Barossa Valley winery, Seppeltsfield, has moved into a new generation of ownership structure, with Warren Randall becoming majority shareholder. Randall, the estate’s current Managing Director, has acquired over 90% share in the business. The acquisition involves the purchase of Seppeltsfield shareholdings from Clare Valley Winery, Kilikanoon and Bruce Baudinet.

Baudinet, along with Kilikanoon partner Nathan Waks, Janet Holmes à Court and Greg Paramor, led a consortium that saw the original purchase of Seppeltsfield from Fosters Wine Estates in 2007. Waks will retain a personal stake in Seppeltsfield and will remain a director, whilst the transaction will also see fourth generation Barossan, Carl Lindner, acquire an ownership share.

Lindner, a Barossa stalwart, will take a seat on the Seppeltsfield board. Warrick Duthy, appointed to the Seppeltsfield board in 2011 as chair, will also join Bruce Baudinet in retiring from executive duties. Both will now continue to execute their roles with Kilikanoon, as the winery too moves into to a new generation.

The change in ownership is seen as mutually positive for both Seppeltsfield and Kilikanoon. Kilikanoon – the 2013 James Halliday Winery of the Year – will utilise sale proceeds to move to full ownership of its winery and strategically important vineyards that have supplied Kilikanoon’s wines for many years.

Seppeltsfield in turn will continue to prosper under private ownership with Warren Randall at the helm and significant estate developments underway.

“Since I worked for the Seppelt family in the 1980’s as the ‘Champagne maker’ at Great Western , I have had a deep respect for Seppeltsfield”, Randall said.

“As Australia’s iconic wine estate, any owner of Seppeltsfield is purely a custodian guiding her through each decade. It is humbling to know however that Seppeltsfield is now under one family’s private majority shareholding – the first time since the Seppelt family’s era.”

Speaking on behalf of Kilikanoon, Bruce Baudinet said they have been delighted to be a part of Seppeltsfield’s history.

“We feel that we have helped to rebuild Seppeltsfield as a great wine estate and then transition the business into Warren’s hands. Our decision to sell has everything to do with a desire to turbo-charge Kilikanoon. We see a very bright future for Seppeltsfield under Warren’s leadership.”