Auburn Tours - Barossa Valley: Lisa travels the Barossa Valley region of South Australia in style

There's something very appropriate about touring the picturesque tree lined back roads of the Barossa Valley in a classic open top motor car. Move over Miss Daisy - I've got my own limmo - a beautifully restored 1935 Auburn - which of course come complete with its own driver. The Auburn simply oozes charm and it's the pride and joy of Trevor Wehr of Angaston based Auburn Tours.

Trevor Wehr, Auburn Tours: "There were 13,000 Auburns manufactured in 1935 and there's only two of this particular model in Australia - there's about 400 left in the world. It's quite a rare car. Even in the United States it's considered outside of the norm. And precious to you because she's really a part of your family isn't she? That's right, my grandfather bought this brand new early in 1935 as a different sort of a purchase from your average run of the mill motor car they were looking at. They spent three times as much and bought this one."

After his father's death, the car fell into disrepair and languished in Trevor's suburban garage for years before he began the slow and painstaking task of rebuilding her.

Trevor Wehr, Auburn Tours: "I have rebuilt the car - it's been pulled apart to the very last nut and bolt, started again and here we are today. It's a lovely way to tour the Barossa, a very stylish motor car and a beautiful area to drive around in and a day like today - blue skies - what else would you want?"

What else indeed so Trevor took me one of his personalised tours with the first stop being one of the Barossa's favourites - Yalumba Winery.

Trevor Wehr, Auburn Tours: "Actually it's the oldest winery in the valley. Although we have this huge German connection to the vineyards and so forth, this one's actually established by the English."

Established by Samuel Smith 160 years ago, six generations later, it's still owned and operated by the Smith family. The historic clock tower is known around the world - featured on the Signature Series label. This is also the only winery in Australia with a working cooperage and Trevor will give you a private tour.

Trevor Wehr, Auburn Tours: "This is Yalumba's Cooperage which has been operating since the mid 1800s. They've got three full time coopers here and the process starts with the timber itself naturally. And here they use French Oak, American Oak."

Because oak plays a big part in winemaking, Yalumba elects to keep it's own cooperage so it can maintain full control over the quality of barrel used to age their wines.

Trevor: "At the moment over in the corner here he's dampening down a half assembled barrel which will go into the steamer which makes the timber malleable. Then it will be pulled in on the wire ropes that drags it into position. So it's like a shipwright - it's a real art to get it to meet itself perfectly."

Next stop is Yalumba's Still. Every now and then the historic copper pot still is dusted off and fired up. The latest drop to come from the distilling process is Yalumba's V de Vie. It's a unique and very exclusive pure spirit digestive which Trevor can arrange to taste. Appropriately, Yalumba's Wine Room is inside the old Brandy Bond Store.

At the end of the day - when you need somewhere to stay, Trevor's got that covered too. He operates Angaston Views, a three bedroom B&B high on a hill with, as the name suggests, magnificent views over Angaston and the surrounding valley. It's dog friendly too.

Angaston Views and Auburn Tours operate from Angaston in the Barossa Valley. If the Auburn convertible doesn't appeal, Trevor also offers a luxury 4-wheel drive for his tours. He can also do city pick-ups and drop-offs. Contact Trevor on 0408 459 438. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Angaston Views B&B
8 Collins Street
Angaston

Auburn Tours
Mobile: 0408 459 438

Published 28th June 2009