Benno Seppelt
Oscar Benno Pedro Seppelt (13 July 1846 – 11 May 1931), known universally as Benno Seppelt, was a South Australian winemaker who helped the Barossa Valley become recognised as a premium wine region. History. Joseph Ernst Seppelt (1813 – 29 January 1868), his wife Johanna Charlotte Clementine Seppelt, née Held (1807 – 13 April 1870), and their children Ottilie Clementine Seppelt, later Kruger (c. 1840 – 4 June 1920), Oscar Benno Pedro "Benno" Seppelt, and Victor Hugo Seppelt (1848–1882), emigrated to South Australia aboard the ship "Emmy", arriving at Port Adelaide in January 1850. Joseph Seppelt founded the winery "Seppeltsfield", but died  while it was still in its infancy. His son Benno, who was educated at Tanunda, and studied chemistry under C. W. L. Muecke. took over management of the business on his father's death, and inherited the major portion of his estate. The grapes from Seppelt's vineyards, and much from other growers, were made into wines as a precursor to distillation. J. E. Seppelt, as the business continued to be named, was in 1870 producing "syrups, cordials, and spirits in great variety." At the 1872 Wine Show, B. Seppelt's rum was judged highly, a relief no doubt after  some bad publicity arising from what appears to have been malicious adulteration of exactly that product. Seppelt was an excellent manager, far-seeing and inventive. He progressively expanded the acreage under vines, largely with Doradillo (Blanquette) and "Mataro" (Carignan) grapes, on his property, of which the greatest area was set aside for grazing their 500 sheep, and growing hay for eight horses. In 1876 he was able to report that he was sole proprietor of the business In 1877 he installed a large ( high) new distillation plant, largely to his own design, made by Rundle Street coppersmiths Polack & Liebl. It  was housed in a separate high building, and could produce per day into a bonded store of capacity on-site. Seppeltsfield boasted an up-to-date chemistry laboratory for Seppelt's own investigations. The business was known as B. Seppelt & Sons from 1876 and became B. Seppelt & Sons Ltd in May 1902. Seppelt retired in 1916 and his son Oscar Seppelt was appointed Managing Director. He died in 1935. Family. Benno Seppelt married Sophie Helene Henriette Schroeder (1852–1925) on 23 November 1870. They had a total of 16 children, including: