Barons of Barossa a strong supporter since 1975 of valley's wine, viticulture, heritage, gastronomy and arts
Barons of Barossa in their parade along Tanunda's main street each February with the first grapes of the vintage.
Image courtesy Barons of Barossa
The wine fraternity Barons of Barossa was founded in 1975 by well-known Barossa wine industry personalities. George Kolarovich (Barossa Co-operative, Kaiser Stuhl) was elected first grand master. Other founding barons were Wyndham Hill-Smith (Yalumba), Colin Gramp (Orlando), Bill Seppelt (Seppelts), Condor Laucke, Bruce Hoffmann, Peter Lehmann and Cyril Henschke.
The fraternity is administered by the grand council elected biennially. Membership of the Barons of Barossa is by invitation for outstanding contribution to the Barossa Valley. New barons are inducted into the fraternity in a colourful ceremony and membership is for life.
The focus of Barons of Barossa remains to proudly and enthusiastically support Barossa wine, viticulture, gastronomy, heritage and the arts.
The barons have initiated and funded many Barossa community projects, including The Barossa Cellar. The Barons backed a specialist wine library at the Roseworthy Agriculture College and researched and published the book Vineyards of the Empire, a definitive history of the Barossa wine industry. The fraternity’s Barons Foundation and the Bruce Thiele Memorial Trust fund significant community projects.
Every year on the third Sunday of February, the barons gather in Tanunda and declare the vintage. The first picked grapes are blessed in the historic Tabor Church, paraded along the main street and crushed and the juice sampled at Keil Garden. The winemaker and vigneron of the year also are announced.
An old hitching post next to to Keil Garden in the main street of Tanunda is the starting point for a plaques laid in the footpath honouring past barons who have had a major influence on the Barossa and its direction. A new plaque is added each year at the declaration of vintage.
Barons of Barossa have hosted the Barossa cellar dinner as part of the Barossa Vintage Festival.
