Rowland Flat: Wine, Trails and History

Rowland Flat combines cycling routes and nature experiences with wine, food and local history. The Jacobs Creek Visitor Centre opened here in 2002. This means the town offers more than a single activity when planning your trip: you can choose between outdoor exercise, wine experiences and dining, each offering a different focus.

Cycling Trails and Nature in Rowland Flat

Rowland Flat lies on the 14-kilometre section of the Barossa Trail between Tanunda and Lyndoch. Another option for cyclists is the 12-kilometre Steingarten Loop: starting from Rowland Flat, it is easiest to ride clockwise via Steingarten Road. Check current route conditions before setting out. Visitors can walk or cycle along the banks of Jacob's Creek. The Jacob's Creek Walking Trail also offers a peaceful way to experience nature. There are several ways to spend time outdoors: a longer cycling route, exercise along the riverbank and a peaceful trail.

Wine Experiences with Different Focuses

A guided wine-tasting experience can be booked at Jacob's Creek. If you would like to combine exercise with a tasting, consider the experience on offer, which includes a horseback ride through the vineyards followed by a wine tasting. A demonstration vineyard featuring 14 grape varieties offers a close-up look at the diversity of the grapes. Lou Miranda Estate has a focus of its own: with the Winemaking Experience, you create your own blend of Barossa Valley Shiraz and learn more about the grape varieties.

At Jenke Vineyards, the visitor experience takes place in a settler family home dating from the 1850s, converted into a cellar door. Visitors can discover handcrafted wines from the Jenke family there. The range also includes older vintages from the Museum Range and a bottle-fermented Sparkling Shiraz; product availability may change. The experiences differ not only in the wines, but also in their format: tastings, creating your own blend, the vineyard and the historic place of sale each offer a different focus.

Wine and Food

Rowland Flat also offers specific options for a culinary focus. The restaurant at St Hugo serves its wines alongside culinary creations by Executive Chef Simon Hicks and his team. The Cellar Kitchen at the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort uses produce from the Barossa region and follows a sustainable, seasonal philosophy. At Grant Burge Wines, an experience combines wine tasting with chocolate from artisan chocolatier Just Bliss. Restaurant hours and menu details may change; if you are planning a visit, check the latest information in advance.

History and Choosing Your Stay

History is also part of the town's character. Rowland Flat Cemetery and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church are each designated as a Local Heritage Place. Near Rowland Flat, Gustav Gramp established a winery in 1877 and named it Orlando—the Italian version of the settlement's name. The area's history and its designated Heritage Places add a historical perspective to today's wine and nature experiences.

When looking for a holiday rental in Rowland Flat, it helps to first decide what kind of daily pace you want: would you like cycling and time outdoors to be the focus, or would you rather plan your trip around tastings and dining experiences? These different options make Rowland Flat worth considering if they suit your travel plans. Check the latest booking details for bookable experiences before planning your stay around them.

Discover more destinations: Tanunda, Springton, Vine Vale, Lyndoch, Mount Pleasant, Light Pass, Angaston, Nuriootpa.

For the broader travel overview: The Barossa Council.