Endeavour to slash and burn in dash for cash

What happens when you put people who know nothing about wine in charge of wine businesses?

Nothing good for wine lovers.

Star Australian wine producers Oakridge, Chapel Hill and Josef Chromy are all set to be sold after new Endeavour Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka - who knows a lot about aviation - announced plans to sell most of the company's vineyard and winery assets.

Endeavour will target $300 million in savings as Hrdlicka, formerly in charge of Virgin Australia, launches a turnaround plan to lift the struggling giant’s business profitability.

The changes were the first major announcement from Hrdlicka, who started in the role in January.

Endeavour is the largest liquor retailer in Australia, with brands that include Dan Murphy’s and BWS chains.

The plan appears to be to cut back on premium products and concentrate on bulk.

Yarra Valley winery Oakridge, under winemaker David Bicknell, has been one of Australia's best premium producers for two decades. Chapel Hill in McLaren Vale is a historic producer of top-notch wines led by talented Michael Fragos.

The company’s winery operations will be cut from seven sites to three. Endeavour will retain Cape Mentelle in Margaret River, Isabel Estate in Marlborough, New Zealand, and bulk production factory Dorrien Estate in the Barossa.

Hrdlicka said she remained committed to the Pinnacle Drinks business, which offers distribution channels and private-label wine brands, saying it was generating strong returns.

Hopefully the star brands find sympathetic owners focused on quality so Endeavour can concentrate on bulk labels and the bottom line. The decision reflects an apparent 'quantity over quality' mentality.   

When wine and art combine

Hill-Smith Family Estates in the Barossa and Chapel Hill in McLaren Vale are among a growing number of wine brands linking with art and artists.

Winesmiths, the family-owned wine-on-tap (cask) brand produced by Hill-Smith Family Estates, this week announced its latest artist collaboration - this time partnering with South Australian artist Claire Ishino to launch a new collection of limited edition 2-litre packs, to be available across Australia and New Zealand from September through December.

Following last year’s New Zealand-inspired designs by Ross Murray, this year’s release brings the
spotlight back to South Australia, where Winesmiths and Ishino share connections to the flora and
fauna which call the state home.

Known for her artworks inspired by Australian native flora, Ishino has created a series of pack designs that reflect the biodiversity of Winesmiths’ sustainably farmed vineyards.

“When I’m walking through native bushland, I’m constantly noticing patterns, shapes and colours in the plants and how they interact with light," said Ishino. "That’s what I wanted to capture in this series.

"Collaborating with Winesmiths has been such a joy. It’s about celebrating the beauty of our environment and encouraging people to tread lightly.”

The collection includes designs for five Winesmiths varietals: shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, dry rosé, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.

Winesmiths is also donating $25,000 to Greenfleet, a leading environmental not-for-profit that plants biodiverse forests to capture carbon emissions and restore critical ecosystems across Australia and New Zealand.

The Claire Ishino x Winesmiths Limited Edition 2-litre packs will be available in major liquor retailers and independent stores throughout Australia and New Zealand from September until December. RRP $16. See winesmiths.com.au



Chapel Hill, meanwhile, has unveiled the winning art and artist for its inaugural Horizons Art Prize.

The $5,000 acquisitive prize has been awarded to Stephanie Radok for her work It’s Morning! (above) which will now hang in the winery’s iconic 1865 tasting chapel as part of its permanent collection.

All finalist artwork will be exhibited at the Chapel Hill Tasting Room for the duration of the South Australian Living Arts Festival.

The judging panel included respected local arts figures Adele Sliuzas, visual arts curator at The Mill Adelaide, and Maria Zagala, curator of prints, drawings and photographs at the Art Gallery of South Australia.

They were joined by Chapel Hill’s chief winemaker, Michael Fragos, whose long-standing passion for visual arts helped guide the selection.

Together, the panel reviewed more than 120 submissions from 86 entrants spanning painting, drawing, photography, and multimedia.

“When we launched this inaugural award we had no idea that it would be embraced with such enthusiasm and provocative creativity,” says Fragos.

“The level of passion, flair and skill exhibited in the submissions has been truly humbling. We are so proud to be able to showcase these amazing artists and their intimate creations, we now look forward with excitement as to the direction this competition will lead us in the future.”

Chapel Hill launches new art prize

 

McLaren Vale winery Chapel Hill has today announced the inaugural Chapel Hill Horizons Art Prize.

The $5,000 acquisitive art prize invites artists to interpret local landscapes and show their vision for its future. 

South Australian artists can submit their entries from today until July 14.

The short-listed works will be exhibited at Chapel Hill during this year’s South Australian Living Arts Festival (SALA), with the winning piece added to the winery’s permanent collection which is displayed all year round in the winery chapel (above). 

The winning artist, who will receive a $5,000 cash prize, will be announced at the exhibition opening on Sunday, August 3.

The prize theme, ‘Horizons’ encourages artists to "explore the dual meaning of the word: both the physical line where the earth meets the sky and the symbolic concept of something that might be attained". All artworks are required to include a distinct horizon line to be featured in the exhibition.

Art has long been part of Chapel Hill’s identity. Chief winemaker Michael Fragos, who this year is celebrating his 22nd vintage at Chapel Hill, is an avid visual art enthusiast and the walls of the winery’s chapel are adorned with artworks for visitors to enjoy.

“Chapel Hill is defined by its spectacular surroundings," Fragos said. "Every day we take inspiration from the beautiful landscape, the views back over McLaren Vale and the coast as well as the shimmering sunsets. 

“Since hosting Adelaide Festival events at the winery in the 1970s, Chapel Hill has a long and proud history supporting artists. It is so exciting to now bring together all of these elements with our inaugural Horizons Art Prize.” 

SALA Festival CEO Bridget Alfred commented, “We are thrilled to include the inaugural “Horizons Art Prize” exhibition in the 2025 SALA Festival, and welcome Chapel Hill Wines’ championing of South Australian artists and our fabulous SA culture. 

"We encourage all eligible artists to enter and look forward to seeing the finalists in August!”

The competition will be judged by a panel of notable local and industry names, to be announced at a later date. 

Short-listed artworks will be exhibited at Chapel Hill Wines, McLaren Vale from August 3 to September 16. 

For more details or to submit works visit www.chapelhillwine.com.au/horizons-art-prize/

Take a behind the scenes look at a winery during vintage

Ever wondered what goes on in a winery during vintage?

With vintage 2023 firmly underway, McLaren Vale winery Chapel Hill is this weekend offering the chance to take a a peek behind the scenes.

For the first time since 2019, Chapel Hill chief winemaker Michael Fragos will host the Vintage Immersion Experience this Sunday: April 2.

"We are pulling back the curtain to winery operations and giving a select few the chance to see what it takes to make the Chapel Hill wines," says Fragos.

The event will run from 10am-4pm to offer guests for a first-hand look (and taste and smell) of all things vintage-related.

The day will start with some local pastries and the Escape Room Piquette - a new wine innovation in a can.

That will be followed by a vineyard and winery tour, ferment and 2022 barrel tasting as well as participation in wine-related activities like grape tasting and red fermenter plunging, perhaps even some pigeage.

A long table lunch in the cellar door atrium will be hosted by Fragos and the cellar door team with chef Jarred Styles firing up the spit with some local lamb, gourmet salads and Stoneground Bakery sourdough - paired with some cellared wines chosen by Fragos to mark his 20th vintage at Chapel Hill.

To round out the day there will be cheese platters and a new release wine tasting.

Tickets for the event are $160, but only $100 for wine club subscribers. Sounds worth a trip.

Book here: https://www.chapelhillwine.com.au/events/2023-vintage-immersion-experience/