"Down Under" to Barossa Valley

(26 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Shel Hansen

La Crosse, WI
Master Cruise Specialist

As a certified Master Cruise Counsellor with CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), I bring over three decades of hands-on experience and passion to helping clients plan their dream cruises. Earning this prestigious designation required ri...

Blending wine at Penfolds
If you’re a foodie and a wine enthusiast, you’ll really enjoy a trip to Australia’s Barossa Valley. To visit ‘the Barossa’ is to taste the good life, which includes premium wines such as the world-famous Barossa Shiraz and Eden Valley Riesling that are regionally produced. Add that to enjoying some of their acclaimed restaurants provides a true gastronomic experience.

During my visit to this special area, I visited both Wolf Blass Wines and Peter Lehmann Wines. After that, I was off to Penfolds Winery. Did you know that in one year’s time, 30 million (!) bottles of wine are made and stored there? My tour started with the augers, some holding as much as two ton of grapes – and concluded with the storage building where some wines are kept for up to twenty years. After that, it was time to try blending my own wine and so I was provided a number if necessary items, including beakers, flasks, parts of different wines, pen, paper and my own white lab coat. After the blending, my own creation was put into a special bottle with my name on to take home for a souvenir.

This is just an example of the experiential side of travel; with my vast knowledge of Australia I can easily include this or other memorable adventures in your trip ‘down under’.

My Travel Albums

My Australia Adventures!
A much-photographed rock formation
See more travel stories
Return to my Master Cruise Specialist page
©  Travel Leaders Group