Jacob's Creek Winery, South Australia

Barossa Valley is best-known as one of Australia’s top wine regions. It sprawls out in a vibrant display of lush wineries, green scenery, and a collection of high-end restaurants.

Jacobs Creek Winery

Set amongst it all is Jacobs Creek. Predominantly known as a popular type of Australian wine, Jacobs Creek is actually a small creek that runs through the Barossa Valley that the wine brand was named after.

The creek starts in the depths of the Barossa Ranges and runs west towards the North Para River. Along the banks of the creek, there is a fine collection of ancient trees and plant life, including the beautiful River Red Gums.

The History of Jacob’s Creek

Discovered first and foremost by Europeans in 1837 during an expedition led by Colonel William Light, the creek got its name from the Colonel’s assistant, William Jacob, during part of a survey of the entire Barossa region.

In the aboriginal dialect of the area, the creek is known as Cowieaurita, which translates as yellow-brown water.

After his survey of the area, Jacob decided to set up home by the creek, which went on to become home to Johann Menge, the first geologist in South Australia. Oddly enough, he lived for a brief stint of time in a nearby cave on the creek. Here, he carried out a simple life, growing vegetables and native plant life. It wasn’t long before he discovered the opportunities for viticulture in the area, and he became a forerunner of the movement that saw German Lutheran immigrants flock to Barossa Valley.

Thanks to its fertile soil, the creek soon became a hot destination for winemakers, and it lent its name to the world-famous wine brand, who’s vineyard is set 2km southwest of the creek. The first grape vines were planted on the banks of the creek in 1847, and since then it has flourished.

In 1997, the company that owns Jacob’s Creek wines put forward a rejuvenation plan for the creek, where all non-native plants that lined the banks were removed. This included species like bamboo, ash, and olives, which were replaced with local flora, like red gums and blue gums. This resulted in a surge of native animal species flocking back to the area. Now, you can expect to see local frogs, native fish, and colourful local birds surrounding the creek.

For those looking to sample the wine, the Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre is the place to go, where you can learn about the winemaking process and the history of the region, as well as sample some of the delicious flavours.

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