I had always heard lovely things about Adelaide, the 'city of churches and all that, but I heard even better things about The Barossa Valley, which is one of the top wine-producing areas of SA, and it has been an area I have had great intentions of travelling to for years, so when my producer Sophie told me she had booked me for a 4-day photo job via Fairfax for Tourism South Australia, I was thrilled!
I flew out on a Sunday afternoon with Jason ~ a Creative Director at Fairfax. We enjoyed a quick 2-hour, bump-free flight from Sydney. We arrived in Adelaide, grabbed a hire car and made the easy 1 hour 15 minutes drive northeast towards the Barossa, arriving around 8.30pm.
We were off to meet and document 11 passionate artisan food and wine producers in the Barossa. Some were themselves ~ or featured their properties in a new TV advertising campaign to promote the area. I was hired to shoot a series of photos for a set of advertorials run by Fairfax Media in the weekend newspaper and food-related supplement.
Tourism South Australia was on a big push to promote this area. Via some massively talented people, they produced a beautiful TV advert to be shown nationwide, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.
It is based on the concept that what makes the Barossa a standout by way of its glorious robust wines and artisan produce ~ is the unique earth and clay which makes up the foundation of the Barossa. It's all about the soil and its people who make this area so special.
When I saw the ad, I fell in love. I loved its rawness, ruggedness, elegance and stylishly alternative approach. It's different from all other Australian tourism ads before it (think Skippy and Bondi Beach - sun, surf and sand). To be fair, Tourism Victoria has come close with its Yarra Valley Adverts and general Melbourne advertising. Still, this Barossa advert is a standout for me. It's gutsy and honest, ballsy and unique. I applauded the leap onto a more creative and original path.
I didn't see the advert until the morning of the first day of shooting. Watching the piece, I immediately felt a fantastic atmosphere in the area. It is not a million miles away from the aesthetic in which I shoot food and my subjects ~ aka in an honest and natural state, so I was immediately drawn into the ad and, in turn, the Barossa.
If I had not been in the Barossa upon seeing it for the first time ~ instead of lazing on my sofa at home in front of the telly, I would want to take a trip to the area. As dreadfully corny as it sounds, I immediately connected to the area. It hooked me the minute I saw that gorgeously laid out, a messy table under the tree and a chicken darting across the screen... a glistening fruit tart being served with bits falling off it…
see original advert below
In fairness, coming to the Barossa ~ or any wine region in the winter with no leaves or grapes on the vines isn't as fascinating as in the warmer months. Still, initially and honestly, when we were driving to the first job on the first day, I commented I didn't really see that much of a difference between the Barossa and the other central wine-making regions on the east coast of Aus ~ aka the Yarra Valley in Victoria (90km east of Melbourne) and the Hunter Valley (120km north of Sydney) ~. Note: I have yet to visit the magnificent Margaret River in Western Australia (270km south of Perth). I needed clarification about what everyone was rambling on to me over the years about, 'what a standout the Barossa was'?!
However, as the day went on and we travelled around the area, I noticed the sheer abundance of rows upon rows of vineyards, charming, quaint houses and cottages, pretty villages, and rolling hills. I started to see the wood for the trees. I felt chuffed to be there and relished the opportunity to shoot its passionate food producers.
I was blown away at how pretty the area was as the days passed. Its stunningly attractive old houses with their oh-so-very-Aussie wrap-around verandahs and sandstone brick fronts, the quaint little towns such as Tanunda ~ a lively, vibrant town ~ one of the largest in the area. This is the place I stay close enough to when I return to the Barossa, so you can easily take advantage at night of the great local restaurants and bars, minus a car to get from A to B.
A tip: there are also some excellent prop sourcing shops here that do not cost the earth like so many in Sydney ~ in particular Pioneer Antiques, which was a superb find, jam-pack with unique vintage prop finds in every nook and cranny, and the lady who runs it was so charming. God only knows how she finds anything in the place. Still, she knew exactly where everything was, much to my delight, as I went bananas picking out gorgeous old forks, spoons, knives and all things perfect for creating lovely foodie photos.
En route to this antique store, I stumbled across a fab homewares store called Alabaster.
Really, this store was divine! I could have stayed in it all day. Every time I have been in Tanunda in the past years, I always stop in to grab a merino wool jumper or a simple piece of jewellery, etc.
Gorgeous, simple clothes made with natural fabrics and textiles and the most incredible array of locally (and overseas) produced ceramics, stationery, jewellery, materials and all things desirable for your home. I bought a stunning old throw for my sofa, which has transformed the sitting room and a beautiful porcelain plate.
In Tanunda, you'll find the following wineries:
The other town I spent a bit of time in was: Angaston ~ where the above Barossa Cheese Company and proud producers of Australia's Best Bacon: Shultz Butchers were they smoke their bacon on the premise around the back of the leading shop. This was my first time shooting a smokehouse, and whilst very fun, also very smelly! ~ a tip: not a day to wear your best mohair jumper to shoot in...*slaps forehead*
Angaston is also home to the Barossa Cheese Company which is run by the beautiful and very down-to-earth Victoria, and right next door is Casacarbone Cooking School which is run by the charming husband and wife team; Fiona and Matteo, who met in 2005 whilst Matteo was in Australia on a working holiday visa.
Fiona followed him back to Italy in 2006. For 5 years, they travelled throughout Italy, France and Spain on weekends and holidays, seeking out small producers of wine and food and catching up with friends (almost all producers themselves) along the way.
Matteo was born and raised in Forli, Emilia Romagna, in northern Italy. (Brilliantly, he gave me some great tips for my stay in Bologna!) You can read more about this couple and their cooking school here. It will be a wonderful, fun afternoon taking a class here if you are in the area. I was fortunate enough to try Matteo's ragu and fresh pasta on the shoot, and OMG ~ it was heaven! Perfectly cooked sauce, perfectly thin, fresh homemade pasta. *drool*
A LIST OF PROPERTIES I VISTED ARE:
BAROSSA VALLEY CHEESE CO
Other stops along the way included one of the most AMAZING properties I have ever had the great fortune to find myself in Hutton Vale Cellar Door was
jaw-dropping for me.
Other stops along the way included one of the most AMAZING properties I have ever had the great fortune to find myself in Hutton Vale Cellar Door was
jaw-dropping for me.
SEE MY SEPARATE BLOG POST ON HUTTONVALE HERE
What struck me as inspirational about the Barossa is its people. They have an enormous passion for what they do. They are staunchly protective of limiting the food and products supplied to the Barossa's restaurants/bars and shops to locally produced fare. It's done so to a very high quality. With every single producer I met, I was bowled over by their warmth and friendliness.
You will visit a supermarket in a larger town like Tanunda and find it full of locally produced food. The residents and suppliers have rejected the much larger commercial food companies ~ such as the infamous yellow arches ~ from setting up shop in their Barossa.
It's admirable how much they protect and love their environment and want to support each other. In turn, they have such dedication to producing excellent quality food and wine.
Some links worth checking out:
The Louise ~ a beautiful, modern 5-star hotel and its restaurant;
Alabaster ~ As mentioned above, my fave shop in Tanunda
Barossa Farmers Market ~ every Saturday morning
Seppeltsfield Vineyard Cottage ~ stunning self-contained boutique cottage.
BAROSSA TOURISM ~ all the info you will need in one spot online
Hands down, my favourite shoot of the 4 days from a ridiculously adorable 'I-want-to-sneak-one-home-in-my-camera-bag' point-of-view; was photographing and meeting Michael Wohlstadt of The Dairyman Farm with his beautiful Jersey cows and crazy cute little Berkshire and Tamworth piggies.
SEE THE SEPARATE BLOG POST ON MICHAEL/THE DAIRYMAN HERE
We shot this location second last, and I didn't want to leave! Especially when they all come running up to you, oinking away :)
Michael was unbelievably hospitable and welcoming, like all the other producers before him. I really enjoyed meeting him (and his entourage of super sweet and cake-loving dogs!).
He provided us with samples of his free-range pork and a mouth-watering cake then he took us all down to meet his little black and white and pink superstars. They were utterly adorable, and sadly you do tend to forget at the time they might have been off to meet their maker in a few weeks :( But Michael's attitude to pig farming is fantastic.
His pigs are fed mainly on a milk and barley diet. They had loads and loads of room to run around, roll in the mud, oink away merrily and generally go bananas sticking their snouts in the dirt, and all just seemed very happy (non-stinky) little piggies :)