Skip to main content
AcquisitionsBarossaChinaNewsVineyards

Randall buys new vineyard to ‘feed demand’ for luxury wine in China

By Thursday 11 July 2024No Comments

Seppeltsfield has bought a 230-acre Lyndoch vineyard in the Barossa Valley from Australian Vintage Limited (AVL).

Proprietor Warren Randall says it a strategic purchase “to specifically feed the newly-created demand for luxury Australian wine to China”.

He says it is the first vineyard sale in Australia after the tariffs were dropped on 28 March, specifically purchased for export to China.

“It is a strong addition to our already-dominant position in the Barossa Valley landscape,” he says.

“China’s demand for luxury Australian wines prior to the tariffs was very strong and the Lyndoch Barossa Valley vineyard acquisition offered Seppeltsfield an opportunity to fortify our supply volumes of luxury wines for a thirsty market.

“Our vineyard holdings in the Barossa Valley now exceed 4,000 acres, growing 10,000 tonnes, producing nearly 10 million bottles of luxury Barossa Valley wine every year.”

The Lyndoch vineyard was previously part of the original Chateau Yaldara property developed by Hermann Thumm in 1946.

It is planted to mature Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mataro and Grenache.

Randall says the entire 2025 crop will be crushed through the 1888 gravity flow winery at Seppeltsfield.

Since Chinese tariffs were removed from bottled Australian wines on 28 March, exports have skyrocketed with Australian winemakers shipping $86 million of wine to China in the first month.

Randall described June as “an intensive month” of Chinese VIP visitation for Seppeltsfield.

He met with the Premier of the State Council, Qiang Li; the Chinese Minister for Trade, Wang Wentao; the chairman of COFCO Corporation, Jun Lyu; the chairman of COFCO Great Wall Wines, Feng Gao; the chief winemaker of Great Wall Wines, Zefu Li; and the chief winemaker of Changyu Pioneer Wines, Dr Li.

Seppeltsfield, established in 1851, and The Randall Wine Group achieved 100 percent sustainable certification in early 2023.

The Randall Wine Group is Australia’s largest private luxury vineyard holder spanning more than 9,230 acres.

It has an expanding portfolio of luxury wine brands including Penny’s Hill and Gemtree Organic Wines in McLaren Vale.

Australian Vintage Limited is struggling financially.

It was in talks with Accolade Wines about a possible merger before the latter pulled out.

Penfolds ‘reignites’ China luxury market

Leave a Reply