The Barossa Festival is a non-stop celebration

The Barossa Valley of South Australia is Australia's premier wine growing area. So intertwined are the Barossa and wine, they are virtually synonymous. Barossa wines are hailed as some of the world's finest and thousands of visitors flock to the valley each year just to enjoy the wine. When they get there, they are pleasantly surprised to discover that the Barossa Valley has even more to offer then wine.

The Barossa Valley was originally settled by German immigrants in the first half of the 19th century. Originally, the settlers were Lutherans who were being persecuted at the time in their native country. When the news got out that the Barossa Valley was blessed with the perfect climate and soil for vine growing, more Germans migrated to the area and have a strong cultural influence in the Barossa even today.

Those first settlers didn't have it easy. They slept in tents and their first enterprise was back breaking labor in the limestone quarries. The first permanent buildings in the Barossa Valley were made out of those stones and their early building efforts are a testament to the skill, faith and labor of the early settlers. When you travel through the valley, the spires of many Lutheran churches can be seen against the backdrop of the vineyards.

Many of the vines you see in the Barossa Valley have their origins in Europe, since the settlers brought their roots with them from Germany. In fact, some of the oldest Shiraz vineyards in the world are in the Barossa Valley, their European counterparts having been destroyed by disease not long after they were brought to Australia in the mid-nineteenth century. Other varieties that can be found in the region include both reds and whites, including Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Grenache. The red varieties grow best in the Barossa Valley itself, while the whites thrive best in the Eden Valley and Menglers Hill areas.

Needless to say, a region that is celebrated for its wines holds celebrations in honor of its wines. In the Barossa Valley, the largest and oldest celebration is the Barossa Vintage Festival. This festival has been held every second year over the Easter holidays for over sixty years. The Barossa Festival is a non-stop celebration featuring jazz bands, contemporary music, a ball and an internationally attended wine auction.

While wine and everything associated with wine are the main drawcards to the Barossa Valley, the area offers many other attractions, too. With the prosperity the vineyards brought to the region came fine art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and European style alfresco cafes. The valley's heritage is preserved in the fascinating museums in the region. One of them, the Barossa Historical Museum in Tanunda, is housed in a post office that was built in 1865, while another, the Herbig Family Tree is literally inside a hollow gum tree.

You won't want to miss the Herbig Family tree. While you may choose to stay in a more comfortable Barossa Valley accommodation, you will love visiting this unique historical site. The tree itself, a red gum, is estimated to be as old as 500 years. Friedrich Herbig moved into the inside of the tree in 1855. In 1858, he brought his bride there to live with him and 2 of their 18 children were born in their tree home. While Herbig, his wife and children eventually moved to a more comfortable home, the tree remains, alive and well.

Take a few days off, find barossa valley accommodation, things to do and other travel related information about the area on bookitnow.com.au. Or visit our Australia blog for more Australian holiday ideas.