Chateau Tanunda

Often considered to be the birthplace of winemaking in the Barossa Valley, Chateau Tanunda is Australia’s biggest and oldest château. Wine made from some of the world’s oldest vines is produced here, from vineyards that spread across Tanunda, Bethany, Eden Valley and Vine Vale.

The beautiful big château was built in the 1880s and makes quite a statement to anyone approaching up the long driveway. Perched on the highest peak of the valley floor, the building provides amazing views of the surrounding Barossa Ranges, with vineyards and native bushland dispersed over rolling hills. Picture-perfect manicured lawns and garden beds surround the château, as well as tall palm trees and swaying wisteria walkways.

The indoor areas of Chateau Tanunda are beautifully set up as a premier Adelaide wedding venue. High beamed ceilings provide ample space for hanging decorations and lighting, and lovely large window frames let in plenty of natural light. The flooring is made from original jarrah wood floorboards, with vast spaces available for dancing. Pillars imported from Glasgow are fitted with atmospheric downlights, making a great backdrop for the bridal table as well as being dotted throughout the function rooms.

Each wedding reception is granted exclusive use of the function areas for the chosen night. There are a few spaces to choose from:

• The Grand Ballroom is the largest option, easily fitting 350 seated guests plus a dance floor. It can also scale down to cater for weddings as small as 60. It is a hugely versatile space that works well with a variety of floor plans and themes.
• The Long Room accommodates 10-80 seated or 120 standing guests in an intimate, rustic space perfect for one long table with chandeliers and flowers overhead. Large window alcoves overlook the Barossa Ranges and croquet lawns.
• The Sunken Garden is a 2000 square metre area on the northern side of the château, great for cocktail-style functions.
• The Barossa Ranges Terrace is another cocktail wedding option, located by the Sunken Garden with excellent views across the valley.

In addition to the reception areas, ceremonies can also take place in Château Tanunda’s own on-site indoor chapel, the Wisteria Walkway, Croquet Green, or within the vineyards themselves.

Packages at this Adelaide wedding venue are all-inclusive of catering, Château Tanunda wines and other drinks, event management and other reception requirements. Their weddings team work with couples and their chosen suppliers to suggest and implement the best personalised options for lighting, theming, flowers, photo booths and more. The self-proclaimed ‘Château standard’ strives to ensure everything about the function reaches or exceeds expectations of quality.

Photo opportunities are around every corner here, from bridal cars approaching up the long driveway to the lovely facades of the château itself. The barrels by the cellar door tasting area make for a nice unique shot, along with a disused railway line located behind the château. Rustic sheds and walls become covered with green, red or flowering vines depending on the time of year, and grand circular pillars in the courtyard are shaded by lovely twisting plants. Indoors, the streaming natural light through windows can produce great silhouette shots, while at night time fairy lights and chandeliers can create a magical atmosphere.

Château Tanunda is around an hour’s drive from the city of Adelaide, in the main Barossa Valley town of Tanunda. The town features many great cafes, restaurants and accommodation options to suit any budget, as well as shops handy for last-minute supplies.

This venue is a great choice for couples wanting an iconic wedding venue steeped in history and renown, with a classic, distinguished aesthetic. It equally suits small, intimate weddings all the way up to huge, grand affairs – and anything in between.