Vineyards near Nuriootpa

Nuriootpa (including Light Pass)
Major service centre in the Barossa Valley
Located 270 metres above sea level and 76 km from Adelaide, Nuriootpa (the name is reputedly an Aboriginal word meaning 'meeting place') is recognised as the commercial centre of the Barossa Valley. It is a substantial and rapidly growing centre with a population in excess of 3,000 people which services the 42 wineries which exist in the area. Perhaps the most immediate impression on the visitor is the fact that vines seem to grow everywhere down the main street on shops old and new. It is a vine town.

Prior to European settlement a small number of Aborigines were well established in the district. They lived on a diet of grass seeds (made into a kind of damper), kangaroos, wallabies, possums, lizards and fish and protected themselves against the winter cold with possum skin rugs. Their life was simple but perfectly in tune with the climate, flora and fauna of the region. Periodically they would gather to exchange goods and to engage in complex social rituals. It is believed that Nuriootpa was one of the major gathering points in South Australia.

Soon after the arrival of colonists in South Australia in July, 1836 expeditions were sent out to explore the hinterland. By December 1837 explorers had reached Lyndoch and by 1838 other explorers had reached the Murray River passing through the Barossa Valley. The valley was named by Colonel Light after Barrosa (Hill of Roses) in Spain where he had fought against the French in 1811 in the Peninsula War. The spelling mistake was never corrected.

By 1839 Colonel Light, the Surveyor General of South Australia, was selling off large tracts of land in the valley. The area around Nuriootpa was sold to George Angas and became known for a short time as Angas Park.

The town grew quite dramatically in the 1840s with the discovery of copper at Kapunda. It became an important stopover point for miners and bullock drivers on their way from Adelaide. It was this increase in trade which saw William Coulthard build the Red Lion hotel (a slab hut) in 1843 to slake the thirst of the passing trade. It was around the Red Lion that the town grew. Coulthard laid out the town in 1854 and by 1855 he was so successful that he had built himself a beautiful bluestone mansion.

Coulthard House

Today Nuriootpa is a mixture of the old and the new. It has an appealing main street and in the spring and autumn the vines give it greater appeal that most other service towns.

Things to see:  

Coulthard House
Located on the corner of Murray St and Penrice Rd this beautiful building was constructed by William Coulthard in 1855. Built of local bluestone it is superb example of an elegant building from the mid-nineteenth century. It used to be the town's information centre. It is now the National Office of the Apex Clubs of Australia.

When it was the Tourist Information Office it had a caravan outside which had been built in 1931. It is particularly fascinating being made from such unusual materials as pressed metal (which was on the outside).

The caravan built in 1931

Luhrs Pioneer German Cottage
To the west of Nuriootpa is the tiny settlement of Lights Pass (named after Colonel Light). It is noted for its two Lutheran churches (a reminder of the strong German influence in the valley) and Luhrs Pioneer German Cottage. This fascinating historic cottage is open most days from 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. It was built in 1848 by the first German schoolteacher in the Barossa Valley, J. H. Luhrs, and is now on display with an interesting collection of German artefacts.

Wineries in the Area
Penfolds Wines
Located on the Barossa Valley Way just south of Nuriootpa, Penfolds Winery is the largest winery in the Barossa Valley. It is a huge undertaking producing a wide range of wines. The famous Penfolds Grange is not grown and produced here. It is located on the edge of the Adelaide Hills. See Adelaide Hills for more details. The Nuriootpa winery is noted for its Kaiser Stuhl and Tollana brands. There are regular tours of the winery. It specialises in red and white table wines and fortified wines derived from cabernet, shiraz, riesling, semillon and chardonnay. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8560 9389.

Elderton Wines
Located just across the North Para River at 3 Tanunda Road (at the southern end of town), Elderton Wines is a smaller, family owned vineyard and winery which has won numerous awards. It was established in 1984. It specialises in premium red and white table wines and sparkling wines derived from cabernet, shiraz, riesling, merlot and chardonnay. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8562 1058.

Wolf Blass Wines
Located north of the town on the Sturt Highway between Nuriootpa and Stockwell, Wolf Blass Wines are one of Australia's modern success stories. Wolf Blass was largely responsible for producing good quality, modestly priced wines which did much to open the boutique wine market up to a larger drinking public. It was established in 1973 and specialises in premium red and white table wines, sparkling and fortified wines derived from cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, riesling, semillon, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8562 1955.

Wine vats painted to look like mini-castles at Chateau Dorrien

Chateau Dorrien
Located on Seppeltsfield Road this winery was established in 1984 and specialises in both red and white table wines, fortified wines and mead derived from cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, riesling and chardonnay grapes. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8562 2850.

Tarac Australia
Located on Tanunda Road this distillery was established in 1934. In the 1980s it was taken over by Bundaberg Rum. Unlike all the other destinations in the Barossa it produces spirits including brandy, rum, gin, vodka, bourbon, tequila, ouzo and scotch whisky. It is open Monday to Friday. For more details contact (08) 8562 1522.

Kaesler Wines and Restaurant
Located on Barossa Valley Way this winery was established in 1990. It specialises in red and white table wines and fortified wines derived from cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, semillon, Grenache, Mataro and Palomino. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8562 2711.

Barossa Cottage Wines
Located beyond Saltrams on the road to Nuriootpa this winery was established in 1993 and specialises in both red and white table wines derived from cabernet, shiraz, pinot noir, malbec, riesling and chardonnay grapes. It is open for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8562 3212.

	Motels
	Baroosa Gateway Motel Kilimna Rd Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 1033 Facsimile: (08) 8562 1600 Rating: ***
	Nuriootpa Vine Court 49 Murray St Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 2133 Facsimile: (08) 8562 2236 Rating: ***1/2
	Nuriootpa Vine Inn Hotel-Motel 14 Murray St P.O. Box 32 Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 2133 Rating: ***1/2
	Hotels
	Angas Park Hotel Murray St Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 1050
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Kaesler Cottages Bed & Breakfast Barossa Valley Way P.O. Box 422 Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 2711 Facsimile: (08) 8562 2788 Rating: ****1/2
	Karawatha Guesthouse Greenock Rd Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 1746 Rating: ***
	Treetops Bed & Breakfast Seppeltsfield Rd Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 2522 Facsimile: (08) 8562 3470 Rating: ****1/2
	Whirlwind Farm Bed & Breakfast Samuel Rd Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 2637 Facsimile: (08) 8562 4637 Rating: ****1/2
	Cottages & Cabins
	Fuller's Barn Residence Lot 102 Salesyards Rd Penrice Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 4600 Facsimile: (08) 8562 4611
	Barossa Valley SA Tourist Park Penrice Rd Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 1404 Facsimile: (08) 8562 2615 Rating: ***
	Lodges & Chalets
	Barossa Bunkhaus Travellers Cottage Barossa Valley Hwy P.O. Box 241 Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 2260 Facsimile: (08) 8562 2260
	Caravan Parks
	Barossa Valley SA Tourist Park Penrice Rd Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 1404 Facsimile: (08) 8562 2615 Rating: ****
	Restaurants
	Kaesler Cottages Bed & Breakfast Barossa Valley Way P.O. Box 422 Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 2711
	Linke's Bakery and Tea Rooms 40 Murray St Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 1129
	Shangri-la Thai Restaurant 31 Murray St Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 3559
	Vine Inn Hotel Motel 14 Murray St Nuriootpa SA 5355 Telephone: (08) 8562 2133