> > by Celia Fiel
A weekend getaway in the Barossa Valley.
At first the suggestion of a romantic wine - tasting weekend in the Barossa Valley didn't appeal to my man. Would a glass of wine taste any better because it's being sipped in the midst of the very vineyards from which it originated? Being from a dairy farming background, he unromantically likened it to drinking a glass of milk in the middle of a paddock- something he argued wouldn't enhance the flavour of the milk, nor the overall drinking experience. So with that argument in tatters, I had my research cut out for me to find other reasons why we should make the trip to wine Mecca - South Australia's Barossa Valley. It became my mission to uncover at least three new experiences which would capture the curiosity of my well-traveled mate … I could tell this would be no ordinary wine tour the minute I set eyes upon the elongated, bright yellow Oztrike chopper. Having never been a motorbike enthusiast, I tried to hide the slight sense of trepidation that came over me as I climbed up onto my seat. But the look of anticipation on my partner's face told me this experience would rate well. Our ‘chauffeur' Tony Tscharke (www.barossatrike.com.au) gave us a fascinating commentary of life in the Barossa through the helmet intercom system as we wound our way over hills and through scenic valley byways to the next vineyard. Names like Penfolds, Yalumba, Seppelt, Peter Lehmann and Jacob's Creek were soon more than just famous labels on a bottle- they were grand, historic chateaus in which the craft of winemaking had been perfected over the centuries.At Penfolds, visitors are given the chance to don lab coats and step into the laboratory to create their very own blend of red. The Make Your Own Blend Tour costs $55 per person and is an enjoyable way to gain a first hand understanding of the wine making process. With test tubes in hand and bottles of grenache, shiraz and mourvedre to draw from, budding winemakers combine the wines in varying proportions to suit their particular taste. The guests are then presented with a bottle of their own blend to take home - complete with personalised label. Combined with a tour of the historic winery and cellars, built in 1911, the Make Your Own Blend Tour brings the Barossa experience to life and leaves you with a sense of accomplishment that you've created something unique (and hopefully drinkable!). Our weekend getaway had been a huge success thus far and my mission was going well. My happy other half was amazed that I'd managed to find two new experiences he'd never tried before - all in the Barossa Valley. The following day was the pièce de résistance - another first for both of us and an experience we'll never forget. The last time I came that close to feeling like royalty was at Buckingham Palace, but then it was more to do with my imagination. Walking through gardens where the royal family frolic is one thing, but you don't have to try too hard to actually feel like royalty when you're reclining in the plush leather backseat of a 1962 Daimler limousine, being given your own personalised tour of the region (www.barossadaimlertours.com.au). It came as no surprise when John Baldwin, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of the wine country, told us that this very car actually was used for royal tours in the 1960s. This is sophistication at its best. There was plenty of room in the back for a few bottles of our favourite reds purchased from the cellar doors - and we headed back to our hotel wishing the day would never end. Strike three and my mission is well and truly accomplished!