Seppeltsfield, one of Australia’s most iconic wineries, today unveiled their new winemaking team and celebrate with a collection of luxury wines – across two new tiers.
Launching with a 96 and 97 ratings is no easy feat, and it comes as a testament to Seppeltsfield’s care for detail and hard work in launching the new premium range.
Two tiers of luxury red wines have been launched, and Seppeltsfield have had some fun with these new bottles.
Particularly matchable, within the range you will find bottles that’ll pair perfectly with a good steak, or really epitomise what makes an Aussie wine.
The first new tier, described as ‘Bench Blends’, is centred on the winemaking art of ‘assemblage’.
Using various varietals, the final blend produced is pretty stellar.
The ‘Bench Blends’ tier includes the 2018 ‘No. EC4’ Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, an expression of the definitive Australian red varietal blend.
Alongside ‘No. EC4’ is a more contemporary expression of traditional Portuguese varieties – 2019 ‘No. EC3’ Barossa Tinta Cao, Tinta Amarela, Touriga.
Red varietal blends carry an ‘EC’ (East Cellar) number which were first released by Seppeltsfield’s founding family in the 1960s and formed the inspiration for the range.
A step up from ‘Bench Blends’, is the ‘Grounds’ range – single vineyard Barossa Shiraz expressions.
As Seppeltsfield’s interpretation of Barossa terroir, the ‘Grounds’ releases look to apply a beguiling simplicity for what in European terms is often complicated and complex idea of the relationship between geography, geology, climate and history.
The range takes inspiration from the Barossa Grounds project – a comprehensive study of the district’s sub-regionality – the project has brought together winemakers, grape growers, and soil and climatic science experts.
Seppeltsfield’s 2018 vintage bottlings include ‘The Easting’ Barossa Shiraz, which received 97 points from Huon Hooke, who described it as a “very deep, dark, brooding red/purple colour that stains the glass, with a bouquet that screams Barossa with its graphite, earthy-spice and tar aromas.”
“It’s full-bodied and concentrated flavour evokes black fruits, wood smoke, coal-dust and a hint of black olive – very savoury and lip-smackingly appetising. Lush fruit and wonderful structure. A smashing wine.”
It also includes ‘The Westing’ Barossa Shiraz, which receiving 96 points from Huon Hooke, described as “a majestic shiraz, which should develop into a great Barossa classic.”
The Westing is from estate-owned vineyards in Eden Valley, the Barossa’s high country in the East, and Western Barossa grounds.
Expect to see wines released from four points of the compass in future vintages.
The new winemaking team behind the emergence of Seppeltsfield’s still wine range, includes Warren Randall, Fiona Donald, Charlie Seppelt, Matthew Pick and Kingsley Fuller.
The team is led by Len Evans Tutorial scholar and Baron of the Barossa, Fiona Donald, as Chief Winemaker, who has over thirty years’ experience, and is celebrating her eleventh vintage at Seppeltsfield this year.
More recently joining Fiona is Senior Winemaker and fifth generation of Seppeltsfield’s founding family, Charlie Seppelt.
Charlie has completed thirty vintages to date domestically and internationally, and is also a Len Evans Tutorial Scholar.
Alongside Fiona and Charlie is Senior Winemaker, Matthew Pick, coming from a strong pedigree working for leading wineries in both Australia and Austria.
Spearheaded by Warren Randall, Seppeltsfield – Executive Chairman and Proprietor, with over forty-three years of winemaking experience globally.
Warren is one of Australia’s most awarded winemakers, having redefined Australia’s sparkling wine landscape in the 1980s and recognised with the Len Evans Award in 2015.
Working intrinsically with the Seppeltsfield winemakers is Group Viticulturist, Kingsley Fuller. Kingsley oversees Seppeltsfield’s unparalleled Barossa vineyard holdings – the largest single cache of luxury plantings in the region.
These wines can be found only in fine wine retailers and on-premise nationally.
The ‘Grounds’ tier is exclusive in retail to Seppeltsfield Cellar Door and Langton’s.
The Seppeltsfield luxury collection of wines are available at the Seppeltsfield Cellar Door in the Barossa or on their website seppeltsfield.com.au.
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