Seppeltsfield – Barossa Valley’s most historic winery

Just fifteen years after the first settlement of South Australia, one of the Barossa’s most prominent wineries opened.

In 1850 Joseph Seppelt purchased 158 acres of land in the Barossa Valley for just £1 an acre. Dubbing it Seppeltsfield, he and his wife intended to use the land to farm tobacco, with the opportunity for later generations to focus on wine making. However, business grew rapidly as England’s appetite for wine and spirits increased and Australian hospitals needed medicinal brandy.

As the 20^th century rolled around Seppeltsfield’s reach in the liquor industry flourished. The family grew to own vineyards and wineries across Australia, and continued to produce Seppelt spirits, cordials, vinegars, and essences. Though many Seppelt wineries are well known, the family’s first property in the Barossa Valley is still regarded as the family jewel.

The Seppelt family maintained ownership of their properties until 1985 when the business was handed to ex-employee Warren Randall. Though no longer family-run, the operations continue to uphold the family legacy of quality and community.

Seppeltsfield is best known for their Centennial Collection- an unbroken lineage of Tawny. The vineyard has released every vintage since 1878. It is the only winery in the world to release a 100-year-old single vintage wine each year.

Tastes of Seppeltsfield

When approaching Seppeltsfield you will cross through the Avenue of Palms, a 5km trail of palm trees planted by Seppeltsfield workers during the Great Depression. There are now over 2000 palms lining the sides of Seppeltsfield road.

Heading into the property to their ‘village centre,’ a citrus lined courtyard welcomes you to their cellar door and award-winning restaurant, FINO. Their sharing-plate menu will enhance that sense of community and delightfully compliment Seppeltsfield’s best wines.

Join a Taste Your Birth Year Tour and visit the famous Centennial Cellar. Here, you’ll head to the barrel from your year of birth. Take a rare opportunity to sample the vintage Tawny straight from the barrel. If one just isn’t enough, opt for the This Is Your Life Tour, where you’ll taste five years of your choosing, perhaps personal milestone years or the birth years in your family.

Food at Seppeltsfield

For something a little more casual, try the Seppeltsfield Fortified & Canape Tasting Experience. Enjoy six delicious canapes expertly paired with six fortified wines for the ultimate tasting experience.  The winery also runs a variety of tours of their extensive grounds. Discover the heritage listed buildings spattered across the property and meet personalities from across the business. If your feet are feeling a bit tired after a weekend of walking around and experiencing the Barossa, hire one of their bikes, or embark on a Segway tour through the vineyard and around the scenic grounds.

With such extensive grounds to explore, why not grab a picnic basket from Benno’s Kiosk. Enjoy the vast picnic grounds and soak in the warm Barossa sun. Or, bring your own picnic and hire a barbecue for a sausage sizzle lunch!

Seppeltsfield in the Barossa is a world of its own. The regions oldest vineyard has built a strong and respected reputation, leading the world with its unique and inspired take on wine and spirit making.

Related article: Unmissable wineries in the Barossa Valley

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.