Sophie Helene Henriette Seppelt (Benno's Wife)

Benno's wife, Sophie Helene Henriette Seppelt (nee Schroeder) 1852 - 1925, played a very influential role in the history of Seppeltsfield.

Sophie, a local Tanunda girl, married Benno on the 23rd November 1870, thought to be just 17 years of age. She went on to become a devoted mother, falling pregnant every year for the first 20 years of thier marriage.

Of an astonishing 21 pregnancies, only 13 children went on to live into adulthood. The 13 children ensured the Seppelt wine business would continue in the family's hands, continuing the legacy of the first generation Seppelts. 

Along with raising her children, Sophie played an integral role in the over-all operation of the Seppeltsfield estate. Most notably, Sophie was heralded for her hospitality to the Seppeltsfield employees, ensuring 3 meals a day were available to them. An incredible thought given there was up to 100 staff under Benno during his custodianship. 



Heads of State and Royalty were known to also be hosted by Sophie.

Sophie is also credited with establishing a beautiful Rose garden on the property as well as 'Elm Walk' - a peaceful and serene walkway on the banks of Greenock Creek, in the heart of the estate. Sophie felt the need to provide a cool, shaded area on the estate, to which the family could enjoy during the heights of the Barossa Summer. The picturesque walkway is planted with a miture of tall cork elms as well as ferns and palms, providing cooling shade.

Sophie is interned in the family Mausoleum at Seppeltsfield, of which can be visited today.

Avenue of Palms

Instantaneously recognisable with Seppeltsfield, over 2000 Canary Island Date Palms line the
surrounding roads, providing one of Australia’s most visually spectacular driving avenues.

Within what would seem an extravagant exercise, a more humble story prevails. During the Great
Depression of the late 1920’s and 1930’s, the wine industry was hit hard, as was much of
Australian primary industry at the time. Like many others worldwide, Australia felt the brunt of
high unemployment, deflation and lost opportunities for economic growth.

With the depression hitting in the later years of his custodianship, Benno Seppelt faced similar
pressures with the winery enterprise. Standing resolute, much in a way the palms do today,
Benno refused to lay-off any of his workers. Benno’s employees retained their jobs and were
offered food and shelter.

In a sign of great gratitude, the Seppeltsfield employees set about beautifying the estate grounds
and greater Marananga area. Vineyard workers and cellar hands propagated thousands of palms,
sourced from the seeds of two parent trees growing near the original Seppelt homestead.

Flourishing in the fertile Western-Barossa soils, the avenue of palms have played an important
role in developing Seppeltsfield’s reputation as Australia’s most iconic wine estate. The palm logo
features predominantly on our wine labels - a lasting tribute to both Benno’s fortitude in hard
times and the beautification efforts of Seppeltsfield’s early workers.

The 'Para' Story

The name ‘Para’ has been synonymous with luxurious fortified wine for more than half a century,
with the iconic insignia gracing Seppeltsfield’s most treasured Tawny styles.

The first Seppeltsfield fortified to adorn the Para name was a 1922 Liqueur, first released in 1953
in celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Today, it appears across the Seppeltsfield
Para Collection, which comprises of Tawny wines from 10 years average age, through to 21 year
old releases. It is also recognised on our icon series Tawnies from the Centennial Collection and
100 year old releases.

The term ‘Para’ is familiar to Barossans, being the name of the river that meanders through the
local landscape. The North Para rises from the Barossa Ranges near Eden Valley and flows
South-West through the Barossa Valley, passing through the townships of Nuriootpa and
Tanunda. Several estuaries branch off of the Para catchment, including Jacob’s Creek and
Greenock Creek, the latter passing directly through the Seppeltsfield estate itself.

The proximity of a reliable water source would have appealed greatly to Seppeltsfield’s founder,
Joseph Seppelt, attributing to the decision to settle at the particular Western-Barossa site. The
early development of the Seppeltsfield estate and mixed farming enterprise would have relied in
part to the Para River and Greenock Creek for a dependable water source. This is evident today
with the original pump house used by the Seppelt family still presiding on the banks of Greenock
Creek.

Para is a local indigenous Australian term, believed to translate simply to ‘river’.

The Centennial Cellar

Seppeltsfield’s history is punctuated with many moments of visionary foresight. Seppeltsfield’s founder, Joseph Seppelt and his eldest son, Benno, were particularly renown for their longer term vision for the estate, closely following custodianship principles to ensure a legacy was passed on to future generations.

This is no more evident than Benno Seppelt’s inception of the Centennial Cellar - a truly unique and unparalleled system of maturing single barrels of vintage Tawny for 100 years before release.

In 1866, plans to build a new bluestone cellar were started by Joseph. 12 years later in 1878 and
following the passing of his father, Benno completed the stone cellars. In a gesture both unique and inspirational, Benno selected a puncheon of his finest wine and gave instructions that it was not to be bottled for 100 years. This single barrel of 1878 Tawny port was to remain maturing in a separate room within the bluestone cellars, untouched in the same location 100 years. This
special room would go on to become the ‘Centennial Cellar’.

The tradition of laying down a barrel of the finest wine from each vintage was continued every year following and continues to do so today. The Centennial Cellar now comprises an unbroken lineage of every vintage from the current year back to 1878.

A Century later in 1978, the inaugural 1878 Para Vintage 100 Year Old Tawny was released,
instantly becoming Australia’s most illustrious fortified wine.

Today, the 100 year old Para Tawny remains one of the world’s most collectable wines. It is the only wine in Australia to have ever been awarded 100/100 points from James Halliday and is
often regarded as a true national treasure.

A living museum of Australian winemaking history and undoubtedly the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Seppeltsfield estate, the Centennial Cellar is an absolute must see for visitors. Unlike any other winery in the world, Seppeltsfield offers visitors the opportunity to experience the
Centennial Cellar, including tasting both the 100 year old Para Tawny and birth year vintages.

Vintages are also available for purchase in specially presented gift boxes, which can be
personalised with a recipient’s name.

 

Seppeltsfield Histoical Overview

The Seppeltsfield story begins with Joseph Ernst Seppelt, a snuff, tobacco and liqueur merchant, who migrated to Australia with his family in 1849 from Silesia (now Poland).

Joseph and his family settled in the Barossa Valley in 1851 and purchased the property now known as Seppeltsfield. The Seppeltsfield area is warm and dry, with only 500mm rainfall, while the soils are predominantely fertile red brown earth.

The Seppelt family vines flourished in this fertile valley and Joseph also encouraged his neighbours to plant vines. Soon, the landscape of Seppeltsfield was transformed to lush fields of green and gold vines.

Seppeltsfield's first vintage was produced in the family dairy however by 1867, Joseph had commenced construction of a full scale winery. Unfortunately he did not live to see it completed, but his enterprising and pioneering spirit lived on after him. His eldest son, Oscar Benno Seppelt, worked hard to ensure his father's dream came true. Only 21 years old when he inherited the winery in 1868, it was Benno's influence more than anything else, which earned Seppeltsfield its reputation for quality wines.

From such small beginnings, Benno continued to expand Seppeltsfield. By the turn of the 20th century, it was Australia's largest winery, producing 2 million litres annually.

No other Australian winery has such comparable stocks of old fortified wines. In 1878, when the magnificent stone Seppeltsfield port store was completed, Benno Seppelt selected a puncheon (500 Litre barrel) of his finest port wine from that vintage and laid it in the new maturation cellar. Benni gave instruction that the barrel was to remain in the cellar for 100 years, to be released as a 100 year old wine a century later. Seppeltsfield has continued this tradition every vintage, forming the foundation of the Centennial Collection - an unbroken lineage of Tawny port from 1878 to current vintage.

Whilst continuing in more than 160 years of fortified winemaking excellence, an exciting new future in the crafting of small batch table wines has begun to unfold. This has been made evident with the reccommisioning of the 1888 Gravity Flow Cellars, seeing its first vintage in 2010 after nearly 30 years laying dormant.
 

Seppeltsfield; Oscar Benno Pedro Seppelt - Second Generation

Unfortunately Joseph Seppelt did not live to see the coming to fruition of his plans, passing away on 29th January 1868 aged 55 years. Johanna Charlotte, Joseph's wife, only survived him a little over two years, passing away on 13th April 1870.

 

Joseph's bequeathed the business to his eldest son, Oscar Benno Pedro Seppelt, who was only 21 years of age. Under the provision of J E Seppelt's will, Benno received 55% of the estate valued at approximately 1000 pounds, Victor Hugo, Joseph's younger son received 30% and his sister Ottilie 15%.  Benno brought them out, paying 5% interest per annum.  Victor did not play a prominent role in the business and died in March 1882.

Unlike his father, he did not receive the benefits of a European education, but instead attended the local school in Tanunda. An interest in science was stimulated by his attendance at chemistry classes given by Dr C Meucke, who had also given a series of lectures on agricultural chemistry to the Tanunda Vintners & Gardeners Association.

With his determination to succeed and natural ability, Benno set out to expand the family business. He was more than assisted by his wife, Sophie Schroeder, whom he married in November 1870. Over the next 20 years, Benno and Sophie had a total of 16 children, 13 of whom (four girls & nine boys) survived to adulthood.

Benno had a flair for invention and his wine-testing laboratory was considered unusual if not unique in his day. He kept pigs, which were fed on grape-skins, and cured bacon which fetched good prices. He also bred sheep which grazed in the vineyards in the autumn and in 1883 won a silver cup for a champion merino ram.

Amongst other achievements, Benno is credited with the vision for and construction of the 1888 Gravity Flow Cellars, a remarkable winery structure of which is still used today. He is also responsible for the decision to lay down the first vintage of what was to become the Centennial Collection.  A single vintage Tawny in 1878 was especially produced, with strict instructions that it was to mature in barrel for 100 years before release.

Seppeltsfield; Joseph Seppelt (first generation)

The Seppeltsfield story begins with Joseph Ernst Seppelt, a merchant, who migrated to Australia with his family in 1849, from Silesia, in what is now Poland.

Joseph Seppelt was born in 1813 in Gompersdorf and moved to Wustewaltersdorf, Silesia in 1841 to conduct a business in manufacturing and selling tobacco, snuff and liqueurs. After completing his education he travelled extensively throughout Germany, Austria and Northern Italy.

Upon returning home, he entered the family business but the political and economic disturbances of the 1840s made him think of migrating to a land free of revolts and other social upheavals. He at first apparently considered going to Brazil, but decided to immigrate to Australia like other Germans were doing.

Joseph took his wife, Johanna Charlotte, his two sons, Benno & Hugo, and daughter Ottilie. He also took 13 families from his neighbourhood and a group of young men who had worked in his factory, with the hope of re-establishing the family business. The party left Hamburg on 5th September 1849 on the ship Cezar Helene and disembarked at Strode. They then took the vessel Emmy to Melbourne, where they arrived in January 1850. The ship then went on to Port Adelaide and it is unclear whether the Seppelt group disembarked there or whether they left the ship at Melbourne, and travelled overland to Adelaide. 

In 1850 the family settled at Klemzig. Whilst residing there Joseph purchased 80 acres at Golden Grove with the intentions of growing tobacco.  After discovering the area was unsuitable for such a crop he was attracted to the Barossa Valley where he and his family moved in 1851.

In February 1852, a deed was registered in Adelaide indicating that Joseph Seppelt farmer, of Seppeltsfield had purchased 158 acres of land in the Hundred of Nuriootpa from Hermann Kook, farmer of Tanunda at a £1 an acre. By this time the Seppelt family had cleared and planted their land with tobacco and wheat and had moved from Tanunda where they had lived for a short period of time. The area again proved unsuitable for the tobacco plant because, although it grew rapidly, the leaf was too strong to be used in the production of tobacco or snuff. However, because of the Victorian gold rushes, high prices were obtained for wheat and so the family had a good economic start. 

Joseph then decided to plant vines. Given his manufacturing background and knowledge of liqueur and cordial making it was not surprising that he saw the potential of making wine in the Barossa. He built a cellar and gradually explored markets for his wines until 1867 when he felt confident enough to begin the construction of a full-scale winery.

Unfortunately Joseph Seppelt did not live to see the coming to fruitation of his plans as he died on 29th January 1868 aged 55 years. Johanna Charlotte, Joseph's wife, only survived him a little over two years, dying on 13th April 1870.

Welcome to Seppeltsfield's blog

Welcome to the official blog of Australia's most iconinc wine estate, Seppeltsfield. 

We are proud to now share our facinating history and exciting future through regular posts, whilst also welcome you to be interactive with us. Seppeltsfield is truly one of the great dames of the Australian wine community and we invite you to share your experiences with her.

Stay tuned for a journey through the Seppelt family history, profiles of family members, as well as a behind the scenes look through the magnificent heritage-listed Barossa estate.

 

For more information on our rare collection of fortifieds and small batch table wines, please also visit our website - www.seppeltsfield.com.au