Artisans of Barossa celebrate their new $3.1m cellar door opening weekend

Years in the making, a massive $3.1m new cellar door has just opened – and it boasts the best of the Barossa.

A new $3.1m Tanunda cellar door will become the “spiritual home” of eight small-batch wineries that form Artisans of the Barossa.

Set just off Kroemer’s Crossing, the newly opened cellar door boasts a restaurant, tasting rooms, produce store and the group’s new shared vineyards.

Artisans of Barossa spokesman Howard Duncan said the group had been searching for the right location for five years, after starting the collective in 2005.

“The development allows us to showcase our wines in our own home, alongside exceptional food in a beautiful setting,” Mr Duncan said.

Outside the Atisans of the Barossa cellar door, which has just opened. Picture: Emma Brasier

Tim Duval, of John Duval Wines, said the new venue would not have been possible without the collectivisation between wineries passionate about small-batch wine making.

“One of the unique things about the Barossa is our collective spirit and sense of community,” Mr Duval said.

“We’re a ragtag bunch of different producers, but we share that collective spirit of trying to promote the Barossa and that connection between the land and the products that come from it.”

The group has already collaborated on two venues in the Barossa. Their original cellar door operated for seven years until late 2018, and Vino Lokal Wine Bar, on Murray St.

Lienert Vineyards winemaker James Lienert said facilitating a multitude of tailored wine experiences was the focus of the development from the beginning.

Collective members John Duval, Daniel Hartwig, Theo Engela, Greg Hobbs, Tim Duval, John Lienert, James Lienert and Allison Hobbs inside the new cellar door near Tanunda. Picture: Emma Brasier

“It’s been a collaborative process all with the same goal of delivering an amazing experience,” he said.

“It’s expensive to build a cellar door by yourself, so to be able to pull together we get more in terms of space and offerings for guests.”

The Essen restaurant will feature a menu focused on local produce and dishes to pair with the Artisans of Barossa wine collection.