The biennial Barossa Vintage Festival
The new banners in the Nuriootpa main street, replacing the AFL Gather Round variety, are promoting food, wine, and culture.
Food, wine, culture: an accurate summary!
Perhaps inspired by the recent Almanac rugby league lunch in Sydney, I attempted to create a ‘Rabbit in the Vineyard’ scarecrow, as part of the Vintage Festival scarecrow trail. [The Scarecrow Trail, where people make scarecrows for their yard, roof, front fence or anything suitablee – Ed]
In 2025, my creative efforts will not see ‘Rabbit in the Vineyard’ (scarecrow version) trouble the scorers for any prizes, photos in the local paper, or any such thing, and that is fine!
My mind is already ticking over for ways to improve ‘The Rabbitoh’ for the 2027 Vintage Festival. I was never an Art teacher, although I have enjoyed supervising many Art lessons during my TRT (relief teaching) chapter.
For the record, ‘Rabbit in the Vineyard’ is exhibit 152, at 989 Stockwell Road, Vine Vale.
Late night back yard creativity + preparation
Rabbit in the Vineyard, Stockwell Road, Vine Vale
Day 1 – Wednesday 23 April
In a word: superb!
A ticket to the ‘Taste North Barossa at the Stocky’ (Stockwell Hotel, established 1857). The delights of eight winemakers to sample: Levrier (French for greyhound), Hoffmann, Tomfoolery, Lost Penny, Gumpara, and Tribus. What a great four hours we had… if I had to choose a favourite, my shortlist would include: Tomfoolery 2023 Winemakers selection ‘Son of a Gun’ (Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz), as well as Levrier 2016 Argos Shiraz.
Highly recommended.
Day 2 – Thursday 24 April Ziegenmarket Goat Square, Tanunda
There is something quite unique about enjoying a Langmeil sparkling red at around nine in the morning, watching the auction of local produce take place on the back of the immaculately maintained Rockford vintage truck, all in a relatively small space, where one can easily visualise how this would have all looked quite similar in the late 1800s.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, perhaps!) I had to do some work on Thursday afternoon; however, we were back in the Vintage Festival groove for dinner at the acclaimed Staguni restaurant at the renovated Marananga School.
Day 3 – Friday 25 April
Nuriootpa Anzac Day dawn service: very well attended, after the 6:15am march from the Vine Inn Hotel to the ‘Nuri’ RSL.
We then found ourselves at the magnificent Barossa Valley Estates winery. What a venue! The gardens are simply magnificent, the views across the vineyards to the immaculately maintained Gnadenfrei Lutheran Church … all simply spectacular.
By 2pm, we were at ‘Tigerland’ in Nuriootpa, for the traditional Anzac Day fixture between the local team and the Angaston Panthers. Country football where one can enjoy wine from the Whistler tent, or the Elderton tent! Or a quality drop from another club sponsor, Willows!
The Nuri Tigers won the A grade fixture comfortably.
“Tigers destroy Angaston” was the headline in the local paper (The Leader)
Day 4 – Saturday 26 April
After volunteering at the Nuriootpa Park Run (not running at present, as I recover from recent surgery), it was time for the traditional Vintage Festival Parade. In 2025, the parade was north to south, Nuriootpa to Tanunda. If many locals choose to not attend ticketed dinners and other experiences during the festival, they certainly are pleased to enjoy a morning in their camping chairs beside the road, watching the various floats pass by. Many folk are then seemingly quite content to “stay on” and mingle once the parade has concluded.
Eventually, we spent a wonderful time on the Tanunda Oval, enjoying pizza and live music whilst supporting more local winemakers.
(Unofficial) Day 5 – Sunday 27 April
Mrs Hansen and I celebrated 30 years of marriage in January. We had a small gathering with family and friends, a long lunch, in our back yard for 20 people on the Sunday afternoon.
At our wedding reception on 7 January 1995 at Chateau Yaldara, we enjoyed Penfolds Bins 407 and 389. We enjoyed some of the same wine (different vintage!) during lunch.
What a week, with family and friends.
As good as Barossa Vintage Festival week is, if it was an annual event, rather than biennial, that would be an endurance test! Mrs Hansen and I both seemed to have low energy levels for most of last week!
Bring on Barossa Vintage Festival 2027!
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About Russel Hansen
Russel Hansen Has worked in schools for over thirty years – as a teacher, coach, coach educator, sports coordinator and in pastoral care roles. Whilst at Brisbane Boys’ College as Director of Athletics, he led teams to six GPS premierships in track and field, and cross country. He has coached (athletics) at all levels from school to international. His squad at the University of Queensland (to January 2023) included Lachlan Kennedy OLY, Paris 4x100m relay runner, Australian record holder. He is married to Heidi, a Primary school principal, and is father to two adult daughters. Twitter: @Russel_Hansen
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You’ve had yourself a week, Russel. To my shame I’ve not been to the Stocky pub since its renovation, but I aim to address this soon. A sparkling red is the only breakfast booze! Nuri v Angaston a good day out although I reckon it’ll be another long season for the Bombers. I’ve done the local parkrun a couple times and it’s surely compulsory that the Barossa version winds through vineyards; I’ll see you next time I do it.
Congratulations on your wedding anniversary too! Thanks for the recount. Speaking of weddings my wife did a job yesterday at Pernod Ricard in Jacob’s Creek and remarked that even a mid-week working visit to the Valley has a holiday feel and is a place of great peace. Agreed.
Hi Mickey
Many thanks for your words – yes, it was quite a week – culminating with the 30th anniversary lunch!
Park Run: I had (minor) surgery just before Easter – so I was a volunteer (photographer) for two Saturdays – Vintage Festival week my elder daughter ran, as did my younger daughter’s boyfriend!
Take care & run WELL!!
PS: I see there is a new ‘Pre’ book out – read about it on the Runner’s World web page