Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/95079
regionalstopover Besides being in the Daimler, the best thing about touring with John is his encyclopaedic knowledge of the region. As we visit towns such as Angaston, Nuriootpa and Tanunda we chat about everything from the region's historical beginnings to recent developments in wine and food. Six generations of grapegrowers and Previous page, this page clockwise from inset: A classic scene of vineyards in the Barossa Valley; Kelly and Todd Rowett from TeAro Estate; a typical vineyard in the Barossa; fresh bread from Apex Bakery. winemakers have made the Barossa Valley one of Australia's most culturally significant wine regions containing some of the oldest vines in the world – one example dates back to 1843. There are 755 grapegrowers in the Barossa and a total of 13,256 hectares of vineyards planted with shiraz and other varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, grenache, riesling and semillon. I learn that a revolution is currently sweeping through the region. "It's an exciting time for the Barossa Valley," John says. "There's a new generation of young, highly motivated winemakers doing some exciting things with micro wineries." One such micro winery is TeAro Estate, where fourth-generation Fromm family member Kelly Rowett and her husband, Todd, are enthusiastically expanding the family's grapegrowing business through their micro winery and cellar door. In 1919, when Charlie and Minnie Fromm founded the TeAro Estate vineyards by planting semillon and shiraz vines, they had no modern machinery, just a single crowbar. Today, the cellar door's airy, contemporary atmosphere is complemented by the sense of history that comes with each wine. The labels tell stories of the family's history. "We were sitting around a table, reminiscing about our family history, when we came up with the idea of bringing the stories to life through our wines," says Kelly. The Charging Bull, for instance, is a tempranillo that pays tribute to a family story about great-grandfather Charlie, who was gouged by a charging bull in 1946. Injured and bruised, Charlie hobbled back to the house, where Minnie cleaned his wounds with wine. Similarly, Minnie & Elsa is a crisp pinot grigio that honours family matriarchs Minnie Fromm and Elsa Hausler. Food and wine usually go hand in hand in the Barossa Valley. Nineteenth- century German-speaking settlers brought a wealth of culinary traditions that continue to flavour the region today. We pop into John's local butcher, Lyndoch Valley Fine Foods, for a taste of its award-winning mettwurst. At Apex Bakery we follow the aroma of freshly baked bread to the kitchen, where we watch Brian Fechner bake XXVII