>> 1953 Barossa Vintage Festival's Miss Tanunda, Jillian Wehr is the face of the festival for 2023. Jillian has recreated the iconic hero image featuring the first ever Vintage Festival Queen, Joan Hoffman, which was used throughout the `50s to promote the festival.
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wednesday, december 14
Barossa Vintage Festival celebrates its history with anniversary program
Barossa Vintage Festival – Australia’s longest running wine festival – celebrates the best of the Barossa with 75 events as part of its 75th anniversary program.
The biennial festival returns with pride and passion in April 2023 (April 19-April 23) as 75 community and cultural events across the region take part in South Australia’s largest regional festival.
With its theme of ‘Old Roots, New Ways’, Barossa Vintage Festival (BVF) is inspired by its rich history in quality food, wine, art, and culture as it looks to the future with new custodians Barossa Australia and locally raised festival producers, Zac Tyler and Ruth Blythman of Release Creative.
Release Creative’s Ruth Blythman says: “Barossa Vintage Festival is when we can see the identity of the Barossa come to the fore with so much purpose, commitment, and connection.
“This year, I’m excited for the local community to experience the festival they know and love alongside new events which showcase the best Barossa hospitality has to offer across our iconic, jaw-dropping, spine tingly locations.”
These include cherished community events such as the Vintage Festival Parade, Vintage Festival Ball, Scarecrows, Barossa Made Market, and Ziegenmarkt alongside new events such as the interactive photo studio event I See You Like This hosted at Jacob’s Creek created by acclaimed artist Jessica Wilson.
The best of Barossa’s rich food and wine heritage will be on show with the region’s most celebrated winemakers and chefs creating events such as the distinguished Barons of Barossa’s Ancient Vines and Museum Wines dinner, the world-famous Barossa Wine Auction , Thorn-Clarke’s Paddock to Plate and stunning Sunset at Seppeltsfield Rd at the iconic Avenue of Palms.
“It’s no wonder the passion the region has for this festival is second to none. We are honoured to continue this legacy with the 75th anniversary program of events.”
- RUTH BLYTHMAN
Barossa Australia’s CEO James March says “Barossa Australia is delighted to be the new custodian of the Barossa Vintage Festival for its 75-year anniversary. There has been significant investment in the evolution of the Festival, balancing the traditions of the past with a view to the future. With an exciting and diverse program of events we are certain that community, partners, and visitors will love our 2023 event.”
The face of the festival is a familiar one to Barossans. Miss Tanunda of 1953 Jillian Wehr, has recreated the iconic hero image featuring the first ever Vintage Festival Queen, Joan Hoffman, which was used throughout the `50s to promote the festival.
Ruth says: “We’ve worked hard to create an entirely new brand for the festival to signal a new chapter of the event while paying homage to its significant history. We wanted the hero image to embody the sentiment of aging with joy, glamour, and grace and I think the team has certainly achieved that.”
With inspiration from the first festival in 1947 – when Bill Seppelt (Seppelt Wines) and Colin Gramp (Orlando Wines) threw a Thanksgiving Ball to celebrate the end of harvest and WWII – BVF will continue its rich heritage while it looks to the future.
Ruth says: “It’s no wonder the passion the region has for this festival is second to none. We are honoured to continue this legacy with the 75th anniversary program of events.”
Festival volunteer committees have been working behind the scenes to now be ready to accept registrations for Vintage Parade floats, Ziegenmarkt expressions of interest and auction items, and scarecrow submissions. All details can be found on the Barossa Vintage Festival website.
