News and Events
Stonewell Cottages & Vineyards
Let me introduce you to another of our fabulous suppliers, Deniz and Kylie Karaca the founders and owners of Cuvee Chocolates.
In 2014 Chocolatier and Wine Connoisseur Deniz Karaca and his wife Kylie founded Cuvee Chocolate from their kitchen base at the fringe of the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
Since their humble beginnings, Kylie, Deniz and their team of passionate chocolate makers dedicate themselves every day to continue to make Cuvee Chocolate the Home of Australia’s most exclusive and iconic range of chocolate.
Their vision is to craft stone-ground, small batch, traditionally made chocolate that can be paired with the finest drops of the worlds most esteemed vineyards and distilleries.
Their passion for all things chocolate dictates that they only source the world’s best single origin cocoa beans from across the globe to bring you their small batch handcrafted chocolate tablets. Whilst quality is the obvious focus, our environment and the work/life quality within the communities in which the precious cocoa beans are grown are equally important to them.
They therefore do their best to work as directly as possible with the producers who grow the cocoa and ensure they pay a premium that is well above the commodity price of cocoa on the world market.
This helps to ensure that all cocoa that goes into the chocolate is produced using ethical, sustainable and fair-trading practices, a difference you can taste!
Now that the new year has started, we are only about 5 weeks from the start of vintage 2019! In about a weeks time, we will see the start of ‘veraison’. This term describes the photosynthetic process of sugar development. The berries will begin to swell in size and start to develop the deep purple colour as they ripen. Hydration of the vines remains critically important during the hotter months to ensure they do not defoliate, and to maintain the canopy. As we pass through veraison, the irrigation times will be shorter in duration, but interval times will be closer together, as deep moisture from (lack of!) winter rain drys out. This is to ensure the vines are not over stressed, while at the same time safeguarding that the fruit does not take up too much moisture, which can dilute flavour and colour. Typical target size for Shiraz berries is about 13mm diameter, which gives a good ratio between skin and flesh. What some people may not realise is that the juice from red grapes is actually white! The colour comes from the skin! Hence, if the berries are too large from too much irrigation, colour (and flavour) will be diluted.
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Chirp! Chirp! Rise and shine sleepy heads! We love our new names! Bourke & Wills” Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun! The winner is Amie Kalleske. With their new names sorted, our little explorers Bourke & Wills have now headed off into the big wide world in search of new adventures. We hope you have plenty of new and exciting adventures planned for 2019 too. Come explore the Barossa this year!
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We are getting very excited about the launch of a new Barossa Wine Room & Bar in the main street of Tanunda – Vino Lokal. Vino Lokal opens on the 4 January. There will be a Wine Room open from 11 am – 5 pm serving from a selection of over 50 Barossan wines and can be accompanied by four bite sized selections from the wine bar menu.
The Wine Bar will open from 11am – 8pm Monday to Thursday, 11am – 10pm on Friday and Saturday and from 11am – 6pm on Sunday. Matching the Wine Room programme, there will be a similarly extravagant selection of ‘lokal’ wines by the glass, carafe and by the bottle. Grower Champagne by the glass will also be in the mix, as will a few featured imports from familiar places and friends around the world. The Wine menu features 10-12 small plates from Chef Ryan Edwards designed to enjoy with a glass of wine.
I for one cannot wait for Vino Lokal to open!!!
10/10 for Stonewell!
Stonewell Cottages and Vineyards has been awarded the HotelsCombined Recognition of Excellence 2018 for achieving the highest standards of Customer Satisfaction worldwide.
Thankyou to our guests we have stayed with us and taken the time to leave a review on HotelsCombined.com.au Stonewell Cottages and Vineyards boasts a high satisfaction rating among guests and travel industry experts, receiving 163 reviews for an impressive rating of 10.0 out of 10.
Some of the top features guests have made mention of have been the “stunning lake views, the convenient location, comfortable large beds and satisfying breakfasts” and we have scored 10 out of 10 for cleanliness, facilities, location and rooms.
This award is a credit to our Operations Manager Rachael Morrison who provides a high level of service to our guests. Her dedication ensures our guests are well looked after even before they arrive, during their whole stay, right through to their departure and with follow up after their stay. Rachael leads our terrific Guest Services team, who take great pride in meticulously preparing our rooms to a high standard of cleanliness.
Read the latest reviews on HotelsCombined | Book your Stonewell Cottages & Vineyards stay | Join us on Facebook
From HotelsCombined:
“We are thrilled to be working with the best hotels in Australia and Stonewell Cottages and Vineyards is certainly among them” said Alberto Castellucchio, Market Manager of HotelsCombined Australia “What is different about the Recognition of Excellence is the way information is gathered and analysed: it all depends on the guest and his or her experience with that particular accommodation.” This award makes it “even easier for every traveller to identify the best hotel for customer service and therefore the best value for their money”.
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Welcome to summer in the Barossa! We’ll be sure to keep you up to date with what’s happening here as well on our Facebook Page.
See you soon!
Jump to: December Upcoming Events | January Upcoming Events | February Upcoming Events
Jump to: Spring
Recurring Events
Wednesdays, 7-9pm | Quiz Night at The Greenock, Greenock
A weekly quiz night with the Quiz Meisters Trivia!
Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/events/407031449724901/
Thursdays, 5-7pm | Beers with the Brewer – Barossa Valley Brewing, Tanunda
Free schooner on arrival at 5pm, meet the brewer for a quick chat, followed by a tour of the brewery for an in-depth explanation of how the beer is made.
Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/events/234332400478629/
Last event: Thursday, 27 Dec
Fridays, from 4:30pm | Eat. Drink. Sun. Set. – Artisans of Barossa and Harvest Kitchen, Tanunda
Glasses of wine and tasty seasonal nibbles. Sunsets are complimentary!
Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/events/218342892218045/
Last event: Friday, 28 Dec
Friday late night cocktail hour! DJs and Live Music with a deep house party vibe. Local boutique wine, beer, and eats to get your weekend off to the right start.
Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/events/165347257454747/
December Upcoming Events
Wed 26 Dec to Sunday 30 Dec, 9.30 AM – 7 PM | Christmas Twilight Tastings, Kellermeister Wines, Altona
Enjoy fresh local produce platters and our award winning wines, cider & beer while soaking up the spectacular view over the Barossa Ranges!
Find out more: http://kellermeister.com.au/Events/TwilightTastingsChristmas11.aspx
Wed 19 Dec, 5.30 PM – 9 PM | Carols by Candlelight, Peter Lehmann Wines, Tanunda
Barossa’s Carols by Candlelight is returning to Peter Lehmann Wines, a free community event, this December! Get your vocals ready to join a talented cast in modern renditions of all your favourite Christmas tunes. Enjoy delicious food from local producers and beautiful wines from Peter Lehmann Wines. An all-age’s event, there will be plenty of entertainment, arrive early with picnic blankets and low chairs to find a spot on the lawns.
Find out more: https://www.peterlehmannwines.com/
Fri 14 Dec, 5 PM – 9 PM | 2018 Greenock Xmas Feast-ival, Greenock Centenary Park
A tradition among both locals and visitors, the Xmas Feast-ival ( also known as Xmas in the Park) is the perfect way to celebrate this wonderful time of the year with an exceptional community. including wine,akers, brewers, distillers. chefs. artisans and entertainers the Xmas Feast-ival is a great Greenock event not to be missed. Bring your picnic rug or chairs.
Find out more: @Greenock Village
Fri 14 Dec, 3 Pm – 8PM | After Hours @ Peter Lehmann Wines, Tanunda
Held on Friday 14th December 2018, this will be a great addition to the Summer calendar with live music by Free Genie, delicious food including a selection of gourmet tacos, a lavish Peter Lehmann Wines’ cheese platter and fudgy chocolate brownies – as well as an assortment of our award winning wines by the glass or bottle, tea and coffee. Please BYO chairs, picnic rugs and glassware to this event.
Find out more: https://www.peterlehmannwines.com/index.cfm?
Fri 14 Dec, 5 PM – 9 PM | Whistler Summer Sessions, Whistler Wines, Stonewell
Summer Sessions are back for another year, every 2nd Friday of each month, unwind and relax into the weekend. Each month Whistler wines will be available by the glass or bottle for you while kicking back on the lawns in the Summer sunshine. In December AJ’s Kitchen is serving some tasty American style eats & Barossa Street Food, doing their famed Mexican spread!
Find out more: https://whistlerwines.com.au/summer-session-2-friday-14th-december-5pm-9pm/
Sat 8 Dec, 12.30 Pm – 4 PM | Flaxman Long Leisurely Lunch, Flaxman WInes, Flaxman Valley
Lunches take place under the Pergola overlooking the vineyard or in inclement weather, are held in Cellar Door. Col designs a menu based around what is fresh and in season each month and museum & current release wines are paired with each course. This is a unique intimate dining experience, where our guests get to enjoy lunch cooked by the winemaker and experience true Barossan hospitality. It’s a great way to get to meet some new people or get together a table of your own for special celebrations. Other dates are available for private functions on request – please contact us to enquire.
Find out more: https://www.flaxmanwines.com.au/page/cellar-door-and-dining/
Friday 7 Dec, 4 Pm – 10 PM| Barossa Christmas Parade 2018, Murray St, Tanunda
A Christmas themed parade and street party to welcome Santa to the Barossa. German Christmas food as well as a variety of food and drink vendors. Free bouncy castles and animal displays, pony rides and baby farm animals to cuddle. Five bands and many floats and community groups take part in the parade. This parade has been held usually in Tanunda for 30 plus years. It is the biggest advent event in the valley and is eagerly awaited each year.
Frid 7 Dec, 5.30 PM | Benchmark Interactive Wine Sessions, Vine Vale
On the first Friday of every month Rusden Wines invite you to share in their Benchmark Interactive Wine Sessions.Benchmark is about inspiration. Wine is what they’re passionate about… The family tradition at Rusden has been to regularly open and enjoy their wines along with similar varieties, styles and blends from Australia and around the world.Come get inspired, meet some locals and learn. Soak up the relaxed vibe and diverse wines, paired with a main course crafted from local produce, followed by cheeses and nibbles. Come have Friday night drinks in Cellar Door with the Rusden family. Share and explore wines from Australia and around the world.Bookings essential, please call to book your seat.
Call for more details: 08 8563 2976
Fri 7 Dec, fortnightly, 6.30 PM – 10 PM | El Estanco Pizza Night, Greenock
Kick back in the beautiful courtyard or inside in their quirky restaurant, drinking a local brew from the ever changing drinks list and sampling pizzas depending on available produce. Freshness and taste are the key drivers at El Estanco, with everything being made from scratch.
Find out more: https://www.elestanco.com.au/
Sat, 1 Dec, 3 PM – 7PM | Adornment Artisan Christmas Market
Come along to the Barossa Regional Gallery’s open-air market and enjoy a mix of over 35 hand-crafted artisan stalls from across South Australia. Try some food, beer and wine by local producers, get involved in our drop-in adult and children creative workshops. Listen to live music by The Sourdoughs and Ollie Sharp, and not to miss performances by the mesmerising Hill & Son Organ.
Find out more: https://www.barossagallery.com/
Sat, 1 Dec, 11 AM – 3 PM | Slide into Summer – Rosenvale Wines
Slide into Summer at Rosenvale Wines, enjoy the first day of summer with good food, wine and views.
Find out more: https://www.rosenvale.com.au/
January Upcoming Events
Wed, 2 Jan – Thur, 31 Jan, 12 PM – 2 PM | Perfect Match – Barossa Style – Elderton Wines
Enjoy a Linke’s Mettwurst, two cheese and beetroot relish sandwich with pickles and crisps perfectly paired with a chilled glass or bottle of Elderton 2018 Rosé , or a wine of your selection from our tasting menu.
Find out more: https://eldertonwines.com.au/experiences/elderton-cellar-door/
Sat, 5 Jan, 12.30 PM – 4 PM | Flaxman Long Leisurely Lunch, Eden Valley
The long lunches can either be a shared dining experience for groups of 8-12 people, or, if you get in early enough, you can book the whole table. Lunches take place under the Pergola overlooking the vineyard or in inclement weather, are held in our Cellar Door. Col designs a menu based around what is fresh and in season each month and museum & current release wines are paired with each course.This is a unique intimate dining experience, where our guests get to enjoy lunch cooked by the winemaker and experience true Barossan hospitality. It’s a great way to get to meet some new people or get together a table of your own for special celebrations.
Find out more: https://www.flaxmanwines.com.au/page/cellar-door-and-dining/
Riders will experience the best of the Barossa in Stage 2 of the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under. This complex route sees riders start off at Nuriootpa, where they will complete a ceremonial start at the local memorial site before ending race neutral on Gawler Street and setting out for a loop of Greenock, Seppeltsfield, Tanunda, Bethany and Angaston. Heading east through Angaston, the race will spice up with intermediate sprint points up for grabs on Murray Street, before heading to Eden Valley for the Cat 3, Three Cols Climb and Subaru QOM points. Looping back along Eden Valley Road, the peloton will have one final sprint in Angaston before heading back towards Bethany for the famous Mengler Hill for the finish.
Find out more: https://tourdownunder.com.au/race/womens/stages
Fri, 11 Jan to Sun 13 Jan | Barossa Seasons : Summer, Barossa Valley
With seven events over three days (January 11-13) Barossa Seasons: Summer invites you to experience and celebrate everything that is Summer in the Barossa. From Riesling and Semillon, local ales and gin to smoked meats, tropical feasts and chilled out music sessions, it’s all right here waiting for you over one big weekend.
Find out more: https://barossagourmet.com/
Sat, 12 Jan, 12 PM – 5 PM | Chateau Yaldara Luau, Chateau Yaldara, Lyndoch
Join the party at Chateau Yaldara this season at our Hawaiian Luau. We all dream of a summer holiday on a tropical island, and this year we are bringing it to you! Upon arrival you will be welcomed with a complimentary GoVino glass, Leis and glass of Hawaiian punch. Then grab a bean bag on the Chateau Lawn, and at your leisure indulge in a three course Hawaiian feast.
Find out more: https://barossagourmet.com/events/?event/chateau-yaldara-hawaiian-luau/7a496cc3-3aa7-4b48-aa99-5e85ce3ccbbd/
Wed, 16 Jan, 11 AM – 3 PM | Santos Tour Down Under
The Parade will host the start of Stage 2 of the Santos Tour Down Under, with the peloton making its way through to the Barossa. From the Parade, the peloton will climb into the Adelaide Hills via Gorge Road and Chain of Ponds to take on Checker Hill just outside of Kersbrook. From there it zig-zags to Bethany where it will tour a number of Barossa townships – as well as their world-class producers and wineries – before the sprint finish in Angaston.
Find out more: https://tourdownunder.com.au/race/mens/stages
Fri, 18 Jan, 5 PM – 11 PM | Wines by the Grass, Kalleske Wines, Greenock
Come and spend a relaxing Friday night with Kalleske Wines for Wines By The Grass! Kicking off at 5pm, it’s the perfect way to start your weekend! Enjoy a selection of Kalleske organic wines. Craft beers on tap will be available from Greenock Brewers Barossa Valley, Teagan and her team from Vintage Chef Catering will be serving some incredible food, Amber Kalleske will be playing acoustic classics to relax you into the weekend, Barossa Valley Ice Cream Company will be keeping us cool with their beautiful ice cream selection
Find out more: https://www.kalleske.com/events
Sat & Sun, 19 – 20 Jan, 4 PM – 9 PM | Cyrano De Bergerac In The Garden – Collingrove Homestead, Angaston
Gather in the garden for a witty, modern adaptation of one of literature’s greatest love triangles, complete with romance, heroic deeds and plenty of nose jokes.
Find out more: http://www.blueskytheatre.com.au/
Fri, 25 Jan, 5 PM – 10PM | Elderton at the Farm Eatery, The Farm Eatery, Nuriootpa
The evening commences with a chilled glass of Elderton Riesling and canapes on the deck, with a relaxed shared table meal to follow, accompanied by wines from the Ashmead family cellar.
Find out more: https://eldertonwines.com.au/
Sat, 26 Jan, 5 PM – 9.30 PM | Shakespeare in the Vines, Seppeltsfield Wines, Seppeltsfield
The 17th Performance brought to you by the Seppeltsfield Road Business Alliance. We invite you to join us at Seppeltsfield Winery on Saturday 26th January 2019 from 5pm where Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been loved for over four hundred years and continues to weave its spells worldwide. Bring the whole family, as this one delights and tickles everyone’s imagination! Food and Wine from over 12 Seppeltsfield Road wineries will be available from 5pm, performance from 6.30pm.
Find out more: https://www.seppeltsfieldroad.com/
February Upcoming Events
Sat, Feb 16, 1 PM | Red Hot Hot Summer Tour – Suzie Quatro, Seppeltsfield Wines, Seppeltsfield
Suzi will be joined by local legends The Angels and Baby Animals, with The Screaming Jets, Jon Stevens, Moving Pictures and Chocolate Starfish also part of the bill that will travel to nine picturesque locations starting in the Barossa Valley in February.
Find out more: https://www.seppeltsfield.com.au/index.php/experience/events-functions/upcoming-events
Sun, 17 Feb, 11.00 AM – 12.30 PM | Barossa Declaration of Vintage, Murray St, Tanunda
The official start to the Barossa grape harvest, Declaration of Vintage is a unique event in Australia. It begins with the Blessing of the Grapes at Tabor Church, continues with a colourful procession of regally robed Barons of Barossa, a parade of vintage vehicles and ‘grape girls’, led by the pleasing brass sounds of the Tanunda Town Band. The Barossa Winemaker and Viticulturist of the Year are announced and the grapes are crushed in a hand-cranked 100 year old press. The juice is distributed to everyone and the vintage is finally declared!
Find out more: http://www.baronsofbarossa.com/
Sat, 23 Feb, | A day in the Green – Rodriguez, Peter Lehmann Wines, Tanunda
A day on the green is thrilled to announce the return of acclaimed Sugar Man, RODRIGUEZ, to Australia next February. The legendary singer-songwriter will bring his iconic blend of folk and psychedelic rock to our shores. Joining RODRIGUEZ will be XAVIER RUDD, BUSBY MAROU, PIERCE BROTHERS and introducing ALICE SKYE.
Find out more: https://www.peterlehmannwines.com/news-events
After a dry winter, irrigating of the vineyards continues to maintain soil moisture. In the younger blocks canopy management has been ongoing, with green shoots wrapped onto wires so winds do not damage the foliage. Now that all the vines have finished flowering and the fruit has set, crop estimates can commence. We do this by counting bunch numbers per vine through a cross section of the vineyards.
In the next few weeks before Christmas, all the heavy machinery will be coming out of the sheds for pre-harvest maintenance, the harvester, truck and trailer, and both tractors will be given thorough checks.
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If you would like to suggest a name for these two, go to our Facebook page and leave a comment.
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We are happy to announce that the 2019 Barossa Vintage Festival program has been officially launched!! Tickets have only been on sale since last Friday, and we’ve already seen a great response with one event session already sold out!! The 2019 program showcases over 90 events, over a five-day period (April 24-28). There’s lots of amazing events that tell the Barossa story, while celebrating the region’s strong connection to wine, food and culture.
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One week later!!
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