The Barossa Valley has been on my travel wish list for years. As a self-described foodie, I remember poring over my monthly delicious magazines in my twenties, obsessed with the stories about Maggie Beers farm and this iconic wine-growing region in a pocket of Australia that seemed so far away and foreign to me.

Fast-forward to 2023, and I was absolutely delighted when an opportunity arose for a last-minute trip to the Barossa for my partner's work - I jumped at the chance to tag along!

How to get to the Barossa Valley:

We flew into Adelaide on a late-night flight, picked up a rental car, and drove the one hour to our accommodation in the Barossa.

Where to stay in the Barossa Valley:

A few small towns in the region are within easy driving distance of each other: Angaston, Tanunda, Nuriootpa and Greenock.

As we were staying a few days and both working, it was important that we had something bigger than a standard hotel room. Ideally, a separate room from the bedroom for working, wifi, air conditioning, and a simple kitchen to prepare food and snacks. We discovered a cute country cottage nestled amongst a vineyard near Angaston. It was bigger than what we needed (three bedrooms, enough room for six adults), but it ticked all our other boxes, so we decided to give it a go - and I'm happy we did!

The McGill Vineyard cottage is cosy and homely, with a fireplace for cold nights, air conditioning for hot days, and plenty of space to set up a workstation. The kitchen has everything you need to cook and prepare a few simple meals.

Restaurants to visit in the Barossa Valley:

1. Vino Lokal, Tanunda: As our trip to the Barossa involved balancing work with pleasure, we often found we only had time for one cellar door visit in the afternoon after work before they shut at 5pm. This led to the awkward time between a cellar door closing and dinner. Luckily, one of the ladies from David Franz recommended we pop into Vino Lokal for a pre-dinner drink. Having grown up in a small country town, my expectations are pretty low when it comes to small-town bars. However, my apprehension was definitely misplaced, and Vino Lokal is a must-visit. This chic dining spot offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and an impressive wine list. We sat at the bar to enjoy a friendly chat with one of the staff members while trying some local wines and devouring some arancini. We enjoyed it so much that we returned the following morning to try their coffee and breakfast menu - and it did not disappoint.

2. FermentAsian, Tanunda: This Vietnamese-inspired restaurant in Tanunda is a must-visit for dinner, offering an array of aromatic and fresh dishes. We tried the betel leaf, the prawn pancake, the beef and the steamed greens - everything was delicious.

3. St Hugo: If you're looking for a fine-dining lunch experience at a cellar door, visit St Hugo. Be sure to allow time before or after lunch for a wine tasting in their downstairs tasting room.

4. Vintners Bar & Grill, Angaston: This fine-dining restaurant is also nestled amongst a vineyard and beautifully landscaped gardens. We discovered the sheds near the restaurant host the Saturday morning farmer's markets (sidebar - while small, the markets are also good for a wander if you're there on a Saturday morning). Ensure you arrive hungry - they offer a set two, three or four-course meal, and the mains are generously sized. The quality of the food is sensational, and they offer a selection of local wines.

Cellar doors to visit in the Barossa Valley:

1. David Franz: We visited this cellar door on a Thursday afternoon, clocking off work a bit early so we could make it in time for a tasting before they shut at 5pm. The cellar door is set on a verandah next to a lovely lush lawn overlooking a hilly vineyard. They offer a few different tasting options with different price points. We opted for the $10 tasting (redeemable with a purchase), and tried three whites and three reds (our favourite was the Georgie's Walk Cabernet Sauvignon!) They also offer a few different snacks to choose from.

2. Brothers at War: This cellar door is located in Tanunda, and we dropped in as they were open after 5pm. And we are so glad we did! We perched on the stools at a wine barrel outside and enjoyed tasting their whites and reds, placing an order to have a few shipped home. We then dropped in a couple of days later when we had a couple of hours to kill before heading back to Adelaide for our flight. It was a quiet Monday afternoon, so we were lucky enough to sit at the counter and chat with the manager, Leigh, about their award-winning wine over a lovely cheese and charcuterie board.

3. St Hugo: The tasting room is down a flight of stairs and in a room overlooking a gorgeous courtyard. This is a tasting experience - sit down, and enjoy a chat with the staff as they take you through a leisurely-paced tasting.

Cafes to visit in the Barossa Valley:

1. Hive, Angaston: We visited Hive several times during our stay in the Barossa Valley. As well as serving simple, tasty breakfast options alongside an array of freshly baked goods, they are also a co-working space offering free wifi and power plugs for laptop chargers, and a homewares boutique, stocking various local pottery, cards, jewellery, candles and homewares. On our final day, we had to check out of our accommodation at 10am, but our flight wasn't until the evening - so we decided to have a late breakfast and cosy up on the couches to spend a couple of hours catching up on work emails.

2. Vino Lokal, Tanunda: Gets another mention as we did drop by for breakfast one morning, and the coffee was superb.

3. Darlings Cafe, Tanunda: A good little spot for a coffee, easy pastry, muffin, or a little treat.

Do you have any favourite spots to visit in the Barossa Valley? Let me know for next time!