Jacob's Creek Trail: Ron takes a stroll in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia
In marketing parlance the Barossa Valley is known as a New World wine growing region and in the space of a little more than 160 years, the Barossa has carved out an international reputation which is the envy of any around the globe. And much of it is based on a rather unremarkable creek called Jacob's Creek.
It's about 65 kilometres from Adelaide and to really understand the impact it's had on world wine stage you need to spend some time at the Jacob's Creek Visitor Centre at Rowland Flat.
Here you can sit down for lunch and sample any one of a number of Jacob's Creek wines and afterwards, check out the interpretive centre and newly created trail which takes you back to the very roots of Australia's most famous wine growing region.
James Keane, Jacob's Creek Wines: "Colonel Light's assistant surveyor was William Jacob who the famous Jacob's Creek was named after. William Jacob surveyed this area along with other areas around Adelaide with Colonel Light back in 1837."
Light and his assistant William Jacob walked from south to north in their search for a way through to the River Murray. On their journey they came across what the Kaurna people called Mooroorroo Creek. Translated it means Big Fella Waterhole.
It was country that intrigued another man, whose story is pivotal to the beginnings of the Barossa. From the balcony walkway overlooking Jacob's Creek you take in what's called Menge's vineyard. It's a tribute to Johannes Menge - a German mineralogist, employed by the South Australia Company.
James Keane, Jacob's Creek Wines: "He made reference about this beautiful land that was going to really supply the new colony with fruit and vegetables."
Menge liked what he saw in the Barossa - so much so that he stayed. The trail takes you along the creek to a cave that Menge used to call home. With a tarpaulin over the entrance, the opening on a rocky ledge along the banks of Jacob's Creek was home for the man who provided invaluable information on mineral and soil profiles across much of the State.
Johannes Menge was so enamoured with this country that he went to extraordinary lengths to divert the main watercourse, Jacob's Creek around a portion of land to create his own market garden. Today's it's called Menge's Flat.
Further along the trail - and further along the famous creek you find the cottage established by the man who along with Light surveyed this area. Like Menge, William Jacob, fell in love with the area - only his digs were a little more comfortable. Today William Jacob's Cottage is used by Jacob's Creek Wines to entertain visiting wine writers. One of the places James Keane will always takes them is the re-planted vineyard.
In 1847 a 28 year old Johann Gramp arrived here all the way from Bavaria. He planted the very first commercial vineyard in the Barossa Valley. From Johann Gramp's first vineyard to a world class wine region - it's a remarkable story.
Johann handed the winemaking tradition to Gustav and so it continued down the line. The photos in the Jacob's Creek Visitor Centre tell the tale of an emerging industry and so do the old bottles which reflect the changing palette of the Australian consumer. One brand stands out and it's a brand based on what was once a little known creek in the Barossa Valley.
James Keane, Jacob's Creek Wines: "In 1976 we released the first vintage which was the 1973 shiraz, cabernet, malbec. We now export to seventy countries around the world and around about nine and a half million cases. So once again from very humble beginnings thirty years ago to a big world brand, a modern world brand today. But with this lovely heritage to go with it."
The Jacob's Creek Visitor Centre is located off Barossa Valley Way at Rowland Flat. Keep an eye out for the interpretive displays.
The Jacob's Creek Visitor Centre
Off Barossa Valley Way
Rowland Flat
Barossa ValleyPublished 30th August 2009
