Day 6, Barossa day 1 - Seppeltsfield and surrounds

Tanunda and Barossa surrounds

Today is the first day of the 2015 ALVIS National Rally (proper!).

No need to pack up today as we are staying in the same motel in Tununda for the whole of the 2015 Rally (yay!).

The weather was quite pleasant - not too cold and a little overcast.  Today we started with the first stop up Mengler Hill for a scenic overview of the Valley including the huge Seppeltsfield Winery.  We have a wonderful collection of Alvis's covering the full range and they look wonderful together.

Our next stop is the Seppeltsfield Winery for a tour and lunch. Privately owned by the same family from its inception until the Mid 1990’s, the winery went through a few corporate hands but is now back in private ownership. The tour took us through the original family home and gave us some history on the formation of the iconic winery. Interestingly the original owners intended to grow tobacco but the crop failed in the first year and they decided to give wine a go.  This was even though grapes where completely unknown to the family - it was a seep learning curve but well rewarded.

From here we went to the Maggie Beer;s kitchen farm but this turned out to be a complete fiasco.  Strongly recommend against a visit here - staff have little idea of customer service and are most selective on who should be permitted in the so called "free kitchen demonstrations".  After being asked to leave as we were not considered part of the "general public"  ....we did!  A most embarrassing and unpleasant experience.

As we had a free afternoon several members of the tour went to the nearby Aircraft Museum whilst others returned to Tanunda for a look around the village. 

View from Mengler Hill

Claire and Norman take in the view with Heather and Stuart discussing today's route.

Parsell's Eagle and Blacket's 12/50 at the look out

Cars lined up in Mengler Hill

Stuart and Claire, SA, TD21

Mengler Hill sculpture garden - some very interesting modern pieces

Hannam's Firebird

Trip down Mengler Hill - Hirst 12/50 leads the decent

Path and steps to the Seppeltsfield Mausoleum - Norman leads the charge...

Mackay's Eagle (first serious outing)

Concannon's Alvis Speed 25 special

Bratt's TE 21

Cars line up at Seppeltsfield

Seppeltsfield homestead

Not sure what you call a gathering of Alvis people - "cluster of Alvisti?"

Extensive works around the Seppeltsfield gardens

Seppeltsfield Dining room

High winged Eagle mascot enjoys the gathering

Barnes's Firefly on its first outing for a long time