Bethany Wines
Barossa Valley , South Australia
Winery Overview
With some of the oldest vines in the Barossa, Bethany Wines holds a special place in the region’s winemaking story.
Johann Gottlob Schrapel and his family arrived from Silesia on the George Washington in 1844. This was just eight years after South Australia was settled. Like many Silesian migrants, they travelled by ox cart to Bethany (Bethanien), and established the Barossa’s first settlement.
Johann planted the first vineyard in 1852 from cuttings carried from Europe. He built a wine cellar and developed a reputation as a winemaker. Despite this the Schrapel family were grape growers for the next four generations.
In 1981, fifth generation brothers Robert and Geoff established Bethany Wines. They built a winery in the quarry where the early pioneers had hewn stone for their homes. They crushed 2 tonnes of Shiraz and Riesling, launching the next chapter of the Schrapel wine story.
The early 1980s were tough for Barossa grape growers. A glut followed a red wine boom and grape prices fell below production cost. The State Government wanted growers to pull out old Shiraz and Grenache vines. They encouraged growers to plant new varieties or leave the industry.
Fortunately, the brothers chose to establish a tradition of winemaking from this undervalued yet irreplaceable resource of old vineyards. Bethany Wines’ reputation for hospitality and spectacular views of the Barossa spread and they began to grow.
Almost 40 years on and Bethany Wines is a vibrant family company that plays a significant role in the Barossa community.
Tania Schrapel continues the legacy of the business, sharing the same passion for the vineyards, for crafting fine wines, and for the future working alongside her father, Geoff and Uncle, Robert.
Available in
Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, UK, USA
Seeking Distribution in
Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, Vietnam
Winemaker Bio
Alex brings a wealth of experience to the role of Chief Winemaker at Bethany. His passion and knowledge has taken him across the globe, working in the Rhone Valley, Burgundy and New Zealand. In Australia, Alex has made wine in the Coonawarra, Clare Valley, Limestone Coast and, more recently, the southern Barossa.
Alex’s winemaking philosophy is to strive to deliver wines that are a true expression of the land. He makes wines that offer complexity, elegance, and exceptional quality for the consumer. He likes to keep things simple.
"For me, making wine is about looking to allow the unique characteristics of each site shine through. A unique and expressive wine needs gentle care taking throughout the fermentation and maturation process."
Alex acknowledges the vineyard is the key to crafting each wine. He focuses on understanding the terroir of each block, being hands on and tasting the fruit as it ripens. Deciding the day of harvest based on flavour rather than numbers are critical elements to creating each wine.
"It’s an honour to make wines from a property that has been in the family for 6 generations. It’s a stunning location, steeped in history and traditions that make you feel you’re part of something great."
