Okay, it’s been a while since we last wrote about the good life in the Barossa – I think we’ve been too busy living it to write about it (that’s our excuse!).

Our mild summer has slid into autumn without much fanfare, the weather is perfect, the grape harvest is gentle and the summer vegetable garden is making way for winter planting.

I just spent a few hours at the Tanunda Show, one of the annual Agricultural Shows in the Barossa and, to quote its major sponsor Rockford Wines, “an important Barossa tradition.”  That it surely is.  This was the 99th Tanunda Show but in fact the Show began more than 100 years ago – they had to skip a few Shows during the war years.

Yes, there are the usual sides show rides and stands that travel the South Australia Ag Show circuit, the state hand-milking competition and the ever popular log chopping events but inside the cavernous Show Hall are the displays of all entries to the various sections.

Competition is fierce but friendly, especially in the cookery, preserves, wool, grapes, vegetables, fruit, cut flowers, home brew beer and amateur winemaking.

A gentle, beautiful Sunday morning in the Barossa, perfect to relax at home with the weekend papers, but the Breakfast Rave team would have none of that – they were up at the crack of dawn to set up for the 3rd Breakfast Rave, this time on the old distillery lawn at Seppeltsfield Winery.

We thought the Angaston Railway Station was the perfect venue for this pop-up breakfast but Seppeltsfield oozes The Good Life. Beautiful green lawn, Shady gum trees and umbrellas showcased the dappled morning light, the green grass was perfect for kids of all ages to play on and groups of families and friends had picnic rugs spread in the shade.

Breakfast Rave at Seppeltsfield

Paul and Janelle, aka Barossa Coffee Roasters, once again provided perfect coffee.  My favourite was the cold brew Ethiopian.  Evidently, the slow brewing time (overnight drip) brings out the sweetness in the coffee – it was smooth and sweet and cool.  I love it black but Janelle tells me many people like to add milk.

Cherie Hausler, aka Scullery Maid Tea, had her full range of herbal and black teas plus biscuits and sweet treats (many gluten free!) and Peter Little, along with a crew of volunteers, was cooking on the makeshift stove.

The Breakfast Rave team at work

Pete @ Ai in the Rave "kitchen"

Ooh la la - freshly baked sourdough

Damien & Bec are the Rave Musicians – Damien on guitar and Bec singing – and were beyond delightful.  Is it possible that Bec sings Joni Mitchell better than Joni?!

Once again the Rave crew gave away plants to anyone wanting them – at the last Rave, it was tomato plants and today, it was blackberry bushes.  Generosity, cameraderie and community (oh, and great food, coffee and tea) – what a perfect way to enjoy Barossa The Good Life.

BTGL

Yesterday I ventured out and about with a visiting friend.  It was a chilly winter afternoon but we were greeted with great warmth at Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop.   Although we arrived during a busy lunchtime, the staff – every one of them – were smiling and welcoming.  Maggie’s full range of products is available for tasting at the Farm Shop – pates, fruit pastes, jams, ice cream, olive oil, verjuice, vino cotto – so much to choose from.  And so easy to walk away laden with yummy thngs to eat and cook with.

Every day at 2.00pm, there is a cooking with verjuice demonstration.  I am embarrassed to admit that I have never taken the time to attend this free demo…ever!  Touring the region with my foodie friend was a metaphoric twist of my arm and I found myself completely immersed in Mary Ann’s engaging presentation.  And she was cooking real food – pumpkin and fennel roasted in the oven, mushrooms sauteed in butter (she reminded us that ‘fat is flavour’), all improved with generous splashes of Maggie Beer’s Verjuice.  With hallmark generosity, all of the 30 or 40 people in the room were offered a taste of the just prepared food.

Maggie happened to be finishing up some work in her office adjacent to the demonstration kitchen, so she popped in to say hello to everyone.  Soon there were photos all around with everyone’s best friend Maggie.  What was most impressive was the number of children who wanted to meet Maggie and have a photo taken with her.  Is it the result of her 3 years on T.V. hosting The Cook and The Chef?  Her appearances on Masterchef?  Her 6 cookbooks?  Her work with schools?  Whatever the reasons, the 2010 Australian of the Year is a hit with young and old.  And as busy as she is, Maggie is ever gracious, convivial and welcoming.  My hat is off to Maggie and to her fantastic staff.

Visiting the Barossa?  Don’t miss this stop.   Live in the Barossa?  Go to the cooking demonstration – it’s on every day at 2.00. You may learn something to add to your enjoyment of the good life.

These winter days are chilly and the nights even chillier.  The green Barossa landscape is dotted with pencil thin plumes of smoke from the chimneys of slow combustion stoves and open fireplaces.  Winter is a great time to snuggle up on the sofa with a good book or to spend time in the kitchen cooking up a storm!   Casseroles, soups, slow cooked lamb or  goat. Roasted Barossa chook maybe.   I find it amazing that there is still silverbeet and parsley in the garden and friends have just dropped by some cauliflower and broccoli they cut this morning.

Persimmons are ripening on the window sill, pretty as a picture.  There will soon be a glut of mandarins and lemons to join them.

But one can’t stay indoors ALL winter!  I’ve been reading the SALA program to whet my appetite – SALA = South Australian Living Artists and it is a wonderful few weeks of art exhibitions all over the state.  In the Barossa, many exhibitions are hosted by winery cellar doors, so there’s a lovely glass of wine to help in your deliberations.  I’m particularly looking forward to 2 exhibitions by friends:   One is Road Works by Jane Ferrari and Tracy Skepper at Murray Street Vineyards.  The exhibition is the first for both women, with Jane contributing photographs from her road trips around Australia and Tracy her paintings.  This formidable duo, winemaker/wine marketer and cheesemaker respectively, are too much fun.

The other exhibition is at Henschke.  Dragan Radocaj, whose landscape photographs of the Barossa have altered the way the world sees this region, is exhibiting images of Henschke’s famous Hill of Grace Vineyard that have been an inspiration to him.  I’ve seen a few of them and they are stunning!   [Dragan has graciously allowed us to use a few of his photos as the banner images on this site.]

Food, wine, art and friends – that’s Barossa The Good Life.