Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) have announced some ‘supply chain optimisation’ moves. In particular the Seppelt Great Western cellar door will be closing and some Great Western vineyards sold.
The move is expected to be finalised by July 2016, with the Great Western site considered for sale once operations have ceased. Seppelt, the brand, will be kept by TWE.
You can find the full press release here, though details are scant.
It’s sad news for Seppelt, and the town of Great Western, with the hope being that a buyer of the historic site pops up.
Fingers crossed, particularly as the town really depends upon Seppelt and Best’s as a reason to visit.
Seppelt production will likely transfer to the Wolf Blass super facility in the Barossa. That is what has happened previously with brands like Annie’s Lane and Wynns.
Sad indeed, and I hate that is has the tag of ‘supply chain optimisations’. Spin at its worst…
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Terry Threlfall's great grandfather Emile Blampied and his brother in law – last name Tourette – from Alsace in France – grew the grapes for the first vintage pressed on the site which later became Seppelts at Great Western. This was in the 1860s.
The locals are not impressed: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-28/seppelts-winery-closure-grampians-impact/6892822