One The wineries of South Australia’s Barossa Valley UST 50 km from Adelaide, South Australia’s Barossa Valley reflects the pride of 19th century German set- tlers who came a long way to find Paradise and whose descendants work hard to keep it that way. Surrounded by verdart hills dot- ted with white sheep and magnifi- cent eucalyptus, the valley is vir- tually one long vineyard, into which wineries and immaculate historic villages like Lyndoch and Tanunda nestle like cats in a blanket. With more than 140 wineries and 50 cellar-door sales outlets in the vicinity, among them some of the greatest names in the Australian wine teade, you want to take your time here. -There is generally no charge for tastings at the on-site sales outlets, but if you get carried away and try to “do’’ too many in a day, your palate may not be the only casual- ty. No visit to the valley would be complete without a trip to Her- mann Thumm’s Chateau Yaldara. The setting is stunning and $2 (Aus,) will take you on an infor- mative tour of this immense winery, the labyrinthine cellars and the impressive stone Chateau . which, houses Mr, Thiumm’s col- lection of European antiques. Unlike most wineries, the Chateau also has a nice garden terrace restaurant, so time your . visit tor lunch. Don't forget the wine; best - known for its dubblies, the - Chateau produces a full range of ~wines, including an Old Tawny Port that caused me to revise my prejudice against Shiraz-based “ports.” ae Their bargain-priced . “Lakewood” line offers par-. ticularly gocd value for money. ‘Orlando Wines; whose ‘Jacobs Creek” chardonnay and vee _ cabernet/shiraz will be familiar to budget-minded B.C; tipplers, has a cosy tasting-room‘and boitle-shop located in:a sandstone and brick building typical of the valley's ~ past: it was the Rowland Flat - _ primary school from 1850 to:1967. ~ Try their ‘RF’ series of wines for a taste of what you can’t get at home; the ‘91 chardonnay tasted . was crisp and fruity, stiffened by French and American Oak, at a bargain $7.15 (Aus.). Follow the signs up a nearby side-road to Krondorf Wines, pause to take in the fine view of the valley, then bolt inside. Krondorf’s lightly oaked char- donnay and cabernet/shiraz are available in 8.C., but if the pure shiraz ‘‘Hermitage” isn’t, it should be. : The ’89 I tasted was a lovely big wine, offering comptex leather and tobacco accents atop a sound tannic structure. Woif Blass is justly known as one of Australia's premier wine- makers. While his excellent cabernet variations, with their color-coded labels, are available in B.C., { haven‘t seen his “Brown Label’’ Hermitage in the LDB catalogue yet. ( splashed out $75 (Aus.) for 2 bottle of the '86 and discovered a wine to die for. Not just big, it's massive: fabu- lously rich, with a silkiness that just deftly misses syrupy, packed with essences of toasted licorice, raisins and leather. its only conceivable rivai might be an Amarone or Hermitage La Chapella, either of which will tick you off for $40 and change. Penfclds, makers of the legend- ary Grange Hermitage, have a. huge operation at Nuriootpa and offer tours four times daily from 10 a.m. Well worth the visit, as is their smaller, friendly satellite at Loxton in the Riverland district, where we were introduced to two bargains: a light, crisp Rhine Riesl- ing from Wynn's Coonawara Estate and a Kaiser Stuh! Shiraz that impressed even our hosts. From the Borossa, you are cen- trally placed to drink your way out through some of the world’s finest wine country; north to the Clare Valley, east through Riverland and the Lower Murray, south through McLaren Vale end Coonawara. Before you go, pick up a copy ot! the excellent Wine Country Tour- ing Guide, free at Tourism South Australia offices in every major Australian city. Australian shops are so accom- modating about shipping home your purchases at their expense, | pushed my luck and made a half- serious suggestion about a case of wine or two in one tasting recom. “Tell you what, mate,”’ the man said. ‘You just stay here and enjoy yourself. Corne time, we'll ship your liver home, free of charge.”’ — by foha Moore October is Chiid Abuse Prevention Month Take the iy, 3Oe A IOF FORESTERS New Parent Stress Test Merit Kitchens presents a revolution in renovations. om To make things effortless in the transition from old to new, Merit Kitchens will treat you totwo drawers open and the strength of each unit we craft nights ata CP Hotel of your choice: The Empress, . : Waterfront Centre Hotel, Hotel Vancouver, Chateau Resort, Banfi Springs, Chateau Lake Louise, Jas per Park Lod ge, Hotel Macdonald or The Palliser* Time your stay well and you can come back to your new kitchen, all shined up and ready to please. We've always been design innovators, now we re applying the same Whistler Special Offer: Stay two nigh Service. to be just as fascinated about the ‘ways our doors shut, o Renovations you can live with. The renovation should revolve around eae ts at a Canadian Pacific Hotel of your choice, free with your Merit Kitchens Renovation. level of creativity to our renovation services. A case for quality cabinetry. Merit Kitchens is very proud of the quality of our kitchens. We are fanatical about cabinetry, which is after all, the heart of any kitchen. We'd love you “and not th ‘other way. . around: That s why we. i ’ offer @ renovation ser: vice to make sure you kitchen-is done right, : . first time. ; ; oe : Who better to put. in your Kitchien than the - people who made it? Call (604) 273-4683 or (604) 736-2966 os just drop in. We check out of the free hotel offer come November 3oth, 1992. * Offer valid from Sept. 14, 1992 to Nov. 30, 1992. Minium: kitchen renovation of $5,800 needed to receive hotel voucher. Based on double occupancy and subject to availability. , Merit Kitchens & Renovations Our kitchens don't just cook. They sizzle. Canadian Pacific RH Hotels & Resorts Showroom: 12531 Bridgeport Rd., Richmond, B.C. V6V J4 (604) 273-4683 Mon-Wed 9°S:50 Thaurs-Fri 98 Sat 10-5 Sun 1-4 2for Burrard St., Vancouver, B.C. V6J 33 (604) 7ab-2966 Mon-Fri g-$:30 Sat 10-5 ‘