The Barossa Valley offers everything you'd expect from Australia's most famous wine region. Winemakers waiting to share their secrets at the cellar door; landscapes etched with manicured vineyards; passionate food producers proffering their wares at country markets; and grand chateaux surrounded by ornate gardens - and it's all just an hour from Adelaide.

The region owes much of its appeal to the European peasant farmers and English free settlers who made the place home in the 1850s. You'll get a taste of their rich cultural legacy in superb Barossa specialty foods, dozens of festivals and events, historic architecture and inspiring arts and antique galleries.

Take a winery tour in a limousine or vintage car, or float above the valley in a hot-air balloon. Wake up in the Barossa after spending the night in a restored settler's cottage, a resort suite, a luxurious country house or a shady caravan park. Sample German wursts and cakes in heritage bakeries and butcher stores as you follow the Barossa's Butcher, Baker, Winemaker Trail. And get right into the swing of things at one of the 100 events making up the biennial Barossa Vintage Festival.

Drive among vines tended by the region's 500 grape growing families (many sixth-generations). Stop at tiny boutique wineries where top drops are sold out within weeks of their launch. Have your photo taken beside the real Jacob's Creek. Visit the new $5 million Wolf Blass Visitor Centre, or any of the 60 sensational cellar doors with household names like Peter Lehmann, Henschke, Seppelt, Yaldara and Yalumba.

What's a wine region without a chateau or three' The divine buildings and grounds of Chateau Yaldara house a new cafe and larder. The magnificently restored Chateau Tanunda has a gorgeous cricket oval and croquet lawn, and is also home to the Barossa Small Winemakers Centre. Seppeltsfield, one of Australia's grandest wine chateaux, began life as a dairy in 1851, and Chateau Barossa's parklands feature more than 20,000 rose bushes of more than 2000 varieties.

Marvel at the magic of Maggie Beer, one of Australia's favourite cooks and writers, and a pioneering champion of Barossa regional cuisine. In her Farm Shop near Nuriootpa, you'll find Maggie's gourmet products and award-winning books, and enjoy great coffee and lunch overlooking the lake.

See the patchwork of vineyards and farms from the lookout on Mengler Hill. The many spires that punctuate the landscape remind you just how important worship was (and still is) to the Barossa community. The road continues as the scenic route to Angaston. Mengler Hill Lookout is located east of Tanunda and west of Angaston.

Rise and shine with the Barossa Farmers Market, held every Saturday morning from 7.30am to 11.30am and boasting "real food from the homes and farms of the Barossa." Located just behind Vintners Bar & Grill near Angaston, it's a food-only market reflecting the heritage and traditions of the region.

After indulging in vast quantities of food, wine and history, you might need some quiet time with nature. Hike through the Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park to see an array of flora and fauna, join the 1500-kilometre Heysen walking trail as it passes through the Barossa, or hire a bike for a jaunt along the Mawson cycling trail.

A Feast of Festivals
The valley is renowned for its eclectic variety of festivals: gourmet food, vintage fairs, music under the stars and more. The locals love a party and they're not afraid to indulge in great food and wine. Events not to be missed include the Barossa Vintage Festival, Barossa Under the Stars and the Barossa Gourmet Weekend.

Taste and buy from the small winegrowers at the magnificent Chateau Tanunda, a 110-year-old property set on 13 hectares with a croquet lawn, formal gardens and slate terraces. In the Barossa all roads lead to a cellar door.

Food Barossa
Great Australian foodies like Maggie Beer have made the Barossa home, attracted by its thriving and diverse food culture. The dining diva is one of the forces behind Food Barossa, a regional brand celebrating the unique history and culture of the region. Taste the best of the Barossa at Maggie Beer's Farm Shop, the South Australian Company Store, the Barossa Farmers Market in Angaston and the famed Apex Bakery in Tanunda.

How to Get There
Adelaide Lyndoch via Gawler 61 kilometres 1 hour. Adelaide Tanunda via Gawler 74 kilometres 1 hour 10 minutes. Adelaide Angaston via Springton 90 kilometres 1 hour 30 minutes. Adelaide Williamstown via Chain of Ponds 45 kilometres 50 minutes. Adelaide Nuriootpa on Sturt Highway 75 kilometres 1 hour 10 minutes.