During 2020 the Sprite Club was invited to visit Club Members Dean King and Suzie Burgher’s The Elephant Door B’n’B, Wedding Venue and organic vineyard at Sellicks Hills. Due to COVID-19 this was put on hold.
So on Sunday 30th May 2021 thirteen vehicles (Bugeyes, Mk II’s, Midgets, MGB GT, MX-5 plus a couple of moderns) met at the Victoria Hotel on beautiful sunny morning. New members Craig Frost and his Mk II Sprite and Adrian Faulks and MG Midget also joined for their first Sprite Club run, Adrian having driven down from Whyalla the previous day!
The convoy headed off in the direction of Black Road towards Clarendon, enjoying the winding roads, minimal traffic and also a lack of the “lycra brigade”!
From Clarendon the cars headed to Kangarilla, turning off for the drive towards Mclaren Vale, climbing the winding Wickam’s Hill Road, and touring the ridgetop Range Road to Willunga. Crossing the Victor Harbour road the open Pages Flat Road allowed the Sprite and Midgets to “stretch their legs” and enjoy this flowing open run to Myponga.
After a regroup and a “pit stop” , a detour into the Myponga Reservoir, crossing the dam wall and return stopping at the lookout to view the surrounds. This road also provided some scenic views of the coast looking north towards Aldinga and Port Noarlunga, glistening in the sunlight.
The flowing Sellicks Hill descent and the final run to The Elephant Door allowed the convoy to provide a spectacle as they arrived. Named for the large wooden door on the front of the property, surrounded by various artwork, windsurfing and skiing memorabilia, the autumn tones of the vines provided a glorious backdrop for our lunch venue.
Dean and Suzie have a number of 1960’s grave vines (grenache, cabernet and shiraz) which have been certified using organic growing and cultivation methods. These include hand pruning and picking and use of no chemicals. They have produced a number of limited release wines from the grapes and these were sampled by the members with their picnic lunch.
Most members chose to sit in the sun, enjoy the surrounds and views, and sample the local produce. And the weather was certainly on our side of this event.
Our thanks to Dean and Suzie for hosting the event and to those members who enjoyed the drive and the day.
For more info on the Sellicks Chills range of wines check out: