On the outskirts of Angaston, Yalumba is Australia's oldest family-owned winery, harking back to 1849 when Brit brewer Sam Smith planted his first vines here. Smith took off to the Victorian gold rush in 1852, returning to Yalumba with a princely £300 in his pocket. Most of this bounty went towards building Yalumba’s amazing old stone buildings (including a vertically challenged chimney), which make the detour off the main road all the more rewarding.
As any Australian alive in the 1980s will tell you, Yalumba is a brand synonymous with the humble wine cask. Yalumba may have built a modern fortune at the budget end of the wine spectrum, but at the cellar door here you can broaden your understanding of their offerings with some exceptional Barossa reds. Tastings range from $10 to $100, the latter granting you a sniff at five vintages of the Caley, Yalumba’s top drop. Book ahead, or walk-ins are welcome. Winery tours range from one to four hours.
