Barossa Valley

Whispering wall
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Spent a day in Barossa Valley, arguably Australia's top wine-producing region.  Stayed the night before at the impossible to find in the dark but quite pleasant in the light Kooringal Bed-and-Breakfast.

We enjoyed visiting Whispering Wall, a nearby dam and engineering marvel.  I walked 140 meters to the far side of the wall, and whispered to my girlfriend who could hear me perfectly from the other side.  Amazing.

Enjoying the fruit of the vine

Penfolds
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Then we hit the wineries -- six in all, not bad for one day.

(1) Grant Burge, where we endured an awkward 10 minutes before any one offered us a drink.  The port smelled like tequila but was quite good.

(2) Penfolds, where we stopped briefly and bought a bottle.

(3) Seppelts, where we took the well-known tour.  The National Trust-listed, bluestone buildings were beautiful, and the wine was good.  Every year the winery releases a bottle of 100 year old port.  Our tour group got to see (but not taste!) a bottle of the current year's version.

Bluestone building at Seppelts
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(4) Kaesler, where we had a nice lunch in the cafe.  In the tasting room, I prepared to lift the 30 kilogram (66 pound) bottle of wine sitting on the bar, but the server dissuaded me from doing so.

(5) Yalumba, where the server had us in stitches and the wine was delicious.  The greeter bear was pretty cool too.

(6) Stanley Lambert, where our friends bought their favorite Choc a Bloc port.