Fosters is selling Seppeltsfield...

[TORB]

Great Western is safe; it is also the facility for the manufacture of all the old SC sparkling wine brands.

James, your comments on Foster's actions with the McLaren Vale growers are "interesting" and if as stated, reprehensible.

As far as Rosemount being an $8 brand, that's all the low end wines have been worth for years.

[Sean]

deleted

[Ian S]

One thing that does worry me about Seppeltsfield is Fosters references to tourism being key. Most tourist operations are pretty horrificly low in the quality stakes and I just can't see this working myself. Maybe they're thinking of introducing an admission charge like I recently heard about in the US (US$25 no less!).

[TORB]

One thing that does worry me about Seppeltsfield is Fosters references to tourism being key. Most tourist operations are pretty horrificly low in the quality stakes and I just can't see this working myself. Maybe they're thinking of introducing an admission charge like I recently heard about in the US (US$25 no less!).

Ian,

There is no doubt the tour will cost money; in fact I think a tour and tasting may already cost now.

[Hooky]

James, your comments on Foster's actions with the McLaren Vale growers are "interesting" and if as stated, reprehensible.

Hard to prove but I deal/know enough growers to see a pattern

Because Fosters is a merged company it is made up with three groups of growers- randomly selected across the region.

Former Beringer growers (fruit trucked out the Wolf Blass), former McLaren Vale Southcorp contracts (fruit shipped to Penfolds) and former Rosemount (made locally at the McLaren Vale- Rosemount winery). Now all part of the same company with the same

The pain hasn't been equally spread amongst these groups. If you were associated with Rosemount- you are a better than even chance of being paid $700-.

When I say made an $8 brand, expect the price to be lowered of all of their lines so they rarely compete with Penfolds. eg sub Kalima for all diamond label.

What will happen to Balmoral Syrah? Wynns anyone- double production and halve the price?

PS- I may bit getting too about all this...

[marsalla]

I think anyone who thinks Seppelts Great Western wont be chopped is kidding themselves. I have heard they are doing less than half the intake last vintage than they were a few years ago. There are big empty sheds that are full of nothing. My tip is they will drive the brand down through neglect. You can mention all the 'rejuvenated' seppelts lines you like, but in reality those lines would be less than 1000 tonnes production, with limited opportunity to grow. Not many grower contracts being renewed in victoria, and the glenlofty vineyard is about to be sold.

Fosters in ten years will be a negotiant type winemaker, buy the wine bulk, with two bottling plants, one karadoc and one at nuri, and a few vineyards to look pretty. Good return on investment, pretty dull wines, but theres nothing new there surely.

It would be a great company to buy though, and thats why they would rather kill it than create a competitor. Anyone interested in kicking in to buy it give me a yell, Ive got maybe 100 to spare to start it off
cheers

[Nayan]

One thing that does worry me about Seppeltsfield is Fosters references to tourism being key. Most tourist operations are pretty horrificly low in the quality stakes and I just can't see this working myself. Maybe they're thinking of introducing an admission charge like I recently heard about in the US (US$25 no less!).

Ian,

There is no doubt the tour will cost money; in fact I think a tour and tasting may already cost now.

Tourism in the wine industry, doesn't have to mean tourist traps per se. It is more the concept of developing an appropriate product that will draw people to a venue/area and hence increase profile and sales, both at the venue and in the tourist's home area. There is plenty of history at Seppeltsfield which has the potential to appeal to both wine and non-wine loving people.

[rednut]

One thing that does worry me about Seppeltsfield is Fosters references to tourism being key. Most tourist operations are pretty horrificly low in the quality stakes and I just can't see this working myself. Maybe they're thinking of introducing an admission charge like I recently heard about in the US (US$25 no less!).

Ian,

There is no doubt the tour will cost money; in fact I think a tour and tasting may already cost now.

Ric, to my knowledge it still is free to taste etc but am unsure re winery tours etc.

I personally would be quite upset if the Winery was sold off and disected. I was married there 2 years ago and we had our reception in the old hall on the wineries grounds.

A good friend worked there for many years in cellar sales etc and I still have friends working there.

Shame Fosters shame.....

[Ian S]

You can mention all the 'rejuvenated' seppelts lines you like, but in reality those lines would be less than 1000 tonnes production, with limited opportunity to grow.

There's one massive opportunity for growth - export! Barring occasional imports of generally the cheaper lines, the Seppelts management are apparently uninterested in exporting to UK. If Noel Young is around I'm sure he'll give you a more in-depth appraisal of the situation.
Of course getting good quality grapes in to support growth needs to be managed, but frankly if wineries can't find good grapes at a great price now, then they're not looking very hard!!

regards

Ian

[Muscat Mike]

I think anyone who thinks Seppelts Great Western wont be chopped is kidding themselves. I have heard they are doing less than half the intake last vintage than they were a few years ago. There are big empty sheds that are full of nothing. My tip is they will drive the brand down through neglect. You can mention all the 'rejuvenated' seppelts lines you like, but in reality those lines would be less than 1000 tonnes production, with limited opportunity to grow. Not many grower contracts being renewed in victoria, and the glenlofty vineyard is about to be sold.

Murray will slash his wrists with a razorblade if they flog his beloved GW winery.
MM.

[chillwrx]

I recently visited seppelt great western and the staff new nothing of the seppeltsfield sale and have concerns for their own positions. I was unable to get any further info but perhaps more communication from Fosters to their staff might be appropriate.

What if they divested themselves of Great Western too? Are sales of Salinger and irregular vintages of Show reserve Sparkling shiraz that proiftable

I understand that they only make those two wines now and occasionally crush for Karadoc when busy. Given the reasons for selling seppeltsfield, great Western is not safe.

???

I think Gt Western is pretty safe, it's home of the boom St Peters, Chalambar, Moyston, Victoria level, Benno and the Original Sparkling Shiraz (plus a few whites, both still and sparkling, from limited runs to bulk stuff), Seppelts Victoria is one of the standout examples of how to successfully run a sub-business within a larger organisation by finding someone with the talent and drive to do it properly. Truly a jewel in the crown and a great turnaround story over the past 5 years or so.

The ST Peters vineyard is there but the wines are only crushed at Great Western and bottled made elsewhere. The only wines made completely at GW are Show reserve Sparkling and Salinger. All others are made elsewhere now according to Seppelt Staff.

By the rationale that has seen Seppeltsfield sold GW is not safe.

[Red Bigot]

The ST Peters vineyard is there but the wines are only crushed at Great Western and bottled made elsewhere. The only wines made completely at GW are Show reserve Sparkling and Salinger. All others are made elsewhere now according to Seppelt Staff.

By the rationale that has seen Seppeltsfield sold GW is not safe.

That's not the story I got early last year when I did the full tour and if it is true their web site has some substantial misinformation on it:
http://www.seppelt.com.au/vineyards/gre ... inery.html

[Gary W]

The ST Peters vineyard is there but the wines are only crushed at Great Western and bottled made elsewhere. The only wines made completely at GW are Show reserve Sparkling and Salinger. All others are made elsewhere now according to Seppelt Staff.

By the rationale that has seen Seppeltsfield sold GW is not safe.

No. That is not true to the best of my knowledge unless it has changed quite recently. I have seen and tasted the grapes coming in. Have seen the wines being made and tasted barrel samples of 03 Benno, Chalambar et al. Seppelt are made at Seppelt.The winemaker lives at Great Western.... I can ask if you like?

GW

[Murray]

The Big Empty sheds referred to are for the former Southcorp Sparkling wine brands (Lindemans, Seaview, Quen Adelaide etc) that used to be bottled at Great Westeern. These were announced to be relocating some time back.

At that stage the component of Seppelt wine bottled at GW was miniscule compared to the total amount of wine bottled there.

Great Western is making Seppelt Wine only. Then again 'only' undersells the brand's excellence across it's range.

Now it may be that the finished wine as sent elsewhere to be bottled and labelled; but that's just bottling, not making.

[Murray]

And further, Seppelt had been redefined as a Victorian Brand a couple of years ago, with the dropping of the Dorrien label and (re)introduction of Moston and Benno.

My thought would be the "Seppeltsfield" would become the brand name for the Fortifieds, including Para, however this announcement may change that though.

[TORB]

My thought would be the "Seppeltsfield" would become the brand name for the Fortifieds, including Para,

That's what I was told was the plan.

[griff]

Hmmm.....

You are all making me wonder what exactly is in that 2 liter cask of Seppelt Para Port.

Are they starting the sell-off early? Tasting note anyone?

Carl