Seppeltsfield Barossa winery leads Australia in anti-counterfeit technology

A Barossa Valley winery has become Australia’s first to use new microchip and coding technology to deter counterfeit products.

Seppeltsfield Barossa’s executive chairman Warren Randall says new technology will help deter counterfeit products. Picture: Supplied

• Top drops boost SA’s export fortunes as buyers seek premium wines
• Birds of prey, bats called in to boost winegrape production in SA
• Push to capitalise on Southern Flinders’ food tourism potential
• Nova Vita plans new cellar door in the Adelaide Hills

Seppeltsfield Barossa has become the first Australian winery to use new microchip and coding technology to deter potential counterfeit products.

Wine drinkers can now use their phones’ “tap and go” technology with microchips embedded into bottle labels to ensure products are genuine and access information about winemakers and where the grapes are grown.

Seppeltsfield Barossa’s executive chairman Warren Randall said the technology gave his company an opportunity to “get in early” before it had any problems with counterfeiting.

“Whilst we are expanding our luxury wine collection globally, it is very important we are at the forefront of innovation, so we are taking a proactive approach and investing in technology to ensure wine authenticity,” Mr Randall said.

The company is well-known for its fortified wines, and has only been producing still whites and reds for a few years.

“Aside from entering into the frontier of new wine label counterfeit technology and the timing and availability of this innovation, it was simply impossible in our past life of fortified wines to copy the contents of our signature wine, our 100-year-old Para Vintage Tawny,” Mr Randall said.

Counterfeiting was a global issue in luxury goods, and Mr Randall said he saw it frequently with wine when he travelled.

The technology determines if the bottle has been opened – to identify possible tampering – and also allows users to take a virtual tour of Seppeltsfield’s Barossa Valley property.

Mr Randall said the new labels would help provide information to customers “in an engaging way”.

“Rather than having to search online or scan a barcode with an app, they can simply use tap and go on their phone, and get this detail instantly,” Mr Randall said.

The technology, called NFC (near-field communication) Vintail, has been developed by anti-counterfeit and retail engagement company YPB Group.

YPB Group Australian chief executive John Houston said the technology was a first for the Australian wine industry.

He said the companies’ collaboration would have a “major impact on consumers”, who would be able to confirm wine authenticity.

It will initially be used in two of Seppeltsfield’s shiraz labels.

Seppeltsfield was established in 1851 by the Seppelt family. The company’s estate includes more than 420 acres of vineyard, gardens and heritage-listed architecture.

[e-mail]