About this tour
Watch barrel-makers craft oak vessels at Yalumba's on-site cooperage, one of just five working cooperages globally and Australia's only winery-owned operation. This one-hour tour traces over a century of barrel-making tradition in the Barossa, with coopers demonstrating their skills before you taste five wines in the cellar room. The Hill-Smith family's winemaking heritage frames the experience.
Highlights
- See coopers hand-craft and repair wine barrels year-round
- Rare glimpse into 100+ years of barrel-making tradition
- One of five functioning cooperages in the world
- Taste five wines from Yalumba's core range
- Learn Barossa vineyard stories from knowledgeable staff
- Children receive activity pack and treat
What to expect
You'll start with a brief overview of Yalumba and the Hill-Smith family's role in Australian winemaking. Then head into the cooperage workshop itself—a working space where barrel-makers shape, bend and repair oak staves using techniques refined over generations. What you see depends on the season: preparation of new barrels or maintenance of existing stock. The coopers won't stop for the tour; you're watching genuine craft happen. Afterwards, retreat to the wine room for a seated tasting of five wines, guided by a staff member who'll discuss each pour.
Good to know
The cooperage is fully wheelchair accessible, as are all surfaces and areas. Prams and strollers welcome. The workshop can be warm and noisy due to the nature of barrel-making. Allow the full hour for both the cooperage walk and the tasting.
Tour sold and operated by its supplier via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries, not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.