa than just vineyards. It is a great place to visit for many other reasons, too.

The first European settlers in the Barossa Valley were predominantly German Lutherans. They came initially to escape the persecution they were receiving for their faith at the time, in the middle of the 19th century. When word got out that the Australian region they settled in was perfect for growing grapes, they came in increasing numbers.

Those first settlers didn’t have it easy. They slept in tents and their first enterprise was back breaking labor in the limestone quarries. The first permanent buildings in the Barossa Valley were made out of those stones and their early building efforts are a testament to the skill, faith and labor of the early settlers. When you travel through the valley, the spires of many Lutheran churches can be seen against the backdrop of the vineyards.

Many of the vines you see in the Barossa Valley have their origins in Europe, since the settlers brought their roots with them from Germany. In fact, some of the oldest Shiraz vineyards in the world are in the Barossa Valley, their European counterparts having been destroyed by disease not long after they were brought to Australia in the mid-nineteenth century. Other varieties that can be found in the region include both reds and whites, including Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Grenache. The white grapes grow predominantly in the hill country around Eden Valley and Menglers Hill, while the reds are grown on the Barossa Valley floor.

Needless to say, a region that is celebrated for its wines holds celebrations in honor of its wines. In the Barossa Valley, the largest and oldest celebration is the Barossa Vintage Festival. This festival has been held every second year over the Easter holidays for over sixty years. The Barossa Festival is a non-stop celebration featuring jazz bands, contemporary music, a ball and an internationally attended wine auction.

While wine and everything associated with wine are the main drawcards to the Barossa Valley, the area offers many other attractions, too. With the prosperity the vineyards brought to the region came fine art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and European style alfresco cafes. The valley’s heritage is preserved in the fascinating museums in the region. One of them, the Barossa Historical Museum in Tanunda, is housed in a post office that was built in 1865, while another, the Herbig Family Tree is literally inside a hollow gum tree.

You won’t want to miss the Herbig Family tree. While you may choose to stay in a more comfortable Barossa Valley accommodation, you will love visiting this unique historical site. The tree itself, a red gum, is estimated to be as old as 500 years. When Friedrich Herbig chose its spacious hollow interior as his home in 1855, he stayed there for many years and the first two of his 18 children were even born there. While Herbig, his wife and children eventually moved to a more comfortable home, the tree remains, alive and well.

by Sidney Morgan

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