Barossa Valley Wine Guide: Grapes, Appellations & Producers

Big, warm, old-vine Shiraz

Soil: Warm, low-lying clay and sand; home to some of the world's oldest vines.
Style: Rich, full-bodied, opulent Shiraz — dark fruit, chocolate, sweet spice.
Top sites: Old-vine sites in Tanunda, Marananga; Grenache too.
Vintages: 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2021
Producers

Tip · The Barossa has ungrafted vines over 150 years old — phylloxera never reached here. Penfolds Grange is its most famous Shiraz.

Value pick

Torbreck 'Woodcutter's' Shiraz · ~$25

A generous, polished hit of classic Barossa Shiraz from a top name — flagship character at an entry price.

Collector pick

Penfolds Grange · ~$900 · 2018

Australia's most famous wine — a multi-region Shiraz icon and the country's ultimate collectible.

Cooler hills · age-worthy Riesling

Tip · Cooler Eden Valley is Australia's great dry-Riesling country — and home to Henschke Hill of Grace, the Barossa's rival to Grange.

Value pick

Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling · ~$20

Pristine, lime-and-mineral dry Riesling built to age a decade — one of the wine world's great-value whites.

Collector pick

Henschke 'Hill of Grace' Shiraz · ~$900 · 2018

Single-vineyard ancient-vine Shiraz — the Barossa's rival to Grange and a blue-chip collectible.