The Bottom Line
Pros
- The rooms have private balconies with jaw-dropping Wine Country views
- The inn's restaurant, Appellation, is one of the best in South Australia
- The outdoor "under the stars" showers are extremely romantic
- A tranquil, breathtakingly beautiful setting ensures a peaceful getaway
- The staff can set you up on personalized wine tours of the region
Cons
- It's secluded - not within walking distance of anything
- One of the more expensive lodging options in South Australia
Description
- At Seppeltsfield and Stonewell Rds., in Marananga, just west of Tanunda and Nuriootpa
- The 15 suites have Wi-Fi, flast-screen TVs, DVD players, fireplaces, heated floors, and terraces overlooking the vineyards.
- Rates include a substantial breakfast, and packages are available that include a memorable three-course candlelight dinner.
- Bathrooms are fabulous with two-person hot tubs, two-person indoor rain showers, private outdoor showers, and marble accents.
- Book online or call 08-8562-2722
- Rates start at US$350 for a standard room, and room/dinner packages start around US$500 for two people.
- This is a mainstream but very gay-friendly inn.
- Try to reserve dinner at Appellation at least a month ahead if you're not staying at the hotel - it books up fast.
- The Louise is a 90-minute drive from Adelaide. Nearby wine-tasting hubs include Tanunda (15 min) and Angaston (20 min).
- There's ample free parking, and The Louise can arrange guided wine-tasting tours, farmers market visits, and the like.
Guide Review - The Louise, a gay-friendly luxury hotel in the Barossa Valley Wine Country
Spending a few days touring the famed Barossa Valley wine country (as well as the excellent wineries in the nearby Adelaide Hills) is a must if you're vacationing in South Australia. For sheer luxury and the opportunity to sample incredibly fresh and inventive regional Australian cuisine, consider spending a night or two at Peppers The Louise. The swank but informal mini-resort has 15 spacious, airy suites with smart modern furnishings and muted color schemes, and the details - private outdoor shower and two-person indoor showers, secluded terrace with expansive vineyard views - make this a very special hideaway.
A major reason for staying at The Louise is the opportunity to sample the fantastic cuisine of Mark McNamara at the inn's Appellation restaurant - even if you don't stay here, try to schedule a dinner here (and book well in advance). The menu changes nightly and utilizes local, farm-fresh provisions - it's featured the likes of saddle of venison with a currant glaze, and lamb braised with summer vegetables, quinoa, and tarragon jus. For a truly special meal, opt for the seven-course tasting menu.
The Louise is in the heart of the Barossa Valley, within a short drive of dozens of superb wineries as well as the quaint downtowns of tk and tk. It's also not far from the Adelaide Hills, where you might make a day-trip to the gay-owned and highly acclaimed Hahndorf Hill Winery, famed for its Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz and serving superb lunch fare on the weekend.
The solicitous staff at the Barossa can arrange a number of intriguing packages: "make your own blend" wine experiences at Penfolds Winery, "breakfast with the kangaroos" at Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park, and tours of the Barossa Farmers Market led by Appellation's chef, Mark McNamara.
