Treasury sells Seppelt Great Western to Aaron Drummond
Wooden wine casks at the Seppelt Great Western winery. PHOTO: Campbell Mattinson.
Treasury Wine Estates has sold Seppelt – brand, Great Western winery and vineyards, and the Drumborg vineyard – to Stonier CEO and co-owner Aaron Drummond and partners. As if that wasn’t news enough: Dan Buckle – formerly winemaker at nearby Mount Langi Ghiran, at which he worked with Drummond – will, along with Stonier winemaker Julian Grounds, become Seppelt chief winemakers.
One of the most storied names in Australian wine has changed hands. Seppelt – including the Great Western winery and vineyards in Victoria's west, and the cool-climate Drumborg vineyard near Portland – has been sold by Treasury Wine Estates to a partnership led by Aaron Drummond, CEO and co-owner of Mornington Peninsula's Stonier.
It returns Seppelt Great Western to local, family ownership for the first time since the Seppelt family sold the business to SA Brewing in the 1980s.
This is no small thing. Great Western is where Australian sparkling wine effectively began – Hans Irvine established sparkling production there in 1890, and his wines took prizes in Bordeaux and Paris in 1900, the first Australian sparkling to do so. The Seppelt family bought the vineyards and cellars from Irvine in 1918, and for the better part of a century thereafter Great Western was the beating heart of Australian sparkling, and – under Colin Preece through the 1930s to the 1960s – a crucible of Australian fine table wine besides.
"To bring Seppelt back into local family ownership, and to restore these remarkable old vineyards and historic cellars, is an incredible privilege," Drummond said. "The significance of taking responsibility for a place like this is not lost on any of us."
The winemaking team pairs Dan Buckle – former chief winemaker at Domaine Chandon and Mount Langi Ghiran – with Julian Grounds, chief winemaker at Stonier, formerly of Craggy Range.
Drummond flagged the priorities: the old vineyards, St Peters Shiraz, Show Sparkling Shiraz, and Drumborg's riesling, pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling. "As we have done at Stonier, our starting point will be putting the love back into these old vineyards, great winemaking and fine wine distribution."
Watch this space.
Seppelt Great Western – questions answered
Who owns Seppelt now?
As of September 2026, Seppelt is owned by a partnership led by Aaron Drummond, CEO and co-owner of Stonier, who acquired the brand, the Great Western winery and vineyards, and the Drumborg vineyard from Treasury Wine Estates.
When was Seppelt founded?
The Seppelt family established the business in 1851 in South Australia. The family expanded into Victoria in 1918 with the purchase of the Great Western vineyards and cellars from Hans Irvine.
Why is Great Western important to Australian wine?
Great Western was Australia's first sparkling wine house. Hans Irvine pioneered sparkling production there in 1890, winning prizes in Bordeaux and Paris in 1900 – the first Australian sparkling wine to do so. For more than a century it remained Australia's most important sparkling cellar.
It also grows great shiraz, and makes the doyen of Australian Sparkling Shiraz wines: Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz – which is, it hardy needs to be said, one of Australia’s greatest and most treasured wines.
Who was Colin Preece?
Colin Preece was Seppelt Great Western's winemaker through the 1930s to the early 1960s, and one of the most influential winemakers in Australian history. His table wines helped drive the emergence of Australian fine wine in the mid-20th century.
What is the Drumborg vineyard?
Drumborg, near Portland in Victoria's far south-west, was planted by Seppelt in the 1960s and is one of Australia's great cool-climate vineyards, with a long track record for sparkling wine, riesling, pinot noir and chardonnay. (i.e. it’s an absolute gem).
What wines is Seppelt Great Western known for?
St Peters Shiraz and Show Sparkling Shiraz from the Great Western vineyards, and riesling, pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling wine from Drumborg.
Who will make the wines under the new ownership?
Dan Buckle, former chief winemaker at Domaine Chandon and Mount Langi Ghiran, and Julian Grounds, chief winemaker at Stonier and formerly of Craggy Range.
Is the Seppelt winery itself of any importance?
It has the most incredible underground cellar you could ever imagine. This cellar is called the Seppelt “Drives”. It’s a tunnel that stretches for three kilometres. They are the longest underground wine cellar ‘drives’ in Australia. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore.
