Barossa Vintage Festival celebrates fantastic harvest

Get set to party in the Barossa this week as the region celebrates a successful grape harvest with a five-day food and wine festival.

All eyes will be on the Barossa this week as the region’s five-day Vintage Festival revs up.

The celebration of wine, food and tradition has been a drawcard to the area since 1947.

More than 75 events will showcase the best of the region, including Tanunda’s free Ziegenmarket; the Saturday parade; a display of scarecrows; and ticketed lunches, dinners, wine tastings, winery tours and workshops with local artisans.

Friday’s Barossa Wine Auction is a chance for wine lovers to bid on rare Barossa drops. And by all accounts, 2021 is a vintage worth celebrating.

“What a way to celebrate the end of a ripping vintage,” said 2020 Barossa Winemaker of the Year Stuart Bourne.

“This year is one of those years that will be spoken about in the future in tones of awe.

“Many of us are already ranking this 2021 vintage as one of the greatest three of the past 30 for the Barossa.”

A family owned Kombi camping business has launched in the Barossa as the region’s five-day Vintage Festival kicks off. Picture: Tom Huntley

During the challenges of global COVID-19 restrictions, it is a time of celebration for local hospitality and tourism businesses to celebrate, too.

For Karen Pratt, owner of quirky Gawler East accommodation the Coach House, business has never been better.

“It’s busier than it’s ever been,” she said.

Heartened by the influx of visitors, Mrs Pratt’s son, Cooper, recently launched a Volkswagen Kombi hire business called Kombi Camping. The first in a growing fleet of vintage hire cars is “Gilbert”, a 1978 Kombi.

Cooper, 24, saved up to purchase his first run-down Kombi when he was 10 and has been renovating them since. The entrepreneur has Kombi wine tours and wedding hire on the horizon. “Our family loves it here and we want to share it with people,” Mrs Pratt said.

Barossa Vintage Festival runs from April 14-18.

Seebarossavintagefestival.com.au