We didn't want to do a whole heap of tours and tastings so just chose three. Peter Lehmann, Grant Burge and Chateau Tununda, the latter being a boutique winery where mass production is almost a dirty word.

When we first arrived at the Chateau, I saw a tractor full of freshly picked grapes, being weighed.   The tractor driver was in the little hut by the weigh bridge, chatting with the guy taking stats on the grapes.   I asked if the minded if I took a photo of the harvest and they invited me to watch the load being unloaded into the waiting bins.

It was interesting stuff, with many instructions to the driver, to ensure no grapes were spilt and ensuring none of the juice was lost either, with everything going into the bins.   The grapes were cabernet (yes!) and they had to wait for the overnight rain to dry on the grapes before harvesting.

We pinched a couple for a taste test;  they were very small but oh so sweet!   I was a bit surprised – although I really don't know what I expected.

I really enjoyed this visit; the Chateau itself is a huge and imposing grand building and when we walked into the huge cellar sales area, there were barrels lined up everywhere. The feeling in here was very comfy and not like the other two cellar doors we had visited. They were good, but mass production shows in their banter and set up and the hoards of people tasting or waiting. We were the only ones at the Chateau and the guy serving us was professional but no way pushy, and really informative. A large bus load arrived and thankfully went to another location upstairs! 
 
We were so lucky to catch up with an old mate of mine, Gary and his wife Maureen.   They are from the Gold Coast and were travelling in the opposite direction to us, having been on the road for about a week.   Incredible that our paths met in Nuriootpa at Maggie Beer’s Farm!   We had coffee and some really good food on a cold, windy and overcast day.  

We had noticed a quince orchard by the farm carpark – most unusual.   And unusual too were the large breeding aviaries with the most beautiful pheasants.   Maggie’s husband Colin breeds them, but not for eating.
 
So after a couple of relaxing days in the Barossa, we set out to the North East heading toward Renmark however we figured we would try and find a free camp on the Murray River, before we got to Renmark.