Wyhus Ryf on an exclusive wine tour through South Australia
If someone is looking for the best Australian wines, they have to go where they are made. This is exactly what Beat and Sandra Eichmann from Wyhus Ryf are doing, along with a curious group of travelers from Switzerland. This journey through South Australia is not a classic wine tour, but a discovery tour through the soul of a wine country that has been in the spotlight for years.
Australia offers more than endless expanses, kangaroos, and opera houses. It is also home to some of the most exciting wineries in the world. In regions like the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, or the Clare Valley, wines are produced that cause a sensation worldwide. With this trip, Wyhus Ryf goes exactly there to experience the people, soils, vines, and ideas behind the bottles.
The blog will document the journey in several parts, with encounters, insights, and emotions directly from the south of Australia.
Arriving and refueling in Adelaide
After a long flight, the group landed in Adelaide late in the evening. The relief was palpable. The anticipation even greater. The starting signal for an intensive adventure through vines, history, and enjoyment.
Right from the start, it was relaxed, with a welcome aperitif among friends. The group got to know each other better, and the first conversations about wine, travel, and expectations filled the room.
Encounter with kangaroos and koalas
Visit to Cleland National Park
A first immersion in Australian nature led to Cleland National Park – a natural oasis in the Mount Lofty Ranges area. There, they not only encountered emus and wallabies but were also able to feed kangaroos and experience koalas up close.
The park combines nature conservation with direct contact with wildlife. Especially for European guests, the proximity to Australia's most famous animals is a magical experience.
First winery, first impressions
Visit to Lobethal Road
Lobethal Road Wines, a boutique winery in the Adelaide Hills, was the first of many highlights. Inga, a warm host, welcomed the group with a glass of sparkling wine before heading out for a tour through the vineyards.
The winery is known for elegant, cool-climate wines – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz are the flagships. The subsequent tasting showed the diversity of the terroirs. Lunch on the terrace rounded off the experience.
Between art and wine
Aboriginal Art Gallery
On the way to the Clare Valley, the group stopped at a gallery for indigenous art. Here, traditional culture met modern aesthetics. Dot paintings, landscape images, and spiritual symbols bore witness to the depth and diversity of Aboriginal culture.
An important moment that strengthened the awareness that while wine tells a story in a glass, the land itself knows many other voices.
The North is calling
On to Clare Valley
In the afternoon, the entourage set off. Destination: the Clare Valley. This region is famous for its finely fruity Rieslings and well-balanced Shiraz wines.
David O’Leary and Liz Heidenreich from the winery of the same name welcomed the group. Culinarily and vinologically, an evening that would be remembered for a long time.
The Sound of Silence
Visit to Sevenhill Cellars
Sevenhill Cellars is the oldest winery in the Clare Valley – founded in 1851 by Jesuits for the production of sacramental wine. The group visited the historic church, the monastery, and the impressive barrel cellar.
During a short tasting, it quickly became clear: the combination of history, spirituality, and quality here is more than just marketing – it is palpable in every drop.
Vines and firepower
Visit to Kilikanoon Wines
Another jewel of the Clare Valley: Kilikanoon. Geoff Barker, Sales Director, led the group to selected vineyard parcels, where the wines were tasted on site.
Kilikanoon stands for structure, density, and depth – wines that shine through their balance of fruit and tannin. Especially Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are among the best in the region.
The day ended in the Cellar Door with an exclusive dinner – accompanied by conversations with the winemaking team.
Tents, heat and a warm welcome
Visit to Lost Penny Wines
Having arrived in the Barossa Valley, the group settled into their accommodations at Discovery Park – in luxurious tents with air conditioning.
In the evening, Carol Riebke of Lost Penny Wines, together with her family, hosted a large dinner at the winery. Due to the heat, the warehouse was spontaneously cooled down – pure Australian hospitality.
Lost Penny Wines combines creativity, quality, and design – from classic Shiraz to the excellent Four Coins Cuvée.
This was the first part of our journey through the south of Australia.
Part 2 will follow soon, with visits to Glaetzer, Hobbs, Langmeil, K1, and Woodstock Wines – including insights into the daily lives of legendary winemaking families.
