Seppeltsfield ups its SA cruise ship targets with a trip across the ditch
Barossa flagship winery Seppeltsfield is sending its wine tourism leader to New Zealand to garner insights on the cruise ship market.
Seppeltsfield Wines head of tourism Elaine Ratcliffe was one of eight South Australian wine industry professionals, researchers and academics to be awarded a bursary to visit other Great Wine Capitals around the world.
Ratcliffe, who headed up Barossa winery Seppeltsfield’s tourism arm, was awarded a $6000 bursary to travel to Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, where she would learn about tourism offerings for the cruise ship market.
She told InDaily the cruise ship market was a growth area for Seppeltsfield.
“Adelaide’s seen big growth in different types of cruise ships visiting and overall numbers in recent years, and Hawke’s Bay has had a similar experience as well,” she said.
“The purpose is to have a look at the different wine tourism experiences that are being offered by the different wineries there and to get some ideas to bring back to South Australia so we can look at how we can maximise the experiences.”
She said Seppeltsfield had been proactive in working with cruise ship companies, with the season for visitors happening annually from September through to May.
Seppeltsfield hosted cruise ship groups weekly through November with coach loads of groups heading to the Barossa cellar door.
When Viking Cruises landed in town, she said the company could host up to 600 of its guests in one day.
Visitors would enjoy a mixture of wine tasting experiences with guided tours around the estate to learn about the history of the more than 170-year-old winery.
Stay informed, daily
The Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary program was supported by Great Wine Capitals, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), Wine Australia and the Wine Grape Council of South Australia.
On their return, each recipient would share findings and experiences at regional and industry events in order to enhance local capability and deliver benefits for the state’s wine sector.
Recipients of the 2025/26 Outbound Knowledge Exchange bursaries are:
- Samantha Scarratt, Vinehealth Australia, Adelaide (San Francisco/Napa Valley, United States)
- Yihe Sui, University of Adelaide, Adelaide (Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand)
- Sarah Carlson, Adelaide Hills Wine Region, Adelaide Hills (Bordeaux, France)
- Sarah Lavelle, Sevenhill Cellars, Clare Valley (San Francisco/Napa Valley, United States)
- Hanne Norvag Thomas, Langhorne Creek Grape & Wine Inc, Langhorne Creek (Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand)
- Elaine Ratcliffe, Randall Wine Group – Seppeltsfield Wines, Barossa Valley (Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand)
- Tyson Bitter, Treasury Wine Estates, Barossa Valley (Porto, Portugal)
- Suzanne McLoughlin, Australian Wine Research Institute, Adelaide (Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand)
