Historic Seppeltsfield- A New Lease on Life

We are now heading into serious wines season here in South Australia, with an extensive list of wine and food festivals poised to begin and summer holidays providing all the excuse many of us need to sample the splendid fruits of our local winemakers.  Just in time for all of this merriment  Seppeltsfield, one of the most iconic names in Australian wine,  has unveiled their stunning new Cellar Door project. I was one of the lucky ones to attend the launch of this historic facelift, which was officially opened by South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill in November and which includes an exciting new venture for David Swain and Sharon Romeo of the highly-awarded Willunga restaurant Fino – Fino At Seppeltsfield.

South Australia’s Barossa Valley is one of the world’s best wine producing regions. It is also one of Australia’s oldest wine regions and historic Seppeltsfield is one of the oldest wineries in the region. Unlike wine many regions elsewhere in Australia whose wine industries were influenced by the British, the Barossa’s wine history was determined by the German settlers from Silesia who were offered refuge by the South Australian Company in 1841. The Seppelt family settled in the Barossa in 1851, planting vines and encouraging their neighbours to do the same. They produced their first vintage in the family dairy, but by the late 1860’s a proper winery was well under way.

By the 1960’s Seppeltsfield was a major tourism destination with bus loads of pleasure seekers pulling up in front of the cellar door in search of the Barossa liquid magic, but age had taken it’s toll on this very grand lady.  The imposing old buildings were tired and the space was much in need of a sympathetic make-over. Spear-headed by Seppeltsfield Managing Director, Warren Randall, this fabulous facelift includes the terraced courtyard, a result of a removal of 2500 tonnes of earth, which hosted the opening’s official proceedings. With the design led by landscape architect Brenton Hann, seven Canary Island palm tree transplants, bluestone terraces, sandstone promenades and a large water feature have been sympathetically added to the surroundings, making for a dramatic sense of arrival to the estate. Details also include Romanesque-inspired walling (matched to established Seppeltsfield architecture) and the use of original Mintaro slate from the old winery throughout.

Seppeltsfield is famed for it’s rare Centennial Collection, the world’s oldest and only range of consecutive vintage tawny port spanning over 130 years. They are the only winery in the world to release a 100 year old, single vintage wine every year and also produce a range of small batch table wines which can be tried in the world-class tasting room designed by renowned architect Max Pritchard.

1. 

   Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
   05/01/2015

   What beautiful grounds! That’s great that they have given it a facelift. It looks like a stunning space.

2. 

   Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
   06/01/2015

   Isn’t that beautiful, Amanda! I remember we used to eat often at Brown Brothers when we lived in Victoria. There’s something about good food paired with good wine that makes a very special meal.

3. 

   Hotly Spiced
   07/01/2015

   SA certainly is an outstanding wine region. I love all the images in this post. I often think how much I’d love to have a winery as you work in such beautiful surroundings and the fruits of your labour are so enjoyable. This story has some gorgeous history xx

4. 

   Tania @My Kitchen stories
   07/01/2015

   I thought those trees looked very exotic. I really can’t imagine that wine was being made here in the 18 hundreds it just amazes me

5. 

   Anna @ shenANNAgans
   08/01/2015

   Oh wow, it looks so snazzy, almost like an exotic resort. Lucky you getting invited to such a swanky event. 🙂 Happy New Year to you too. Hope ya 2015 is rocking!