Treasury Wine Estates Honors Barossa Heritage as Major Sponsor of the Barossa Vintage Festival
Established in 1947, the Treasury Wine Barossa Vintage Festival stands as Australia’s longest-running wine festival and a defining celebration of vintage traditions in South Australia. Spanning more than seven decades, this iconic event has grown from a regional gathering into a week-long cultural spectacle that draws thousands of visitors, locals, and wine enthusiasts to the heart of one of the country’s most celebrated wine-producing regions.
The 2025 Barossa Vintage Festival marked a particularly significant milestone, as the community came together to honor 75 years of winemaking excellence, regional pride, and cultural heritage. What began as a modest tribute to the grape harvest has evolved into a multifaceted event that reflects the vibrant spirit of the Barossa Valley.
Rebecca Reynolds, Co-Director of this year’s Festival, spoke passionately about the event’s continued growth and its enduring connection to the people of the region.
“It’s so exciting to see our wine, food, arts, culture, and heritage come together and be celebrated in such an inspiring way,” she said. “This year, we had 91 events registered in the program, each offering something unique. Whether it’s a wine tasting in a historic cellar door, a gourmet dinner showcasing local produce, or a community art display, everything is deeply rooted in our collective pride for the Barossa.”
Reynolds emphasized that the Festival is not just a tourist attraction but a living, breathing expression of community life. “We’ve had events happening all over the valley – from vineyard lunches to live music evenings, storytelling sessions, and historic walking tours. The level of community involvement is incredible. From local families creating handmade scarecrows to businesses designing elaborate parade floats, everyone contributes. It’s an opportunity to celebrate not just the vintage, but the heart and soul of the region.”
Among those who have a personal connection to the Festival is Sage Krollig, Lab and Quality Manager at Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) in the Barossa Valley. She fondly recalls her father’s creative contribution in the 1990s, crafting a jumbo-sized, driveable Penfolds Koonunga Hill wine bottle as a parade float using parts from a ride-on lawnmower.
“The giant bottle always brings a smile to my face,” she shared. “It’s still on display at Penfolds Magill, and inside it are handwritten instructions from my dad on how to operate it. It’s a special reminder of how deeply our families are intertwined with this celebration.”
Treasury Wine Estates, a key player in the Australian wine industry, has long been a proud supporter of the Barossa Vintage Festival. This year, the company reaffirmed its commitment to the region by serving as a major sponsor. It also marked the first time that TWE participated in the renowned Vintage Festival Parade – one of the most cherished components of the week-long festivities.
The parade itself holds a special place in Australian festival history. First held in 1948, it now holds the distinction of being the longest continuous parade in the Southern Hemisphere. The 2025 edition brought together thousands of spectators and participants, stretching eight kilometers from Nuriootpa to Tanunda. Among the parade’s highlights was the TWE float – a vintage-style Penfolds truck accompanied by a vibrant display that illustrated wine’s journey from grape to glass.
For TWE’s Barossa Valley Packaging Site Manager, Jorge Henry, the parade was more than just a celebration – it was a moment to pause and reflect on the collective efforts of the winemaking community.
“This is the one day when we take a break from the intense work of the vintage season and simply celebrate,” Henry said. “It’s a chance to acknowledge the enormous dedication of our teams and to thank our families and friends who support us during the busiest time of year. Today is for our incredible Barossa community.”
Anthony Catanzariti, TWE’s Director of Wine and Grape Sourcing and a long-time Barossa resident, also took part in the festivities. “I’ve lived in the Barossa for over two decades, and this was the first time I walked in the parade with the TWE team,” he said. “It was a powerful experience, seeing the community line the streets as we walked the route. It was the perfect way to celebrate the end of the vintage and our deep connection to this place.”
Festival memories run deep in the region. Barossa Mayor Bim Lange OAM, who also attended the parade, reflected on his childhood experiences with the Festival. “I remember sitting in the back of my dad’s ute watching the floats go past,” he said. “The excitement, energy, and joy are just the same today as they were back then. The Festival is a cornerstone of our community – it brings people together and showcases the very best of who we are.”
The Barossa Vintage Festival’s significance was echoed by Member for Schubert, Ashton Hurn, who praised the dedication of organizers, volunteers, local businesses, and sponsors. “For 75 years, the Festival has brought together our community to celebrate the vintage – a time-honored tradition that underscores what makes the Barossa so special,” she said. “It’s a true celebration of our people, our history, and our future. Every time the Festival returns, it strengthens the fabric of our community.”
Indeed, the Barossa Vintage Festival is much more than an event. It is a living legacy, a testament to the region’s deep agricultural roots and the generations of families who have dedicated themselves to the land. It honors the rhythm of the seasons, the passion of winemakers, the richness of Barossa’s culinary culture, and the indomitable spirit of its people.
As the final glasses were raised and the sun set on another unforgettable Festival, one thing was clear: the Barossa Vintage Festival is not just a celebration of wine – it’s a celebration of life, of place, and of a community that continues to thrive through tradition, creativity, and an unshakable sense of belonging.
