Region Of The Week: Barossa
One of the most well-known and oldest regions in Australia, Barossa is one of the six wine producing sub-regions in South Australia. Named after the Barrossa Ridge in Andalusia, Spain, Barossa was settled by English and Silesian settlers in the 1800s. While the English focused on livestock, the Silesians experimented with various crops and found the region’s climate ideal for viticulture. Now, Barossa is mainly known for its Shiraz, while also producing stunning Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Semillon, Viognier, Grenache, and Mourvedre wines.
Barossa is split into two sub-regions: Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. The larger of the two, Barossa Valley spans across 11,600 hectares. Known mostly for old vines and classic wines, it has a Mediterranean climate with warm valleys and cooler meso-climates at higher altitudes. While Eden Valley is a hilly region with 2,100 hectares and a cooler climate. While they produce other wines, Eden Valley mainly competes with Clare Valley when it comes to Rieslings.
Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz 2018
Kaesler Old Bastard is one of Australia’s most highly regarded Shiraz wines. It is consistently rated as one of the Barossa’s benchmark Shiraz wines and is highly sought after by wine collectors around the world. This bold red wine has gorgeous notes of black fruit, oak, and a hint of anise and black pepper. Enjoy with a roast or save it for a special occasion in a couple years.
