One of the only times I’ve travelled to the Barossa was to catch a glimpse of One Direction playing golf when they stayed at the Novotel in September 2013 for the Adelaide leg of their Take Me Home Tour.

So when I headed north to the Barossa Valley, I was excited but not sure what to do. Sure, the weekend away would involve wine and some food, but let’s be frank, hitting the staples of Lou’s Place, Seppeltsfield Wines and Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop were not on my to-do list.

Being in my early 20s and surviving on a journalist’s meagre wage, my main concern was if the Barossa offered experiences that fit my price range while also being fun. I shouldn’t have worried.

So jump in your car (or get on the Gawler Central train line, then catch a bus — we really don’t recommend drinking and driving) and follow our Gen Z guide to the Barossa.

To eat:

Mikes

I am still thinking about the meal at Mikes and would happily drive the hour and a bit just to eat this bloody burger again.

Mikes is owned by Hentley Farm’s current executive chef Kyle Johns and his wife, who live next door to the burger joint which opened in August last year. We ordered the regular beef burger and were promised the “usual suspects”, without knowing the details.

We trusted Mike, and he rewarded us.

This burger, along with crinkle-cut fries coated in cheese curds and dark roasted gravy (that’s real poutine if you’re not Canadian) had us drooling.

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Barossa Farmers Market

The bustling farmers market was – according to locals– not that busy on the day CityMag visited. But the shed was packed with people lining up for their favourite goodies.

I could sense the local kinship and noted warm embraces and loud welcomes as people walked to and from the stalls. Top picks were pork dumplings from ManMa Barossa Kitchen, smashed avo bagel from Barossa Bagels and a venison sausage roll from Birdwood Venison.

Harvest Kitchen

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Driving up the Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre’s long winding road made me feel like I was on my way to a palace.

I was greeted by friendly faces at the front desk and advised to head left into the restaurant, Harvest Kitchen. This was after passing a mural made from bottles of, you guessed it, Jacob’s Creek.

Owners Alex and Pete served us and explained how Harvest Kitchen prides itself on catering to everyone. They give us an example of a family dining in the restaurant at the time, who had one vegetarian on the table. They didn’t want that one vegetarian to feel they had just an alternative replacement for the meat. They wanted that person to feel like they had options. They’ve catered the menu for every type of dietary and this means a fresh, vegetable-driven and tasty menu.

Otherness

Located in the heart of Angaston, Otherness was the highlight of the entire trip.

This cellar door, wine bar and bottleshop also offers food with a menu that changes based on seasonal produce – with fresh, earthy meals on offer on this winter day.

There was a choice for an $85 or $105 tasting menu, the only difference was a piece of steak for the main. Picking the steak didn’t disappoint, it was cooked just right, with oozing jus and olives sprinkled on top. Like Mikes, I haven’t stopped thinking about this meal.

Vino Lokal

After a jam-packed weekend of tasting food and sipping wines, it was nice to relax, and the comfortable seating by the window at Vino Lokal was perfect for a pause.

The extensive yet precise menu is complimented by a range of sweet treats ranging from croissants and Portuguese tarts effortlessly displayed on the counter.

My menu pick — mushroom ragu with eggs — was oozing with flavour and I particularly loved the inclusion of three pieces of toast to line my stomach for the next adventure.

To drink:

Seppeltsfield Rd Distillers

436 Seppeltsfield Road, Marananga

The first stop of the trip was the newly renovated Seppeltsfield Rd Distillers.

It was a cold winter night so a bar stool table inside was the go but the outdoor area, covered in fresh timber and a glass wall showing where the spirits are made, looked enticing.

A top pick was the new vintage ’24 Barossa Shiraz Gin. I enjoyed a sip or two neat, then mixed it with lemon-lime bitters to experience the full flavour.

Spinifex

Opening the door at Spinifex, I was greeted by a fluffy white furry friend named Buddy and a warm hello.

Co-owner and co-founder Magali Gely has created a new home and tasting room, which is a modern space filled with artwork. Her guidance through a tasting of various reds and whites is so friendly that it’s the most memorable part of the entire experience.

I imagine this is what all Spinifex guests will feel upon leaving, which just makes me want to return even quicker.

Rieslingfreak

The newly created Rieslingfreak cellar door is high-end, with terrazzo flooring speckled with green spots to match the Rieslingfreak logo. Jamie ‘The New Girl’ not only leads me through an informative riesling tasting, she also runs through the nicknames of the crew — John Hughes who is ‘The Freak’ and founder, his wife Belinda Hughes nicknamed ‘The Freakette’ and Mark Thomas who is ‘The Other Guy’.

The wine industry is a close-knit community, and the crew at Rieslingfreak epitomise it.

Ministry of Beer

It was a quick stop in at Ministry of Beer for a satisfying pale ale on tap.

The brewery was a 10-minute drive away from where I’d spent most of the trip but it’s walking distance from the Barossa sports hub which is in the middle of its $40 million upgrade — set to be ready and used for Gather Round 2025. While the upgrade will replicate Adelaide Oval’s hospitality offerings, my bet is most punters will take a stroll to the Ministry.