Prominent winemaker pleads not guilty to unlawful sexual relationship with a child and unlawful sexual intercourse

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A prominent South Australian winemaker has been ordered to stand trial over child sexual abuse charges dating back to the 1990s.

Peter Seppelt, 54, pleaded not guilty in the Adelaide magistrates court to charges of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child and unlawful sexual intercourse.

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The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 1994 and 1996 at Springton, near the Barossa Valley wine region.

Magistrate Elizabeth Sheppard continued Seppelt’s bail to appear in the district court in April.

Seppelt is a fifth-generation winemaker from one of the region’s oldest and most well-known winemaking families.

He made no comment as he left court accompanied by another man.

“He’ll be pleading not guilty and anything he’s got to say he’ll be saying in court, not elsewhere,” the associate said.