Vintners Bar & Grill Named South Australia’s Only Finalist in Gourmet Traveller Readers’ Choice Icon Award

Art, food, wine — and a legacy of local creativity on the plate and the wall

Vintners Bar & Grill — a beloved Barossa institution celebrating 29 years of regional excellence — has just been announced as South Australia’s only finalist in the prestigious Gourmet Traveller Readers’ Choice Icon Award for 2025.

Recognising restaurants that have shaped the Australian dining landscape, the national nomination is a tribute to the long-standing partnership between Chef Peter Clarke and Sommelier Rami Heer, whose commitment to quality, local produce and hospitality has earned Vintners legions of loyal diners over the decades.

“Vintners has long set the bar for wine region restaurants,” Gourmet Traveller writes. “Chef Peter Clarke and sommelier Rami Heer showcase the produce of the Barossa both on the plate and in the glass.”

And now, that legacy continues — not just in food and wine, but in art and storytelling, with the return of the VBG Art Prize 2025, hosted in partnership with the Yalumba Wine Room and the SALA Festival.

The VBG Art Prize Returns – Celebrating Food, Wine and Place

Now in its third year, the VBG Art Prize invites artists from the Barossa and Light regions to submit original framed poster art that reflects the essence of food, wine and place. The winning artist receives $2,500, and all entries will be exhibited at the Yalumba Wine Room throughout August as part of the SALA festival. The winning piece will also become a permanent fixture on the walls of Vintners, joining past winners and vintage posters from Willi’s Wine Bar in Paris.

Artists are encouraged to submit entries or register their Expression of Interest now via the Vintners website. Entries close Friday, 18 July, with the winner announced at a VIP event on Wednesday, 23 July at Vintners.“The VBG Art Prize brings the community together in such a meaningful way,” said Peter Clarke. “We’ve always believed Vintners should celebrate more than just food and wine — it should be a platform for local talent.”

A Restaurant with Culture at Its Core

From the start, Vintners has been about more than just a great meal. Set among the vineyards near Angaston, it has become a place where flavour, people and story converge — on the plate, in the glass, and now, on the walls.

“Vintners has always been a special place — not just for dining, but for celebrating everything that makes the Barossa unique,” said Marnie Wark, 2024 VBG Art Prize winner. “To have my work hanging on those walls is incredibly meaningful.”

Competition Details

Prize: $2,500 cash

Exhibition: All entries shown at Yalumba Wine Room, 1–31 August

Eligibility: Artists who live/work in the Barossa or Light Council areas

Medium: Poster art (A1, framed, portrait)

Entries Close: Friday 18 July

Winner Announcement Event: Wednesday, 30 July at Vintners

EOI & Entry Information: https://www.vintners.com.au/vbg-art-prize

WHERE: 752 Stockwell Road, Angaston