Seppelt Great Western

Seppelt Great Western sits at the heart of one of Australia's most historically significant wine properties. Established in 1851, it is among the oldest continuously operating wineries in the country, and a visit here offers something relatively rare in Australian wine tourism: genuine depth of history combined with wines that speak clearly of their cool-climate origins.

The winery is located in the small town of Great Western in Victoria's Grampians region, around 250 kilometres west of Melbourne. It's a destination worth planning for rather than passing through.

The Wines

The Grampians region sits at elevation, and the cooler temperatures and marked diurnal variation — warm days, cold nights — give the wines here a particular character. Seppelt's Shiraz is the flagship variety, producing wines with fine tannin structure and elegance rather than the weight associated with warmer Australian regions. Riesling and Chardonnay round out the range, both reflecting the region's capacity for restraint and complexity.

At the cellar door you can taste across all three varieties, giving a clear picture of what cool-climate viticulture in the Grampians produces.

Cellar Door Experience

The cellar door occupies a building that carries 175 years of winemaking history, and the atmosphere reflects that. Tastings are available during opening hours, and guided winery tours are offered separately — these are worth booking ahead, as they take you through the property's historic underground cellars, which were hand-dug by Chinese miners during the 19th century. It's an unusual piece of Australian wine and social history, and the cellars themselves are impressive on a purely practical level: cool, vast, and still in use.

Contact the winery directly for current tasting fees, the number of wines included in a standard tasting, and to arrange group bookings or tours.

History

Seppelt Great Western was founded in 1851, and the winery built its reputation through Shiraz and fortified wines across the 19th and 20th centuries. The underground cellars — known as the Drives — remain the most tangible link to that era, stretching for kilometres beneath the property. They were constructed largely by Chinese miners, a detail that connects the winery's story to the broader history of Chinese labour in colonial Victoria.

That continuity — the same site, the same cellars, producing wine for over 175 years — is what sets a visit here apart from newer operations in the region.

Getting There

Great Western is reached via the Glenelg Highway, approximately 250 kilometres west of Melbourne. From Ararat, it's around 1.5 hours by road. The winery is accessible by caravan, with sealed road access and parking available on site; confirm coach or bus parking capacity directly with the winery if travelling in a larger vehicle.

There is no public transport to Great Western, so a car is essential.

Visitor Tips

• Book winery tours in advance. The underground cellars are the standout feature of a visit, and tour availability can be limited, particularly during busy periods.
• Plan your meals before you arrive. Great Western is a small country town with limited dining options. Stock up or eat before you head out, or factor in a stop in a larger nearby town.
• Consider timing your visit. Autumn (March to May) coincides with the harvest season and is generally considered the best time to visit. Spring (September to November) offers pleasant conditions with fewer crowds. Summer can be warm; winter is quieter but cooler.
• Allow time for the broader region. Several other wineries operate within easy driving distance of Great Western, making it straightforward to combine a visit here with a fuller day of Grampians wine touring.
• Pick up bottles to take home. The on-site wine shop stocks current releases and Seppelt merchandise.