South Australian winery Seppeltsfield has unearthed plans to introduce a future icon/luxury hotel and spa in the Barossa Valley. The proposed $50 million six-star project, dubbed Oscar Seppeltsfield, is earmarked to open in 2022 and an ultra-modern design will rival that of Hotel Marqués de Riscal in Elciego, Spain.
The new accommodation offering aspires to lure new markets to the Barossa and drive growth in domestic and international visitor economy, the winery operator said.
Funded by a group of South Australian business leaders, Oscar Seppeltsfield project spokesman Toby Yap said: “The Barossa is famous for its wine, food and spectacular sights, but what it needs is an iconic luxury hotel to cater to local and international guests that visit the region. We are thrilled to be bringing this landmark project to one of the greatest wine regions in the world.”
“With over 897,000 day trips to the Barossa in 2019, Oscar Seppeltsfield will be a place where people can stay longer, immerse, indulge and relax,” Yap said.
The 12-storey hotel will have around 70 rooms, including suites and penthouses, with a private balcony for every room. The project has been designed by Intro Architecture, a firm that is also behind a new Visitor Centre at Monarto Zoo, about an hour south of the Barossa.
There will be a sky bar on the top level with 360-degree sweeping views of the Barossa. The hotel will also offer a world-class restaurant, private dining room and boardroom. A tender process will be soon undertaken to choose the luxury hotel operator.
Seppeltsfield Owner and Executive Chairman, Warren Randall, said: “Oscar will complete the grand vision of our tourism master plan for Seppeltsfield to become the most desirable epicurean destination for tourists worldwide. We wanted to create a national icon for South Australia – a Sydney Opera House for the Barossa.”
“In 2019, Seppeltsfield was judged as one of the top 50 vineyards in the world. The addition of this luxury hotel will elevate Seppeltsfield to one of the top five vineyards in the world, in turn lifting Australia’s international wine reputation,” Randall concluded.
The hotel has been named in honour of the visionary Oscar Benno Seppelt who revolutionised the Australian wine industry.
A gap in the market place was identified from research commissioned by the South Australian Tourism Commission with only 28 accommodation options out of 161 rated at four stars or above, leaving high-end visitors with little options if they wish to stay.
It is anticipated that the construction of the soon-to-be iconic building will drive visitation in the broader region and act as a catalyst for new development activity.
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