About The Pack
The Barossa Valley is Australia's most famous wine region, having helped herald the quality of Australian wine the world over for decades.
While there are plenty of big and gustatory wines still being made in the region, there is also some light and shade in style if you know where to look.
These six wines cover a wide spectrum of the great value reds being made in the Barossa today and are the perfect things to have handy at home when you're looking for a glass of the Barossa without paying the big bucks.
2019 Vigna Cantina Sangiovese
Flavoursome, rustic Sangiovese, a tribute of sorts to Dom Torzi's family roots in Abruzzo in central Italy.
Fruit is from the undulating hills of Angaston, and winemaking is very traditional, with a fair amount of whole bunch, wild yeast ferment and no fining or filtering.
The end result is pale in colour but rich in cherry and pine needle flavours, flowing through to a firmish, meatball-demanding finish.
Read more about 2019 Vigna Cantina Sangiovese2018 Turkey Flat Butchers Block Red Blend
Take a butcher's at this bargain Barossa blend from Turkey Flat, whose wines are as good as they have ever been.
Shiraz, Mataro and Grenache combine into an enticing mouthful of spicy fruit that finishes long, smooth and satisfying.
It's medium-bodied and relatively soft and there is abundant character in the form of slight rusty earthiness backing up the plush Barossa fruit.
A surefire Barossa daily drinker.
Read more about 2018 Turkey Flat Butchers Block Red Blend2021 Smallfry Stella Luna Red
Farmed using biodynamic principals, this fresh and vibrant (and aptly named) wine is farmed, picked and fermented in accordance with the cycles of the moon.
These practices make for "soils and wines which are just so much better" according to viticulturist Suzi Hilder. A blend of Cinsault and Shiraz from their own vineyard in the Barossa Valley, this wine is made with a small portion of whole-bunch, without oak and is released young to be drunk young - all the beauty of the vineyard still laid bare for all to see.
This is the perfect red for warm Spring days, and delicious drinking with a slight chill.
Read more about 2021 Smallfry Stella Luna Red2021 Schwarz Wine Co. Growers Grenache
The "Growers" series of wines from Jason Schwarz are grown by trusted friends in the Barossa Valley. This collective of thirteen grape growers form the region form the "backbone of our business", according to Jason.
These wines are made in a fun, easy-drinking style and aim to over-deliver in the value for money stakes.
The Grenache is a playful, blue-fruited little number, with a fresh, plump palate and super-fine silty tannins.
It's a gluggable and perfect for anything from BBQs to pizza nights at home.
2021 White Gate Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon
Born and bred locals Chad and Gee Connolly at White Gate Wine Co have diverted from the norm of the 90s and released a softly-delicious, approachable style of Cabernet, that shows the lighter side of the Barossa Valley.
Lightly herbal, with gentle but ripe tannins playing around a succulent cherry/ red fruit core. Lovely length too. The grapes are picked early, whole berry fermented, and don’t spend too much time on skins.
They want to minimise extraction and prioritise a juicer expression, that is all about showcasing the fruit.
Read more about 2021 White Gate Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon2020 Head Old Vine Shiraz
The Old Vine Shiraz is the twin of Alex Head's benchmark Old Vine Grenache.
These wines celebrate the incredible vineyard resources that Alex is lucky enough to work with. The vines that contribute to this release are up to 100 years old. To get fruit from these rare historic sites, made by a talent such as Alex at this price point, shows the remarkable value to be had in Australian wine at the moment.
This is classic Barossa Shiraz - robust, powerful and deliciously opulent.
Read more about 2020 Head Old Vine Shiraz