First Drop Wines’ beloved “Mother’s Milk” Barossa shiraz, “Matador” grenache, and “Endless Summer” pinot grigio have memorable tastes and quirky bottles, and the winery’s rustic cellar door and ever-changing menu are equally as unique.
The Nuriootpa space is a restored 1930’s barnyard painted white with “Home of the Brave,” the vineyard’s bold slogan, emblazoned in red on the front. The interior is equally spunky, with a collection of yellow velvet chairs and assorted artful knickknacks along a geometrically painted wall.
Guests have been wining and dining in the funky space since 2004, when owners John Retsas and Matt Grant opened the winery. First Drop Wines identifies as “seriously fun,” as proven by wine spitting contests hosted in the past—an aberration from other, stuffier cellar doors.
The flavours in their food seek to exemplify their playful mentality, offering an ever-changing, seasonal, market-fresh menu of shared and platter food. While the dishes rotate, there’s currently European-style dishes such as arancini, prosciutto, prawn, quality cheeses, and fresh bread and rich olive oil.
“First Drop is making wines with flavour, texture and a splash of funk,” they write. With fruit from Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, and the Barossa, they aim for “a diverse, deliciously exciting and thought provoking line up of flavours.”
Guests can do mere wine tastings or book a shiraz masterclass, but if they come in for the feast, the dishes will be paired with First Drop Wines’ beloved vino.
“You book and come in, and the staff will pair your food and wine and explain the combinations,” says David Rocca, who works on First Drop’s social media.
Find First Drop Wines at 30-38 Barossa Valley Way, Nuriootpa.
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