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James Godfrey can't think of anywhere else he'd rather be working - and who can blame him!

Working with such outstanding wines is, he says, "immensely challenging and satisfying... it incorporates a vast range of styles, and calls on both modern and traditional skills. Many of the wines we are dealing with are much older than the winemakers. Irreplaceable stocks such as these must be treated with care and respect."

With consecutive vintage stocks dating back to 1878, James believes Seppeltsfield has the most extensive stocks of fortified wines in the southern hemisphere, if not the world.

James began his career in the wine industry in 1974 at Wynns Glenoth Winery at Reynella. The following year he commenced the three year Diploma in Oenology at Roseworthy, and over that period worked vintages with Tolley, Saxonvale and Wynns Coonawarra Estate.

Of the current Seppelt winemakers, James can lay claim to being the longest serving, having joined the company as Assistant Winemaker in 1978.

Seppelt sherries, ports, tokays and muscats are renowned, both in Australia and internationally, as multi-award winners - proof of James' incredible respect and skill with these fine old wines.

He maintains the solera systems which produce the Seppelt premium D.P. series of Show Sherries - Fino, Amontillado and Oloroso. Of all the wines in his portfolio, James regards the Seppelt D.P. 90 Show Tawny Port, flagship of the range, as Australia's most acclaimed fortified wine. "It is the benchmark by which all other Australian tawnies are judged."

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