Warren Randall

Restoring Seppeltsfield would have been enough to earn Warren Randall the Len Evans Award, but numerous other achievements made him impossible to go past.

Warren Randall is the custodian of one of the world’s greatest wine collections – a barrel of tawny from every year since 1878. It’s history in a bottle, and seldom can one look so far back.

When Randall was approached to purchase a 50 per cent share in Seppeltsfield in 2008, alongside Nathan Waks and Bruce Baudinet, he felt the angels were smiling upon him. But as a successful, self-made man running two active wine businesses, he did not need another. Still, the opportunity to own one of Australia’s most historic wineries, and the fortified treasures within, consumed him.

Experience taught Randall to move slowly. Although, even after seven months of due diligence he was still undecided. It was the encouragement of his 90-year-old mother Fay that ultimately led him to say yes.

The day after Randall became managing director, with a half share in the business, Fay died. He dedicates the renewal of Seppeltsfield to her and is resolute about its success.

Randall became the majority owner of the property in 2013 and is joined by Carl Lindner and Randolph Bowen. Waks still retains a slice. Few would have had the confidence to take it on. Randall had the pedigree required.

Trained in agriculture and wine, he quickly worked his way up from cellar hand to winemaker. He acquired business nous the hard way, immersed in raw commercial pressures with money on the line. He also has deep respect for the pioneering spirit of the Seppelt family from working at the Seppelt Great Western winery between 1982-89.

Randall had early career success as a wine-maker, redefining the sparkling wines of Seppelt. Len Evans applauded him for his talent and his wines. Medals flowed.

On the side, he established Tumbarumba Vineyard Estates and Garden Gully Wines with other partners, which he later sold.

In 1989 Warren was poached to work for Andrew Garrett Wines in McLaren Vale. However, within three months the company was technically insolvent. “That’s when I began to learn about business. We clawed our way out of debt within five years. I had to learn everything from scratch,” he explains.  He cut his teeth at Garrett before securing a property in 1993 with partners Warren Ward and Andrew Fletcher, and subsequently created a premium bulk wine business, Tinlins Wines, which he owns to this day with Ward.

The timing could not have been better. He profited heavily from the boom years of the 1990s and in 2002 was awarded the Ernst & Young South Australian Entrepreneur of the Year. Tinlins now owns 445 hectares of vines throughout the region.

Randall established Fleurieu Vintners in 1998 with David and Rosalyn Watkins, adding the Boar’s Rock winery in 2012. He owns a share in the iconic Willunga restaurant Star of Greece and recently purchased Bridgewater Mill. He has also established Oz-Sino International Wine and sees China as the avenue to restore vigour and “swagger” to the local wine industry.

When privy to Randall’s philosophies and mantras, one realises that challenge has always been his core motivator. He likes to “fix things” and speaks of his desire to achieve his “maximum personal potential”, a rebellion of sorts against the echo of his father’s words cautioning him not to dream big.

Randall has a deep affinity with Seppeltsfield. In addition to preserving the fortified legacy, he’s responsible for reviving the Seppeltsfield village, whose tenants now include the celebrated Fino restaurant and JamFactory. He’s also acutely aware that his decisions impact the families of over 50 permanent employees onsite.

Seppeltsfield’s senior winemaker Fiona Donald speaks of his open vision. He sets the goal, the course and the individual steps required to achieve it. He is generous with his time and his knowledge.

In reverse, Randall credits the strong team of loyal people who have helped him along the way and is respectful of his mentors, supporters and allies  over the years. He sees the custodianship of Seppeltsfield as a way of giving back to an industry that has afforded him many opportunities and successes. However, as others before him have found, old buildings and fortified stock alone are not self-sustaining.

Randall has adopted the Tinlins’ bulk wine business model in order to generate a stream of funds to inject into the historic 1888 gravity flow cellars. He has also repositioned the fortifieds as a luxury high-end product, plus redeveloped the Seppeltsfield site, transforming it into a multifaceted, premier tourism destination.

Randall leads by his actions and is awarded for his courage and tenacity in taking on and preserving a piece of Australia’s wine history. Few individuals would have been up for the challenge. But Warren Randall, wine- maker, businessman and visionary, is no ordinary man.