Dutschke Single Vineyard Reserve Oscar Semmler Shiraz 2002 750ML - 6 Bottle Lot

Rated 5 Star Winery by James Halliday.

Once upon a time around the end of the 19th century, this 72 acre patch of real estate included only a few acres of vineyard, with most of the area being dedicated to cropping and dairy cattle. At the start of the 1930's Oscar Semmler, Wayne's grandfather bought the block and more vineyard was planted, but it remained primarily a grazing area for dairy purposes. Oscar's Dad referred to the dirt as a "wonder of creation", a fact borne out by the wine now coming from it. The vineyard of that time, while reflecting the fortified market of the day, did not predict the potential to produce the rich varietal flavours found in current production.

Oscar's son Ken returned to the Barossa Valley in the early 1970's after first spreading his wings as a fighter pilot with the RAAF, dodging anti-aircraft fire above the jungles of Vietnam. Then in 1975, the transition began with Ken starting the planting of the beloved Shiraz, and it is this first area of Shiraz which provides the precious component of Dutschke Wines. Currently forty five acres are planted with Shiraz making up one third of that area, the balance including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. Most of the fruit gets passed onto other Barossa winemakers.

It's rather fascinating to note that all varieties have performed well, both in an analytic sense and the all important consumer taste test!

In 1990 Ken and Wayne decided to keep some of these grapes for themselves and start producing wine of their own from this vineyard under the brand "WillowBend". Production never intended to be a big time operation, with the bulk of the fruit each year being delivered to the Krondorf and Mildara Blass Winemakers. Then with the 1998 vintage release, interest from the US led to the name being changed to Dutschke Wines and production for future vintages was revved up to support this market and many others to follow.

Wayne Dutschke 

Wayne started making wine in 1979 in Australia as well as knocking out a few vintages in Spain and California. In 1990, Wayne formed his own brand called WillowBend producing a blend of Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet. Interest from the United States in 1998 brought about a name change to Dutschke Wines as well as a few new brands – GHR Neighbours Shiraz, St. Jakobi Shiraz and the reserve wine Oscar Semmler Shiraz.

Since their first crush in 1990, Dutschke Wines has strived to make wines of the highest quality that show Wayne’s expression of the characteristics of that precious patch of dirt from a precious corner of the Barossa Valley.