The Louise

This cracking discovery was the location for the launch of a new electric vehicle model, thus an overnight stay was required. Getting there QANTAS was late in both directions. The once great airline is now a creaking old granny The Car Polestar 4 Dual Motor Performance The Louise In the heart of the Barossa Valley, South Australia, The Louise’s main building houses reception/gift shop, the kitchen and dining areas, the bar, and various administrative rooms. The front door is at the end of a long grape-vine festooned colonnade. Either side of the colonnade are the villas of varying sizes, mine being the smallest 95m2 Baillie suite at around $1100 a night. After checking in at The Louise reception, walked a few metres up the front path to the villa compound. I entered the small Mediterranean-like limestone-walled courtyard via a tall, locked gate using the key (or touch-fob). Inside, the sun trap had a couple of Adirondack chairs, and a substantial front door that wouldn’t look out of place on a renovated 15th century farmhouse in France. My case and a hand-written welcome note had been delivered to the valet shelf in the walk-in wardrobe just inside the front door. The staff are thoughtful, attentive and well trained, and will do a good-night service whilst you’re at dinner. A hot water bottle is placed in your king bed, a nighttime herb tea is prepared ready for hot water, and an oil burner lit to lightly scent the room with slumber-inducing herbal infusions. The suite has several rooms including the luxurious bathroom with both an indoor and outdoor shower. The rear has a private terrace overlooking the vineyards. The complimentary mini-bar includes local wine, beer, and canned gin and tonic. There is also a large decanter of tawny (previously known as Port) for a night cap. There is coffee (pods), tea of many flavours, and a selection of chef’s homemade goodies to snack on. There is a small TV in the sitting room and another in the bathroom, but they will probably see little use. I enjoyed a gin and tonic while taking a pre-dinner outdoor shower in the small high-walled courtyard off the main bathroom. Linen is top quality as are the pillows and mattress. The towels were dense rather than fluffy so didn’t quite float my boat. Should you need the loo in the night, you can leave a bathroom night light on. There are plenty of USB and power points throughout, as well as a quality Bluetooth speaker to pair your phone to. The resort has an eye on minimising waste so there is a small hand-made soap as well as large refillable bodywash, shampoo, and conditioner containers. The villa has a fireplace in the bedroom as well as central air conditioning. Dining and Facilities The main building has several eating and drinking spaces, including the main dining room and a cosy “speak-easy” style snug. The private gent’s study atmosphere is perfect for a late cocktail if the main bar doesn’t appeal. There are only 15 suites, so the dining room is unlikely to be overly crowded. It adds further to the exclusive experience, as does the fact that most windows have expansive views over the hills. There is a gym and pool for those so inclined, for the rest of us there is the superb food to be had in the dining spaces. The wines matched each of the 7 courses. A vegan menu was requested by the hosts in honour of the nature of the electric car being launched. Vegan is hard to get right and if given the chance I’d have preferred a conventional offering to sample chef’s talent with meat and fish. Chef forages on and around the property, and uses the bounty from the search, and that from the kitchen garden, in the spectacularly inventive menu. The highlights were the sensational seasonal ice-cream dessert and luscious mushroom cannoli canape. There was a celeriac course, but as that is my least favourite root vegetable, I only sampled it to be polite. Dinner is included, so all guests can dine in the evening. There is a private dining room, a timber deck, and various other spots to eat. In addition, there are further sites on the property for a quiet wine or picturesque picnic. The Barossa is the centre of South Australian wine country so it might be worth hiring a driver for a few days so wine tasting can be guilt and crime free. Reception has a small gift ship with top quality items available such as silk scarves and arty aluminium water jugs. What I loved: Quality construction and attention to detail, superb food and wine (do try the tawny), outdoor shower (even in winter), home made snacks on the hospitality tray. View from the villas are stunning with a kangaroo coming right up to the window Not so much Although the towels were good quality, the dense weave was not to my taste. I prefer very fluffy white towels to the heavy, dense, brown bath linen.

We stayed 2 nights in a Stonewell Suite and ate a tasting menu at the Appellation restaurant both nights. The accommodation was top notch. A patio front and rear to catch the sun, a separate sitting area with a complementary mini bar including snacks and wine. His and her sinks in bathroom wit separate loo and a good shower with option of outside shower as well. Snacks and mini bar refilled and turn down service included hot water bottles in bed. Peaceful location overlooking vineyard. Appellation tasting menu very good but maybe not quite matching Mount Lofty Hardy restaurant where we went next. First night the waiter was tad stingy with the wine pairing measure the second night we had double the size which was too much. Main niggle was that the water was filtered tap and had a residual smell and taste of chlorine. No mineral water available even after a request for second night. Napkin was too small to rest comfortably on the lap and kept slipping off. Breakfast was great other than piped music volume was turned up Great peaceful location with wonderful views. Everything included, pre dinner drinks mini bar snacks etc. Pool area great for some sun worship and cooling off in pool. Service attentive and with a smile although a little variable in the restaurant

We stayed at the Louise Hotel in Barossa Valley for 2 nights. The Stonewell suite is very nice with a vineyard view and plenty of room to stretch out. The heated bathroom floor and a great electric fireplace were a nice touch as the weather was cold. We enjoyed the morning breakfast but didn’t take advantage of the included appellation fine dining experience. There are only Australian wines available for purchase in addition to the included wine program. The team at The Louise works very hard to make sure you have a great stay in the Barossa. We will book again the next time we visit.

We had a fabulous stay at The Louise. On arrival we received warm towels and drinks, whilst reception gave us information about our stay. We had a lovely unit with all amenities, coffee, wine, port, soft drinks, tea, snacks, cheese and home made biscuits showing off local produce. The unit was amazing the view was relaxing and I was just disappointed it was too cool for the pool, but the sauna was warm. We had pre dinner drinks and starters and then a degustation menu with wine pairing. Loved everything, except the dessert, just not to my taste but hubby enjoyed seconds. Got back to our room with a calming oil burning in the diffuser and chamomile tea laid out ready for hot water and pouring. Not a Chamomile tea girl a left a note for staff the next evening as I hate waste and did mention a French Earl Grey was more to my liking before bed, and night two it was there. The staff were fabulous the stay was wonderful, just wish I could have afforded another night or two. Thanks to all the staff who made this an experience we will never forget.

My husband and I had three nights at The Louise. We arrived on a Saturday in torrential rain but we were greeted warmly by Darcy who gave us a welcome drink, a tour of the hotel and our room and gave us suggestions of local things to do Room 7 was lovely. We didn’t use the outdoor shower or sitting areas outside but they would be great in warmer weather. Everything is included at The Louise. The minibar was stocked with handmade treats, drinks and two bottles of wine which were all replenished daily Dinner was a highlight. We enjoyed the different menus and the matching wines were a great way to explore different varieties of wine from some of the many Barossa wineries. Wait staff were friendly and knowledgeable Breakfast was also delicious. It started with a breakfast basket with yogurt and pastries then we chose a hot item. Linda was very friendly and pleasant We found lots to do close by to the hotel but we also enjoyed staying in our room. The bed was super comfortable and spoils you for other hotels. Toiletries made locally were a great touch After dinner at turndown service a teapot with sleep tea was delivered We would love to return to The Louise and also stay at some of the other hotels. Thanks for a fabulous stay