It’s the end of an era for an iconic Barossa establishment as Dutschke Wines closes its doors after decades in business.
Dutschke Wines is the lifelong project of winemaker and founder Wayne Dutschke, whose interest in this unique way of life was sparked by the dedication and enthusiasm of his grandfather, Oscar Semmler. In the 1960s, Oscar was an important figure in the wine industry, working as the chairman of directors at The Barossa Cooperative and the president of the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation.
“At the start of the 1930’s Oscar’s family purchased a 72-acre property alongside the St. Jakobi Lutheran Church at Lyndoch in the southern end of the Barossa Valley,” wrote the Dutschke family in their very first newsletter from back in 2002.
What could not be predicted at the time was that this vineyard would become a highly awarded one, home to some of the precious components that make up Dutschke’s wines.
After Oscar’s passing in 1972, Wayne’s uncle, Ken Semmler, returned to Barossa Valley after spreading his wings as a fighter pilot with the RAAF, dodging anti-aircraft fire above the jungles of Vietnam. In the years that followed, Ken started planting his beloved Shiraz at the ‘St. Jakobi block’. A move that would eventually get Wayne involved in the world of wine making.
As the 1980s kicked off, Wayne decided to welcome the new decade by studying the fine art of squeezing grapes at Roseworthy Agricultural College. Wayne took any opportunity to learn more about the craft and worked with a number of quality Australian winemakers as well as with a couple overseas. Throughout this, his dream always remained clear. His goal was for him and Uncle Ken to keep back some of Ken’s grapes and convert them into wine for themselves.
The dream turned into a reality in 1990 when Wayne returned to South Australia after spending a few years with Mitchelton Vintners in Victoria. Using a few bunches of Chardonnay and a couple of buckets of Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet grapes, a handful of yeast and the duo’s first brand, ‘WillowBend’ was underway.
In 1998, ‘WillowBend’ became ‘Dutschke Wines’. After a tasting piqued the interest of US importers, it was decided that a rebrand was needed to put a name on the label that better reflected the family behind the bottles.
In October 2004, with the help of some local tradies, ‘The Shed’ was born. Perched atop God’s Hill Road, all of the barrels were moved into their new home, vintage equipment was purchased, and the first vintage – a classic at that – was made in The Shed in 2005.
“The Shed has been Dutschke Wine’s ‘centre of the universe’ since it was built in October 2004. It is where all of our production has taken place as well as where we held private tastings, hosted dinners and our annual cellar door each year amongst the equipment and barrels of wine,” shared Brenda Dutschke, Wayne’s wife.
Throughout the Shed’s operation, guests loved immersing themselves in the smell of the oak barrels and wine, and it wasn’t often that the public could head inside of a working winery, so it often became an incredibly interesting experience for them.
When guests were invited in, they were always hosted by Wayne, Brenda or one of their cellarhands.
“At the end of each tasting, guests would sign a barrel head, which was in essence our ‘guest book’ and on returning, many would look for their previous signatures on the barrels. During our final cellar door, some of these guests purchased their signature barrels as a keepsake,” Brenda said.
“The Shed was a place where we would hold annual dinners. Our first dinner with 40 people sold out in just a few hours, and someone from every state in Australia was there. We also had a black tie dinner for 100 people called ‘A Night of the Oscars’ to celebrate our Oscar Semmler Shiraz, dedicated to Wayne’s grandfather.
“There were some very special moments shared within these steel walls. Once, we had a young couple come for a tasting, and the lovely young man confided in us that it was all part of a lead-up to his marriage proposal to his girlfriend later that day. They shared a bottle of St Jakobi while he got down on one knee to ask for her hand in marriage. They kept in touch with us and returned several times,” she shared.
Brenda shares that building a winery and brand from scratch, working with great folk and squashing grapes grown with passion has been the ultimate dream come true! This hard work has always been well rewarded, with Wayne winning the Barons of Barossa Winemaker of the Year in 2010 and then being inducted as a Baron of Barossa in 2013.
The winery was the place they raised their children, which even gave Brenda’s mother the idea for Wayne to write a children’s book about their dad being a winemaker, which was released and called, ‘My Dad Has Purple Hands!’
But the biggest highlight “has been all the amazing people we have met and built wonderful relationships with over the years. This really can’t be over-stated. We’ve been blessed!”
Dutschke’s wines have always highlighted Wayne’s expression of the characteristics of the first precious patch of dirt from a precious corner of the Barossa Valley. With the cellar door located in Lyndoch, over the years, people from around the world got to go in and try their wines.
Now it’s time for the family to spread their wings.
“Knowing our two kids had their sights set on their own dreams, which wasn’t the wine industry, we thought it would be a good idea to do something different while we were still youngish and in good health.
“Wayne has been making wine for 40+ years and is looking forward to putting the fishing line in a bit more often, especially during the beautiful autumn months when normally we would be flat out in the winery.
“He also recently joined the advisory board for the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) a not-for-profit created by his good mate, Scott Neeson, 20 years ago.
“I still feel like I have a bit more working life left in me, and I look forward to discovering whatever the universe has in store for my future. Both of our children are interstate at Uni, so we are now empty nesters – or bird launchers – and the timing of our exit is perfect. It will give us a bit more time to support their journeys,” Brenda concludes.
If you want to get hold of one of the last few cases of Dutschke’s wines, they are on sale as a fundraiser for the Cambodian Children’s Fund.
To support, buy the wine, and find out more, click here.
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