When Susanne Schinagl started thinking about a career change she decided to head for Australia.

The life insurance policy seller from south of Stuttgart says she needed a change of scenery and perspective ­ and within months found herself living on a wine grape farm in South Australia’s famous Barossa Valley, about 50 km from the state capital of Adelaide.

Although German migrants helped to establish Australia’s premier vineyard some 150 years ago, Susanne discovered that since then the Australians have used new techniques to increase production and lower costs.

“I’m very interested in the machines they have here in Australia to pick the grapes,” she said.

“In Germany it is still mostly done by hand.”

Susanne described her Adelaide trip as “more of a holiday”. The SA Adelaide Language Centre arranged four weeks for Susanne with a suburban Adelaide family and a four week Farm Stay at Nuriootpa.

“It’s a great experience and a lot of fun,” she said.

“I’ve always got to do something different.”

Host and grape grower Peter produces mostly Shiraz and Cabernet grapes for red wine, which Susanne likes best.

During her stay she encountered some hot temperatures but found that homes in Australia are made to keep out the summer heat.

During her four weeks in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, she stayed in suburban Maylands, just a few bus stops from the city centre.

“Adelaide is a beautiful city and it is easy to get around,” she said.

“It has been very interesting to see life on a farm as well as life in the city in such a short space of time.”