NEW BEGINNINGS – PASSIONATE SOUTH AUSTRALIANS

The baton of custodianship for Bethany Wines has been handed over to a group of passionate South Australians, informed by the rich Schrapel family history and inspired by their commitment, aspiration, desire for conviviality and a good glass Australian wine. 

Today the business has 10 employees, including members of the sixth and seventh generations of the Schrapel family.

Alex Macclelland - Winemaker

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 caretaking 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 vineyard 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.’

Our Cellar Door Team

There's no doubt our cellar door team are the heart of Bethany Wines. They're an amazing group of people, passionate about our wines and sharing the best the Barossa has to offer.