If you’ve read any of my other posts, you’ll know one thing by now – I love wine.
And if I’m going to be honest with you here, I have to admit that I brought home 15 bottles of wine from my two-day trip to the Barossa. Yep, I really love wine. And so when the opportunity arises to visit Jacob’s Creek while in the Barossa, I can hardly say no.
Mr LML and I visit Jacob’s Creek on the second day of our trip and to tell you the truth, it isn’t on my Barossa hit list. But I’m curious (and a tad thirsty), and my idea of a getaway is to explore new things, and this includes wine.
Due to the size of production, Jacob’s Creek wines are found in most Australian bottle shops. As a result, many may think of it as being a bit too mainstream and so wouldn’t normally reach for a bottle to drink with a fancy dinner (guilty!). I’m about to discover why this perception is definitely a misguided one…
Named after a sub-region of the Barossa Valley, Jacob’s Creek sits on a huge plot of land, with some of their vines scattered around the Barossa. Our tour guide, Daniel explains that there are quite a few families in the area with private vineyards that Jacob’s Creek (and many other wine-producing companies) purchase grapes from. This helps maintain consistency as they are able to source grapes from the same region, avoiding climate differences which affect the quality and flavour. And as Jacob’s Creek has such a high production and distribution rate, consistency is incredibly important.
Arriving at the winery, Mr LML and I are soon joined by another couple who are also from Sydney (small world!). On the agenda today is a winery tour, wine tasting and two-course lunch. We begin with a history tour inside the visitor centre.
Some little known facts about Jacob’s Creek:
• Jacob’s Creek is actually called ‘Orlando Wines’, with the name ‘Jacob’s Creek’ being used to market to consumers.
• Orlando Wines was founded after Johann Gramp who planted his first vines on the banks of Jacob’s Creek in 1847.
• Orlando Wines have a large selection of wines available that are produced under different names, including the more prestige, St Hugo and Reeves Point.
• The first vintage of Jacob’s Creek was released in 1976.
• A capsule containing wine, historical documents and photographs was placed in the ground at Jacob’s Creek in 2002 and is set to be opened in 2026 on their 50th anniversary.
• The country with the biggest growth potential for wine distribution is China, and accordingly, a large percentage of Jacobs Creek’s product is exported to China. They also provide group packages for tour groups with a Mandarin-speaking guide, and also re-print all information in Mandarin.
Next stop: the vineyard. This is the first time that a wine tour has actually taken me through the vines to examine the grapes. Apparently, when the grapes are ripe for picking, the tour group is encouraged to pick the grapes and taste them. Sadly, the grapes are teeny tiny and so Mr LML have to use our imaginations instead.
| Fun fact: Wary of those unusual grape varieties that have popped up on the shelves of your local? Don’t be put off – they could be more familiar than you actually think. The mourvèdre’ grape is the same as the ‘mataro’ and the same goes for ‘syrah’ and ‘shiraz’. |
After some obligatory wine-tasting, Mr LML and I move (very eagerly) on to the restaurant. Jacob’s Restaurant is multiple award-winning so our hopes are high. And even with such high hopes, we are impressed. As part of our tour/tasting/lunch package, we are set-up for a two-course, set menu, with complimentary wine thrown in! Talk about being spoilt.
Yum!
By the end of the visit, we are well and truly ready to roll on back to our digs, and retreat to our spa. Jacob’s Creek has won me over, and I definitely recommend it for Jacob’s Creek-sceptics and lovers alike!
