A long-awaited win for a Barossa favourite
Barossa Valley Ice Cream has landed the Snail of Approval, one of the toughest food badges to earn.
The sought after “Snail” is awarded to producers who value quality, local ingredients, fair treatment of people, and strong environmental standards. Only businesses that meet all four pillars of the Slow Food philosophy, make the cut.
For owners Julie Donnellan and Les Williams, the recognition fits their whole story. Since opening in 2012, they’ve built their business around simple rules. They use whole, South Australian ingredients, support local farmers and keep production small, honest and consistent. And most importantly, make ice cream like the stuff people grew up with!
Every tub starts with whole milk and pure cream from SA dairy farms. Fruits, nuts and seasonal produce come straight from growers in the Barossa and nearby regions. When they need ingredients from outside SA, they pick traceable, ethical suppliers, from Sunshine Sugar’s grower-owned co-op to fair-trade chocolate, coffee and vanilla. During harvest, locals often drop in spare figs, pumpkins and feijoas, which become limited-batch flavours. That community connection sits at the heart of why the Slow Food panel looked twice.
Sustainability also played a big part. Their production facility runs on solar power, backed by two Tesla batteries. The packaging is compostable and nothing is wasted unless it has to be.
To treat your tastebuds, and stock up the freezer for Summer, you can find their ice cream across the Barossa in cafés, farm shops, wineries and cellar doors, with the Nuriootpa store still the home base. Seasonal flavours often sell out fast, so get in quick!
The Snail of Approval for Barossa Valley Ice Cream recognises their long-term commitment and is a well-earned moment for a business that puts community and quality first.
Barossa Ice Cream Company
WHERE: 18 Tanunda Road, Nuriootpa
SHOP OPEN: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11am – 5pm
Check out the full range and stockists here
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