At Bethany Wines, we’re custodians of the vineyards established by our ancestors.

We’re driven by the notion of family lineage and the handing on of the baton.

Early History

With some of the oldest vines in the Barossa, Bethany Wines has 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 had reputation as a winemaker. Despite this our family were grape growers for the next four generations.

Establishment of Bethany Wines

In 1981, fifthgeneration 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 we began to grow.

Bethany Wines Today

Almost 40 years on we are 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.