Nuriootpa is a pragmatic service town, Tanunda is touristy, Lyndoch and Greenock are outliers… Zero-in on little Angaston (population 2,100) instead, our favourite Barossa town, with lovely old architecture and great cafés and pubs along its bendy main street. A few kilometres to the west is Saltram, a property established not long after William Salter jumped off the boat from Devonshire in 1844. Shiraz has been Saltram’s focus since day one, but at a tasting session here today you might get a look at an adventurous shiraz-tempranillo blend or a tawny. Or you can sign up for a vertical tasting flight, sampling single-vineyard shiraz from three different Saltram blocks ($60 per person, including a take-home bottle of wine per couple).
The glass-fronted restaurant here, Salters Kitchen, is a mod addition to the historic stone estate and is usually buzzing, serving generous wood-oven pizzas (try the lamb, olive, goat’s cheese and rosemary edition), plus shared platters and steaks. Book ahead for everything.