Enjoyed extraordinary Hills tour
Ten Pembroke school friends, now at university or working, decided to get together in the new year and enjoy an Adelaide Hills wine tour. Vin’s/Adelaide Min Bus came up first on a Google search by Brigid, who is doing her honors in psychology at Uni SA. A quick quote was given by the helpful Vin’s staff, it seemed great value, and she could personalise the itinerary, so a booking was made for Sat Jan 7th. She selected Bird in Hand Wines, Johnsons, Nepenthe and Hahndorf Hill, as well as The Haus at Hahndorf for lunch.
Tour leader and driver Wayne Elson arrived on time at the Hackney Hotel pickup location in a super-comfortable 13 seater Toyota Hi-Ace Commuter. The weather was going to be mixed – sunny and humid with possible showers, so he brought an esky with water, ice, plus a coat and umbrella! The girls boarded and after introductions, found Wayne’s wine industry background was going to add a special touch to their day.
Brigid had burnt a CD of her favourite music, and soon the mini bus was rocking up the south eastern freeway to the sounds of Rihanna, Snoop Dog and Mark Foster’s ‘Pumped up Kicks’. Their first visit was to Bird in Hand Wines at Woodside where they were photographed alongside a sign saying ‘enjoy the extraordinary ’.
“The whole day was extraordinary” said Brigid, adding this was one of the rare times she had taken the lead in organising the group, and happy it had all worked out so well. “The only thing we would have changed was the meal size at The Haus. The pizzas and risotto were yummy but we could easily have shared between two”. (A special note by the Vin’s/Adealide Mini Bus team – A light lunch is the go for wine tours, unless you prefer to make lunch the last stopover, whiling away the last hours of the day by taking in the ambience of the region over a meal at one of the great restaurants.)
Some of the girls enquired about ‘hens days’ and full day tours of the Barossa Valley with other friends. “No problems” said Wayne. “We are happy to help keep costs to a minimum and provide more time for winery visits by packing a lunch platter” he said. “Vin’s/Adelaide Mini Bus can cater for all needs when a full day is allocated for a tour, including joint planning of the day, and making the bookings. We get to take you to a lot of boutique wineries, see some of the oldest vines in the world and go to great food places such as Angas Park, Maggie Beers and Barossa Valley Cheese.”
Carers have spirits lifted by day trip to Victor
Adelaide Minibus is a member of the Vin’s Bus and Coach group. For information about larger bus and coach services, see www.vins.net.au
On 7th February, Vin’s Buses and Coaches were requested by Uniting Care Wesley Bowden to take a group of carers on a day trip to Victor Harbor. They all care for family members with mental health challenges which are often very exhausting and time consuming for a carer to manage.
Michelle, who has two young children with Aspergers Syndrome, said “Today has been great for me. I have been able to relax and mix with the others. It’s great to sit back and enjoy the scenery, in a quiet and calm bus ride, and not have to run off after my young ones is wonderful. The morning tea (an unexpected surprise at Mclaren Vale on route to Victor) lunch and the bus ride has been fantastic. Being on a carer’s pension and having a mortgage, leaves no money for entertainment. I feel very refreshed, happy and revived… a really great day.”
A tasty lunch was enjoyed at the Middleton Tavern, and after, most were happy to look around the surprisingly diverse Victor Harbor shopping precinct. Others took a walk over the causeway to Granite Island.
Many of the 35 participants talked of their ordeals and experiences of being carers. Some had given up careers in business and professions to be able to care for their loved ones, at great cost to themselves, particularly in lifestyle. One man in his thirties was caring for his wife with a physical disability, requiring her to be in a wheelchair much of the time. Both of their children have disabilities as well, one born with Down’s Syndrome and the other had developed severe autism. He said it is a 6am to 10pm job, every day of the year. Then there was Elizabeth, a grandmother who’s daughter had not recovered from post natal depression after childbirth, made worse by her and her husband’s divorce and resulting in long term mental health problems. Elizabeth now has her daughter and child living with her. Then her premature born grandson was diagnosed with autism. She spoke of the workload she had taken on and how tiring it can be. “Life can change in an instant, just when everything appears to be going smoothly” she said, adding that the aging process and lesser energy means she sometimes gets overwhelmed and isolated by the demands of caring. Respite, provided by Uniting Care Wesley Bowden, along with support from carers groups…. and short breaks-such as the day out in and around Victor, are all vital to assist carers in their roles, she concluded.
Wayne, a member of the Vin’s Bus and Coach management team, travelled with the group, and acknowledged there must be large numbers of unsung carer heroes in our community. “It was great that these people got to have a break, and I was privileged to have been involved in helping organise the day trip with the team at Uniting Care Wesley Bowden.”
A Barossa tour for wine and wine region enthusiasts
Tour the Barossa with Wayne – our resident grapegrower/vigneron and winemaker. Yes, on the management team of Vin’s Bus and Coach Group (includes Adelaide Minibus), Wayne also has a family vineyard at Greenock and knows the Barossa and like no other. He often takes tours in the 7 seater Kia wagon or a super comfy 12 seat Toyota Hiace on weekends. His guests are often treated with visits to some lesser know wineries and private tastings, they get to see some of the oldest vines in the world, learn about grapevines and the viticultural practices required to produce grapes for the best wines, and includes a visit to his own vineyard – which features a unique block of Grenache, grown spirally in a corkscrew shape -the way of the ancient Romans. 
You also get to enjoy a barrel tasting of his wines, until now mostly only made for family and friends, but he has a commercial label being launched soon. You can select from our list above some of the cellar doors of your choice, but let his experience and know-how shine through by going with his suggested itinerary. Lunch is always gourmet quality at his selected venues, but also with speedy service, so that as much of the day as possible is spent tasting the wonderful wines of the Barossa, and taking in the views and atmosphere of the most famous wine region of Australia. Chilled water and a cheese platter on board add the final touch to your day with Wayne. This is ‘wow factor’ wine touring at its best, over a full 8 to 9 hours from Adelaide via the new Northern Expressway, returning via the beautiful Barossa Valley Way and Gawler…..plan to be back in city by about 6pm. Pickups can also be made at Barossa resorts and B&Bs. Wayne is a busy man, so you need to book well in advance, and he prefers Sundays. Ideal for groups of international tourists, wine and wine region enthusiasts, and those seeking something special. Enquire via this website. Full days only starting at 9am ex Adelaide $495 for 7 seater and $550 for a 12 seater. For Barossa resort/accomm pickups then day starts at 10am and gets you back by 6pm….$480 for the 7 seater or $520 for the 12 seater.
Cellar Door Festival – tastings with 100 wineries at Convention Centre
The Cellar Door festival was an initiative of wine Australia as part of the 2011 Fringe events. So successful it was, it is running again from 24th to 26th February. Tastings, master classes led by leading wine judges and journalists, food sampling, a regional farmers market, live music and more. See http://www.cellardoorwinefestivaladelaide.com.au/festival-program
But if you are planning to have a day of tastings, dont drive! Stay safe and arrange for a minibus to get you there and home again from Adealide Minibus, part of the Vin’s Bus and Coach group. Phone us or use our through our main page enquiry panel under ‘Contact’
Adelaide Fringe Festival
Adelaide Fringe runs over 24 days and nights during February and March. It is Australias largest cultural event. See http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/search for the program.
If you need help with transport of your group, just give us a call or enquire through our main page enquiry panel under ‘Contact’
Another Mercedes coach for the Vin’s Bus and Coach Group
Adelaide Mini bus is a member of the Vin’s Bus and Coach group, a successful family business and it’s fleet is growing. “We needed another large coach with lots of 
luggage space so we could cater for group travel and school excursions when extra luggage – sporting equipment etc is taken. This Merc is just superb” said the proud and affable Vin. A plush, fully air conditioned 50 seater, it has an on-board toilet and a massive luggage compartment. “It’s power and quietness on the road is magnificent” he added.
Big day out in Barossa
This group of young wine buffs said of their Vins/Adelaide Mini Bus tour of the Barossa after visiting Seppelts, Yalumba, Rockford, Charles Melton, Kabminye, Peter Lehmann, Langmeil and Chateau Tanunda.
“We had such a great day. The driver’s knowledge and experience made the day so much more enjoyable. I think everyone appreciated lerarning about the area and the industry. We will definitely be using your company again” – Alana
“An awesome day out” – Karl
Pic at iconic Rockford cellar door
d’Arenberg Wines surprise
Sydney – UK friends and information technology colleagues Claire, Stuart, Peter, Matt and Natalie were in Adelaide for a wedding on 7th January. Arriving a few days prior and settling into the units they booked at Seacliff, they decided to take a tour of the McLaren Vale wine region. Local friends recommended the Vin’s/Adelaide Mini Bus group. Tour leader and driver Wayne Elson, took the group to Wirra Wirra, Coriole, Chapel Hill, Scarpentoni Estates, Kangarilla Rd and finally to d’Arenberg Wines. At their last call they were able to consign to Sydney the two dozen wines they had purchased at d’Arenberg and other wineries, using Australia Post – for a surprisingly low cost, a service many wineries offer.
Wayne noticed at d’Arenberg, 85 year old managing director d’Arry Osborn was in his office and asked if he would be kind enough to allow a photo of him with the young visitors. He obliged, and amazed them with his hospitality, wine knowledge and genuine friendliness.
A text from Claire the following day thanked all at Vin’s/Adelaide Mini Bus for a truly great day out and for arranging to personally meet with one of the icons of the industry. They learnt later Wayne is part of the management team at Vin’s, is a grapegrower and amateur winemaker himself, so they were in expert and well connected hands.
Young lawyers cross-examine the Barossa
Every year a group of Adelaide and interstate young lawyers get together between Christmas and new year. Educated in Adelaide, some have moved interstate to find the type of work they wanted, but they love their reunions, generally built around a wine region tour. This time they chose the famous Barossa Valley.
Tour leader and driver Wayne Elson met them at their North Adelaide rendesvous point then headed up the newly constructed Northern Expressway, which has reduced the trip from the city to Barossa to less than an hour. He then turned towards Seppeltsfield from Greenock and showed them the 120 year old Grenache bush vines that almost came to destruction in the 1980s vine-pull scheme. They called at the historic Seppelt Winery, Two Hands, Peter Lehmann and Grant Burge. The wineries would have been pleased with the purchases they made at the cellar doors. A leisurely lunch was enjoyed in the gardens of the renowned 1918 restaurant at Tanunda, and finally to Wayne’s own vineyard near Greenock where he took them behind the scenes in both growing grapes and amateur winemaking. Group organisor Alison, said they ‘talked shop’ a lot during the day, but still managed to take in the fabulous Barossa. “The Vin’s/Adelaide Mini Bus people did a great job and we will definitely tour with them again.” “Thanks for a great trip- accommodating, informative and friendly ” they wrote in the vehicle visitors book.