FAQs – and important information about your Barossa Valley tour

What type of tour do we provide? It is a full day and frequently more, hosted by Wayne, the owner of the business. He is an affable medal winning winemaker in his own right. He also ran his own vineyard for 20 years.

We are mainly a provider of private tours for groups of 2 to 10 people, sometimes 12. We average 8 to 9 people in a group, as this number is economical and winery cellar doors are very welcoming of such groups. Tours for larger groups mean the winery selections are often limited to those that will cater.

What is the price?  Sorry, we don’t publish prices. Every tour is customised and different, according to the information and preferences you share with us. We can say you will be pleasantly surprised!

Do we offer a half day tour? No, sorry. It’s not economic for us and believe you would be wasting your money. There is so much to see and do in the region, we find that even with a full day tour, we run out of time. Note that some wineries only open at 11am and others close at 4pm/4.30pm, and when an hour is taken up for lunch, we are sure you can see a tour for just a few hours is impractical.

We are just 2 people, a couple seeking to join a shared tour. Yes, occasionally will have a group leave the day open for an extra couple or two to join them, but it is fairly rare, especially on a week day. We suggest you follow Wayne’s Instagram page where we show tour dates when a shared tour is open.  See www.instagram.com/wayne_elson/?hl=en

You are welcome to enquire and we can get back to you should a shared tour day become available. Note that we typically pick up and return guests from and to their accommodation, so it needs to be centrally located, or en-route. Also note we strive to ensure our guests are of a similar age group and have similar preferences.

Also note it is very rare for us to have a Barossa shared tour available when you require pickup and return to  accommodation in the city. It is wise to gain accommodation in the Barossa when you are just a couple.

Do we have to pay tasting fees? Whilst we still have a number of wineries that will waive their fees when a wine purchase is made, the industry has broadly implemented fees that range from $10pp up, averaging $15 and up to $50 for super premium wine ranges and winemaker hosted experiences. The costs today of running and staffing cellar doors has made it necessary. Unlike a few generic tour operators who might offer all inclusive tours and just go to a restricted number of wineries they have agreements with, we are transparent and have kept our selections for you as wide as possible. We strongly suggest you budget to purchase some wines, and/or budget to pay fees on the day. Our proposal which follows the receipt of your enquiry will include a comprehensive list of our most recommended winery stopovers.

Where do you pick up from? Our tour service is door to door. We pick up anywhere from the city of Adelaide and Glenelg to accommodations in the Barossa itself. Try to secure accommodation that doesn’t mean a great deal of extra travel (which might be reflected in the cost). Most people book accommodation in the Barossa to minimise travel time.

We have some in our group that don’t drink wine and other alcoholic beverages. As long as we are informed prior to making the venue bookings, we can cater for non-drinkers.

I am the organising member of our group. Can you cater for a variety of requests and preferences? Yes, but you need to be a pragmatic decision maker after consulting with your group. We provide a lot of information in our proposals with a host of options, which you should read thoroughly and communicate to your group, asking them to get back to you asap. You will need to gather the preferences of your group prior to us creating your draft itinerary. We are happy to provide a further itinerary based on the changes you might request.

If we join a shared tour, can we still make special requests? The first to book with minimum 4 people get to create the itinerary with us. We can consider your requests and will fit them into the day if at all possible, but not after the itinerary has been agreed. If you are late to book and are lucky enough for us to have a shared day open, the itinerary will likely have already been set and bookings made.

We would like to have a ‘behind the scenes’ winery tour. This is easy to arrange, with at least 2 winemaker hosted experiences available in each wine region, but there can be limitations during the vintage time. In some cases there is a fee of up to $50pp.

What time does the tour start? We like to maximise your day and be out and about by 8.45am/9am. We have great wineries that will open early for our guests at 9am/9.30am, and we like to provide some wonderful sightseeing before the wineries open. When staying in the city of Adelaide we need to allow at least 70 mins of travel.

We want to sleep in. Can we start later? Yes, a private tour is tailored to your requests, but beware the best part of the day is always the mornings.

Our air flight is arriving late. Can we join the tour later? Sorry, no. The best part of the day is the early stopovers and our mid morning snack.  Our day is fully planned and bookings have been made with wineries and lunch venues well in advance. If you want a late start, part day, we suggest you go on a hop on hop off bus, or similar service, but even those might leave too early for you. They also don’t provide a door to door service and expect you to meet at a city central address.

We just need transport. You are welcome to enquire about this but our touring experiences are our priority. We are not a taxi service. On weekends, we are rarely available for services after your tour day. If you contact us we are able to recommend a business that specialises in taxi or taxi-bus type work.

Is it better to have accommodation in the city of Adelaide or in the Barossa? Definitely book accommodation in the region if your schedule permits. Travel time over a day when your accommodation in the Barossa, is at least 2.5 hours less, and the cost of our tour reflects this.

Its also great to be able to visit some of the winery cellar doors we can’t fit into our day, in your own time the next day or prior day

We strongly suggest to your group that all arrive into Adelaide or the region the evening prior, if coming from interstate or overseas. Airline arrivals are often late, making airport pickups problematic.

A mistake sometimes made is to try and fit an excessive number of your group’s requests into the time available. Try to limit your stopovers to 4 venues including lunch, and if we have the time at the end of day to include a late closing craft beer producer or distillery, or perhaps a beach boulevard scenic drive, then that is a bonus.

If you want to visit specific winery cellar doors or beverage venues, or a particular lunch venue, you should seek a private day.

A mistake frequently made is not to have had a good breakfast before we leave. We suggest you ensure there is breakfast available at or near your accommodation, or you purchase supplies for your room to make breakfast, the evening prior. Unless it has been an agreed stopover and part of the itinerary, we cannot make a coffee or eats stop on the way as we will have made winery and other venue bookings. For the first winery stopover, staff may have been scheduled to come in early for us, so we cannot be late.

What is the ideal private group size? 4 to 10 people. Our luxury Mitsubishi Delica 4WD minivan can comfortably take 5 people plus driver. We can take up to 12 people in our larger Toyota HiAce vehicle but beware many small wineries cannot cope with such large groups, and those that do, will more likely charge tasting fees or higher tasting fees. We prefer to limit groups to 10 people.

Will we take a hen’s group? If you agree to abide by our rules for decorum, feel free to enquire. Beware that a number of winery cellar doors discourage the wearing of party attire.

Can we take a large party group? Sorry, no. If yours is a large party group of say 20 people, we suggest you contact a larger bus and coach company and make you own venue bookings at those which cater for large groups. If yours is a large party group, then this is generally not our type of business.

We want a long lunch day. Yes, we can accommodate this when it’s a private tour. Beware though that the number of other venues we can visit on the day is likely to be greatly restricted, especially given that some of the wineries only open at 10.30am/11am and some close at 4pm/4.30pm. Note we have arrangements with one or two restaurant venues where they provide a select menu and guarantee to finish in 90 minutes, which still allows us to visit 3 or 4 other venues.

We want to go to a premium restaurant for lunch. Who makes the private tour lunch venue booking? If yours is a private group you can choose any venue for lunch. Generally it is best for us to make the initial contact with the requested lunch venue, after we have agreed on timings and the itinerary for the day, considering the logistics. We can then get the venue to contact you for details, and they might require holding a card or make a deposit.

Can we include a distillery or craft brewery? Yes, but beware consuming spirits in the middle of the day. It will likely spoil your afternoon experiences at the other attractions. Finishing at a gin distillery or craft brewery is popular.

What wineries do we go to? Within our proposal we send after receiving your enquiry and checking the date for availabililty, we will include an extensive list of the places we recommend. We tend to support the small family and boutique and small batch producers moreso than the large commercial brands which are often overseas owned. If one or two wineries you have requested do not appear on our most recommended list, it is often because their tasting fees are unreasonable or we have had a recent bad experience with service. A private day enable you to nominate all of the stopovers, but often its best to heed our experience and recommendations.

Can we choose the wineries and other places to visit? Yes, always for private tours, and you are welcome to make requests for our shared tours. We send you an information pack which has a comprehensive list of the wineries and other stopover options, our most highly recommended on top. Many people prefer to tell us the style of day they would like, and perhaps the wine styles or preferred, and leave it to us to create an itinerary to suit. As locals, we  know the best experiences!

Do we have any financial interests in any of the venues recommended? Definitely NO

What are the best places to visit? Frequently the organising party will request visits to winery cellar doors based on what they look like on the internet, or the brands they buy at home from the large bottle retailers. Whilst appearance and presentation is one factor, and familiarity with a brand is another, we like to influence your support towards some lesser known, small batch, family operations offering authenticity, genuine industry knowledge and experiences, provided by great staff or the owners of the business themselves. Some of the big corporate brands offer cellar experiences that are flashy but can be expensive.

Can we send you an itinerary we have in mind? It is best for us to create the itinerary, but you are welcome to send us your ideas. We often find guest groups with own itinerary have not allowed enough time at stopovers, and travel time or lunch time has been underestimated. Often too, the very best experiences available in the region have been overlooked, so we offer them to you for consideration in the mix.

Where is lunch? We provide a list of proven venues to choose from. If it’s a shared day we tend to go to one of the wineries for a light platter or pie or pizza lunch. Beware requesting a long lunch restaurant, as it will obviously reduce time for the many experiences we like to include in the afternoons.

Who makes the winery bookings? We do.

Who makes the lunch booking? Typically we do, but if you wish to enjoy a restaurant experience over 2-3 hours, firstly it must be a private day, and prior to any bookings, we need to agree on an itinerary. We are happy to make the initial booking request, then provide your contact details so that you can communicate directly your requirements. Often the restaurant venue will want to hold a credit card or request a deposit.

Do we offer tours that are more about history and sightseeing, or include a range of ‘foodie’ places. Yes, our private tours allow you help create a customised itinerary, with reduced focus on wines and wineries, if you wish.

Do we go to distilleries and gin producers? A craft brewery? Yes, often. These can be requested in your preferences in the enquiry panel. Beware consumption of spirits in the middle of the day if you want to maximise your wine experiences in the afternoon.

Can we include cheese and chocolate places? Yes. We frequently visit local producers of condiments, cheese and smallgoods, chocolates and confectionery.

Can we include a coffee stopover? Yes, when it’s a private tour, you must ask for it to be included in the itinerary. Note that all of our lunch venues have also coffee available.

Can we include the old German town of Hahndorf? Yes, a private tour from the city of Adelaide can include Hahndorf, but your day would include a lot of travel, and likely retard the experiences you are seeking in the Barossa. We recommend you avoid trying to fit too much into the day. The Adelaide Hills is a wine region in its own right, with around 40 attractions/venues. We can provide a full day tour of Hahndorf from Adelaide if you request. If you just want to spend a couple of hours in Hahndorf, from the city it is less than 30 minutes travel, and is serviced by public transport.

Can we include a visit and tour of Kapunda, the nearby historic mining town? Yes for private tours. We love to share our history knowledge, including that of the old Cornish mining village. We even have a local who has lived all his life there who can join us – free with plenty of notice.

Can we cater for special food requirements? Yes. We have several lunch venues that will cater for vegetarian, gluten free etc. Please include this information in the enquiry panel when you enquire.

Do we pick up in Adelaide and Glenelg? Yes, for our private tours.

Can we pick up at Adelaide Airport? For private tours, yes. Beware late arrivals which can mess up your entire day, and make us late for booked experiences. It is always best to arrive the day prior and have us pick up from your accommodation.

Can we pick up at the Outer Harbour Cruise Ship Terminal? Yes, when it’s a private tour. If you are a couple travelling alone, we always recommend to participate early in your cruise service inter-passenger noticeboard/blog, to attract others to join you.

Do we cater for large groups, for example, 20 people? Sorry, no. If you have a large family or party group, we suggest you contact one of the Adelaide bus and coach companies. Note that there are few venues that can cater for such a large group. Those that do generally charge hefty tasting fees. For a large work group event for example, nowadays it is impractical to be seeking a day out amongst the wineries. Many are restricted by liquor licence rules and many have numbers policies that enable them to provide a professional and intimate tasting experience, which is impossible when it’s a large group.

Who is our driver/host? All of our tours are almost always hosted by Wayne, the joint owner of the business with Sandy, his wife. He is also a local winemaker and has grown grapes in the for 20 years.  This is unique in our industry, making your day exceptionally authentic, and full of expert information. Only in the event of illness or planned holidays might we have an alternative driver/host, but this is very rare because of our standards and hours.

Do we cater for families with children? Yes, for private tours, and our fees are very low for kids, sometimes free. We are child transport accredited, and we often entertain the kids whilst parents are tasting wines. We ask that you supply your own child safety seats.

Can we cater for the infirm,? Yes, but guests must be able to get themselves into and out of the vehicle. You can request us to bring our fold-up step.

Do we have a trailer for luggage and equipment such as golf bags?  Yes.

When is the busiest time in in the wine regions? Saturdays are always the busiest and most likely to be booked out early, followed by Sundays, Fridays and Mondays. Long weekends, public holiday weekends and periods when there are festivals in Adelaide tend to be busy. The February and March Fringe Festival and Festival of Arts period in Adelaide is by far our busiest time. This tends to coincide with grape harvest and vintage. March, April and May are the mildest weather months and when the regions are showing the glorious colours of autumn. School holidays, LIV Golf, international cricket and the Gather Round of AFL football are often heavily booked.

Where should we stay? There is a huge range of accommodation choices. We suggest you internet search “Accommodation Barossa” and perhaps better, gain recommendations of a comprehensive listing from the local tourism office.. click here: https://www.barossa.com/

Try to select accommodation within 15 mins from the region centre to avoid extra costs and dangerous roads.

Can we bring drinks on board? Water, yes, but alcohol and coffee no. The vehicles are not alcohol consumption licenced, so no alcohol is not permitted to be consumed. We provide comfortable cloth and wool lack back seating, and our vehicle floors are carpeted, so we obviously avoid soiling them. Ours is not a ‘booze bus’.

Do we go to the Clare Valley? Yes, for private tours of minimum 4 people, ex Barossa or Clare Valley accommodation. Realistically, the Clare Valley is too far from Adelaide for an Adelaide pickup and return in one day. We frequently provide a Clare Valley day when guests have accommodation in the Barossa Valley.

Do we go to the McLaren Vale region? Yes. Tours of McLaren Vale are a large part of our business, but both regions cannot be included in one day.

Can we bring our dog?  Happy to discuss this when it’s a private tour.

What vehicles do we use? This depends on how many people there are in your private group, or how many we have booked for our small group/merged couples tour. We currently have 2 vehicle types.

• For couples on a private day, and for our small and medium sized groups, we use our luxury 5 passenger Mitsubishi 4WD. It has large windows for great viewing, is automatic, has sports wheels, half leathers seats, dual aircon system, and an entertainment system with drop down screen. We have luggage space and safety bin in rear to store wines.
• For our larger groups, we use our 12 passenger Toyota HiAce, luxury fitted, automatic, sports wheels, lay back cloth seats, carpeted, great aircon system, entertainment system with drop down screen and microphones. We have safety bins in rear to store wines.

Can we bring our own mobile phone music/play lists?  Yes, for private tours. We have blue-tooth and USB feeds. Note though, we have a variety of on-board entertainment available. Our vehicles have hi fi and video systems with a mix of comedy and popular tunes with lyrics, for a singalong on the way back at the end of the day.

What time does the tour start from Barossa accommodation? Any time from 8.30am to 9.30am for a private tour. Often the best experiences are those early morning ones, when there is no crowds and the tastings more personalised. If you are a late riser, then we respectfully suggest you book elsewhere. Note that many wineries will not accept group bookings after 3.30pm and some close at 4pm, so the time available in the mornings is precious. Also note that we have select wineries which will open early for us.

What time is pickup in the city of Adelaide? We like to get away from the city by 8am, 8.30am latest. If it’s a private tour, you can nominate any time for pickup. Note though, that the very best experiences of the wine regions, are those early in the day, when the wineries are least crowded. As well, we have arrangements with wineries that specially open early for us. We also like to do a little sightseeing and provide some context to the day, along with some essential history, before the wineries open, mostly at 10am, but we have some that will open for us at 9am-or 9.30am.

Do we cater for people with food allergies or special food preferences? Yes. Make sure this is mentioned when you complete our enquiry panel.

Can we provide a transport service for taking to a restaurant in the evening, then pickup? Ask us about this on the tour day, but taxi type work is not our core business. We may have another early starting tour the next day.

How do we pay? To confirm a booking, you will be requested to pay a modest deposit to our bank account. The balance can be paid on the day of the tour, or just prior. We can call by an ATM at end of day if required. We have a credit card /EFTPOS facility at our home office for international payments, but not in our vehicles, and we reserve the right to charge a card processing administrative fee.

How do we get wines that we might purchase home? We can help you with this. Limitations exist for the quantity of wines the airlines will allow to be taken in airline carry-on luggage within Australia. For international flights, liquids are not permitted in the cabin. Check with your airline. One of the aspects of our tour is the service we provide to ship wines home for you. This enables you to purchase small quantities of wines as we tour, then leave them with us to send home. We will package them and consign per Couriers Please, Australia Post (or DHL/Get Freighted/Fedex for overseas shipments). Note that all wineries offer subsidised, sometimes free freight, for carton quantities of their own wines to Australian addresses.

What is our cancellation policy?  We are flexible. We are happy to hold the deposit and await a rebooking for a revised date. For cancellations with plenty of notice (ie 7 days), we are happy to refund your deposit. We can always hold over a deposit for an alternative date.

What is one or more of our group is a no-show? In this case we weigh up the situation at the time. If it is a last minute advice, then your group might still required to make the full payment, but if it is a genuine health or emergency matter, we generally accommodate. The rate we have quoted in our proposal is based on the number of guests you have nominated in the enquiry. We reserve the right to charge a higher rate per person when your number is reduced.

What is the booking and payment process?

• You complete the enquiry form and provide as much information as possible about your preferences.
• We respond with a personalised and customised proposal. It will include the rate and a comprehensive list of the most recommended stopovers and experiences you can choose from.
• If you decide to advance with us, you advise us by return email make the deposit by bank transfer.
• For our private tour groups we prepare a draft itinerary once you have provided your preferences for stopovers and lunch.
• Once the itinerary has been agreed, we make the winery cellar door and lunch bookings. For a private group wanting a premium restaurant lunch, we will likely be required to provide your contact details to the venue.
• We confirm when all bookings are in place
• On the evening prior to the tour we confirm by text when we expect to be at your accommodation for pickup. You might prefer to confirm with us by text or email that you have arrived at your accommodation.
• The tour is delivered.
• You can make payment of the balance on the day, or any time the week prior by bank to bank transfer (when you are within Australia). For international guests we communicate securely our card payment process.
• If you are a company or other business and would like an invoice to pay against, we can provide an invoice with GST.

Can we pay individually? Yes, but it can be a bit messy. As the booking contact, you are responsible for correct and timely payment by all of your group. We can make an ATM stopover if need be. We do not carry an EFTPOS unit in our vehicles.

Thank you for reading. Feel free to send us a request for any other information you might require.

Like to advance to a formal enquiry? Go to our enquiry panel by completing the enquiry panel at the bottom of our website landing page …. www.abrm.net.au