Gravel Cycling in the Barossa Valley: Australia's Top Producing Wine Region

“The Barossa Valley wine region is one of Australia’s oldest and most premier wine regions. Located in South Australia, the Barossa Valley is about 56 km (35 miles) northeast of the city of Adelaide. Unlike most of Australia whose wine industry was heavily influenced by the British, the wine industry of the Barossa Valley was founded by German settlers fleeing persecution from the Prussian province of Silesia (in what is now Poland). The warm continental climate of the region promoted the production of very ripe grapes that was the linchpin of the early Australian fortified wine industry.” – Wikipedia.org

Gravel Cycling in the Barossa Valley: Video

Alternative Video Link for those reading via email subscription.

In this video, JOM and his partner, Lady Gravel Cyclist, conduct a tour of the farmlands northeast of Gawler, South Australia, and later, through the vineyards near towns such as Greenock, Nurioopta, Tanunda, and Lyndoch. This 128km / 78 mile route of JOM’s design was ridden on January 1, 2024. So many gravel roads on this day!

Continued from Above:

“As the modern Australian wine industry shifted towards red table wines (particularly those made by the prestigious Cabernet Sauvignon) in the mid-20th century, the Barossa Valley fell out of favor due to its reputation for being largely a Syrah from producers whose grapes were destined for blending. During this period the name “Barossa Valley” rarely appeared on wine labels. In the 1980s, the emergence of several boutique families specializing in old vine Shiraz wines began to capture international attention for the distinctive style of Barossa Shiraz, a full bodied red wine with rich chocolate and spice notes. This led to a renaissance in the Barossa Valley which catapulted the region to the forefront of the Australian wine industry.” – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barossa_Valley_(wine)