Joseph Ernest Seppelt (1813-1868), winemaker, was born in 1813 at Wüstewaltersdorf, 

Lower Silesia.

 

After a liberal education in music and the arts Joseph toured Germany and Italy

learning the commercial and technical aspects of tobacco, snuff and liqueur production in

order to head the family business; when it declined in the 1840s he decided to migrate

to South Australia. He sailed from Hamburg in the Emmy on 9 September 1849 with his

wife Johanna Charlotte, née Held, and their three children.

 

Through a London agent, he had bought land in Adelaide but soon sold it when he found

tobacco would not grow there; he moved to Klemzig. Naturalized in 1851, next year he

bought property in the Barossa district and named it Seppeltsfield.

After another attempt to grow tobacco he planted corn, wheat and a small vineyard.

He made his first wine in his wife's small dairy and in 1867 built the first part of the stone

winery. The business expanded rapidly as he concentrated on the production of wine,

much of which he sold along the Murray where it was transported by paddle-steamer.

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.

Joseph is said to have died suddenly of delirium tremens.

His estate was sworn for probate at £1000.

 

 

Sources:

 

South Australian History Website: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/seppelt-joseph-ernest-4558

Seppeltsfield History Website: http://www.seppeltsfield.com.au/the-village/seppeltsfield-history/