From a backyard venture to global success: Calabria Wines marks 80 years

What began 80 years ago as a migrant family's backyard hobby is now a global wine success story.

Calabria Family Wines, formerly known as Westend, is celebrating 80 years of winemaking, honouring four generations of family legacy and innovation dating back to 1945.

With vineyards from the Riverina to the Barossa, the Calabria family has launched a commemorative digital story, featuring family patriarch Bill Calabria and his granddaughter Sophie, sharing their journey. Watch the video.

The story begins in Griffith, home to many Italian migrant families, but Francesco and Elisabetta Calabria’s hobby has grown into one of Australia’s leading family-owned wine businesses.

Bill Calabria AM (below), second-generation winemaker, director, and one-time professional boxer. reflects on the journey.

“We’ve come a long way from my parents’ backyard winery," he says. "What hasn’t changed is our commitment to quality, our love for the land, curiosity, and the belief that wine brings people together. That’s what drives us forward.”

The Calabrias now have state-of-the-art winemaking facilities with third and fourth generations now actively involved.

Calabria, Richland and Three Bridges are among the family's high-profile label, with the addition of new brands like Calabria BELENA, and premium wines including Iconic and Saint Petri.

The 80th birthday sees the family focusing on the future, as well as supporting national charities through the Bill Calabria Foundation.

“We’re not just making wine, we’re building something that lasts," says Andrew Calabria, third-generation sales and marketing director.

"That means listening to our customers, investing in our people, and protecting the land that gives us so much.”

To mark this milestone, the Calabria family has unveiled the Calabria 80th Anniversary Limited Edition Durif VP.

“We’re proud of our history, and reaching 80 years is a significant milestone; it definitely is a time to reflect,” says Bill Calabria. 

“Having Sophie retell our story makes it even more special. But we’re not just looking back; we’re firmly focused on the road ahead. Calabria Family Wines is here for the long haul.”

Calabria wines are today exported to over 40 countries and are known for offering excellent value.

For more information about Calabria Family Wines see www.calabriawines.com.au.

Rousing send-off for quiet achiever

Pioneering winemaker Julie Mortlock has been given a rousing send off. 

Mortlock has just retired after 35 years with the De Bortoli family at Bilbul in the Riverina, and has been in charge of making Australia's premier dessert wine, Noble One, for many years. 

The De Bortoli team described the departure of their senior executive winemaker as a "a sad but very special day". 

"After 35 years Julie has made the decision to retire and leaves behind a wonderful legacy that the De Bortoli family is so very proud of," the company said.

"She will forever be known as a wonderful role model for women in wine, a multiple award winner, and a humble and hard-working employee of De Bortoli Wines."

Last Friday night Mortlock was honoured with the 'Riverina Legend Award' at the Rivernina Winemakers Wine Show Awards. 

Mortlock grew up on a dairy farm and had ambitions to be a chef. Instead her passion for science kicked in and for the next 10 years she became a self-confessed “dairy lab rat”, a qualified tester of cream and milk.

She later became a lab assistant in the quality control labs at De Bortoli.

Mortlock later started working as a winemaker’s assistant (“doing the jobs they didn’t want to do,” she says) and began studying, firstly for a Bachelor degree in Wine Science and then another in Wine Business, both from Charles Sturt University.

Mortlock began looking after all the white wines produced at Bilbul, then moved onto the reds and fortified wines. 

From Beelbangera to a bottle store near you

 

If you are an habitué of liquor stores then you might be familiar with wine labels including Two Monkeys, The Drover, Nericon, La Sagra Prosecco and D-Reserve.

All are brands from a Riverina producer known as Dee Vine Estate, based at Beelbangera, which is a tiny speck on the map.

Beelbangera lies about two kilometres north-east of Griffith and about seven kilometres south-west of Yenda. The last time anyone counted, the population was under 400 people.

The big surprise for me: how well made the wines are across a broad spread of ranges and price points.

If you are looking for wines that don't bust the budget then wines from these ranges might be worth a look: particularly the shirazes, impressive across the board, and the vibrant young aromatic whites, designed for immediate drinking pleasure.

Dee Vine Estate was founded on two vineyards established by siblings Michele and Domenico Scarfone soon after they emigrated to Australia from southern Italy in 1956. 

Three generations later, family members Adrian Bianchini and Fernando Rombola have significantly expanded on the original Nericon holdings, yet the goal remains the same: to craft affordable Riverina table wines.



The first vines were planted in 1957, with the vision of producing traditional Italian table wines for the Australian wine drinker. 

"With almost 30 years working as a local grower of quality produce myself, I teamed up with fellow director Fernando Rombola and together we have significantly expanded our grandfathers' original parcel of land," says Bianchini.  

"We have remained true to our grandfathers' principles through every step of the journey; continuing a passion for fine wine and dedication to produce a remarkably distinctive product."

The geography of the vineyards is made up mainly of low-lying flood plains with a hot climate and plenty of irrigation from the Murrumbidgee River. 

The winemakers at Dee Vine Estate believe that "everyone who enjoys drinking wine should have access to a quality wine that is a pleasure to drink". 

In keeping with this, they "place concerted effort in the production of all of their wines to make them affordable and accessible to all."

And there are more vineyards on the way. 

The goal of the estate is to develop a sustainability plan, reduce energy use, use recycled packaging, incorporate recycling into the estate processes, and set standards to meet long-term sustainability goals.

That's great, but the prices are even better. 

The easy drinking wines in The Driver range have an RRP of $8. The Two Monkeys wines are around $9, and the Estate range sits at the $12 price point. The more complex Nericon range fetches $20 and the D-Reserve, made from grapes sourced from the cooler Adelaide Hills, also sit at around $20.

My favourites included the Two Monkeys 2023 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc and the Dee Vine Estate Range 2022 Merlot.

Try one of the bargain buys. I suspect you might be pleasantly surprised.  

See https://www.deevineestate.com/

Casella family switches on to solar power

Casella Family Brands, the home of [yellow tail] wine, today switched on the largest solar facility in the Australian beverage industry at Yenda, in New South Wales.

As part of Casella's commitment to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2050, the new 8,740-panel solar facility will provide clean, renewable electricity to the company’s Riverina production site.

“Switching on our multi-million dollar invested solar facility in Yenda - the largest solar facility in the Australian beverage market - is a major step forward for the industry and our business,” said John Casella, CEO of Casella Family Brands.

“We’re in a stable position, and this investment has been made with a long-term strategic outlook to support our brands and the Australian wine sector.

“We have long invested in the regions where we operate, supported our growers during challenging market conditions, and will continue building on the stable base we have to ensure the longevity of the sector.

"Using clean energy will result in substantial long-term cost savings for the business. Overall, integrating solar power into our business's energy strategy will bring financial, environmental, and strategic benefits that contribute to long-term success and competitiveness.

"As a family-owned business, we’re committed to playing a role in ensuring the resilience of the Australian wine industry for generations to come and striving to ensure a sustainable global wine sector.”

The facility is capable of generating 11.53 GWh of clean electricity per year, which will offset 7800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, which is enough to meet the electricity needs of approximately 1900 Australian homes, or equivalent to planting 325,000 trees.

Casella Family Brands owns [yellow tail], Peter Lehmann Wines, Brand’s Laira of Coonawarra, Baileys of Glenrowan and Morris of Rutherglen as well as brewing several beer brands. 

A barrel of fun as iconic cellar door gets a makeover

One of the first - and best-known - cellar doors in Australia is about to re-open.

McWilliam’s Wines has just announced the return of its refreshed Hanwood cellar door, one of the most popular tourism attractions in the Riverina.

The facility has undergone extensive upgrades to its interiors and will offer a range of new wine experiences from Friday.

McWilliam’s barrel-shaped cellar door was first opened in 1973, and this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The facility's new owners, the Calabria family, have worked with a team of local designers and suppliers during the past 12 months to oversee the renovations.

The Hanwood Estate vines were first planted in 1913 and have been a key producer of fruit for fortified wines ever since.

 

“Many people associate the name McWilliam’s with the barrel and the many fond memories of rich fortified tastings inside it," said second-generation winemaker and managing director Bill Calabria AM.

"The building has become a landmark in the Riverina and was a hub for much of the great history behind the McWilliam’s name. This reopening feels like a new era for us and a great opportunity to reconnect with friends and visitors with some incredible new wine experiences.”

While maintaining the iconic barrel-stave shell, extensive upgrades have transformed the interiors into
a modern, lodge-style spot in which to sip wines.

Cosy deluxe leather lounges and a long 16-seater table create space for up to 35 guests.

There is also a private tasting room; the ‘Friar Room', which pays tribute to the winery's retro novelty Friar mascot.

The tasting menu features a range of aged fortified, and limited cellar door releases.

The McWilliam's Barrel is located on Jack McWilliam Road, Hanwood, NSW, and will
be open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am-4pm.

Wine enthusiasts are encouraged to secure their tasting experiences in advance by booking online at mcwilliams.com.au

Calabria family offers a little taste of Italy Down Under

The Calabria family are one of the big success stories of the Australian wine industry, graduating from backyard producers to major players. 

Now the family is celebrating la dolce vita and its Italian cultural links with a new cellar door food offering and revamped winery experiences

The Calabrias have unveiled an Italian-inspired bar menu at the Calabria Family Wines cellar door in Griffith. 

There are now a selection of Italian-style shared plates and a seasonal shared menu designed by the venue’s new chef Amanda Fuller.

The food offering follows a revamp of the cellar door, which now includes a suite of tasting experiences, a winery museum, and a sensory wall. 

“This has been a huge undertaking by the cellar door team and one that will be a great addition to the region." says third-generation sales and marketing manager Andrew Calabria. 

"The Riverina is such an iconic region for outstanding produce, generations of independent family businesses, and of course, an array of sensational wines. We aim to celebrate that with our new experience offerings. 

“While there are still traditional wine-tasting experiences to guide you through our portfolio of wines, we feel the best way to get to know all about the Calabrias is by taking a seat at the tasting bar and enjoying a selection of Italianesque menu items alongside our delicious wines.”

So think salumi and cheese boards, warmed olives, hand-rolled arancini and home-baked focaccia. 

A more elevated lunch experience is available to book and features a seasonal menu of shared dishes and matched wines enjoyed inside patriarch Bill Calabria’s private cellar.

This season’s La Dolce Vita dishes include hand-made pasta tossed in a traditional ragù, Calabrian baked eggplant, pizza topped with arugula, and an assortment of Italian desserts. 

The La Dolce Vita lunch experience costs $90 per person, with bookings mandatory.

“Food is an essential part of the wine experience, and I’ve worked with the Calabria family to best showcase their Southern Italian heritage and the incredible local produce we have available in the Riverina,” says chef Fuller. 

“The dishes celebrate the region and its produce while sticking to the laid-back Italian philosophy of riposo - or rest - where guests are invited to relax, sip wine and enjoy delicious food with friends around the table. The new space and food experience will be a welcome addition to the exciting food scene here in Griffith.”

In addition to the menu offering, Calabria Family Wines has added an interactive sensory wall to showcase the aromas that inspire the Calabria family’s wines. 

Utilising a system of hand-blown glass decanters and aroma pumps, the team have carefully curated a selection of aromas to give visitors a scent-driven, self-guided experience in the cellar door.

The cellar door experiences aim to highlight the 76-year history of the family winery since Francesco Calabria first founded Calabria Wines & Sons in 1945.

The new wine tasting menu includes the Discover & Taste flight, the Sorseggia e Assaggia (Sip & Taste) Italian tasting, Riverina Signature Flight self-guided experiences and the Icons of the Riverina Bill Calabria & Three Bridges Durif vertical tasting - hosted by Bill Calabria AM.

“Whether you simply want to enjoy a light tasting through our collection of outstanding wines or dig into the private cellars and taste something rare and wonderful, every guest that comes to Calabria Family Wines will be given a special experience worth remembering,” Andrew Calabria said.

The complete list of experiences and prices is at www.calabriawines.com.au/visit-us/riverina.

Fourth generation steps up to Calabria family wine business

Calabria Family Wine Group has welcomed its first fourth-generation family member to the business.

Sophie Calabria, daughter of third generation Michael Calabria (pictured), is currently completing a Bachelor of Marketing & Communications degree through the University of South Australia,

The family said: "We look forward to seeing her grow and continuing to share our love of wine with our customers around the world."

Sophie's grandfather, Bill Calabria, is especially proud to see his grand-daughter join the family business.

He has always been a strong advocate for family values and passing on the traditions and knowledge of the company to the next generation.

“As a family-owned business, we are proud to have been producing award-winning wines for over 75 years," said Bill Calabria.

"We believe that our success is due to our commitment to quality, sustainability, and family values. With Sophie joining our team, we are excited to continue this legacy and to pass on our passion to the next generation.”

The Riverina-based business, previously known as Westend, also has substantial interests in the Barossa in South Australia. ⁠⁠

A sweet deal for lovers of sticky wines

Calling lovers of serious sweet wines. 

De Bortoli Wines are celebrating the 40th year of  Australian wine icon Noble One Botrytis Semillon with an exclusive Limited Edition release. 

The 40th Anniversary Limited Edition comes with a vintage wine from each of the last four decades, showcasing the potential longevity of Noble One.

Only 40 Limited Editions were curated and autographed by Darren de Bortoli, who first pioneered the production of Noble One in 1982.

De Bortoli believed that conditions in the Riverina region were ideal for sweet white wine, and crafted Australia's benchmark "sticky".

The long warm days interspersed with showers of rain and heavy morning dews during autumn, are ideal conditions for botrytis cinerea mould (known as Noble Rot) that produces intensely flavoured sweet wines. 

Noble One has been awarded over 182 trophies and 505 gold medals, with every vintage winning multiple awards.

The Noble One 40th Anniversary Limited Edition includes the 1984, 1993, 2004 and 2018 vintages, 

The collections are available exclusively available at the De Bortoli online shop for $2000 per Limited Edition.

Visit www.debortoli.com.au/nobleone40thanniversary

Milestone for an iconic Australian wine

A trend-setting Australian wine, De Bortoli's iconic Noble One, is celebrating 40 years of continued success. 

Since its first release in 1982, Noble One has been awarded over 182 trophies and 505 gold medals globally. 

It is one of the most awarded wines in history.

Darren de Bortoli created Noble One at the family winery at Bilbul, in the Riverina region of New South Wales in 1982. 

Today the "sticky" remains the benchmark of Australian botrytis dessert winemaking.

"It feels like only yesterday that Dad and I were asking the local growers to allow their grapes to go rotten." Darren recalls. 

"They thought we were both mad, yet here we are celebrating 40 years of Noble One and what a journey it has been. 

"One of my favourite memories from the early days of Noble One was being awarded the trophy for best sweet wine in the world at the International Wine and Spirit Awards in 1984 by Madame Odette Pol Roger. 

"At the time it was like a dream." 

 
One fascinating fact about Noble One is that there is no sugar added into the wine, the sweetness is all natural and comes solely from the semillon grapes. 

This makes it an ideal wine for pairing with blue cheese and pates, with the salty/savoury characters of the dishes balanced out the natural sweetness of the wine. 

See www.debortoli.com.au/

It's official: Calabria is a Riverina wine legend

 

Bill Calabria AM is one of the nicest men in the wine industry. 

Second-generation winemaker has been recognised as the 2021 Riverina Legend at this year’s Riverina Wine Show following his namesake winery’s sweeping of the competition with a total of six trophies and the award for Most Successful Exhibitor for the third consecutive year.

 

Calabria, who once fought as a professional boxer, has been a notable figure in the Riverina since first working for the family’s winery (formerly known as Westend) at the age of 14. 

He has long held that the region can produce outstanding, premium wines, in addition to creating notable value drops. 

 

In 2013, he as made a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to the industry. 

 

NSW Wine Industry Association president Mark Bourne said: “This deserved recognition of Bill’s accomplishments are borne from his passion, innovation and commitment to the Riverina, New South Wales and Australian wine industry over many years. 

“We look forward to the exciting future for Bill and the entire Calabria family as they continue to play a significant role in the prosperity and growth of the Riverina for generations to come.” 

 

Regular readers will know I am not a huge fan of wine shows but these were exceptional results. 

“What an honour to be the recipient of the Riverina Legend award,“ Calabria said. 

“I am grateful to my distinguished peers and Riverina neighbours for continuing to support our family, even through the most challenging times in our 76-year history. 

 

“I have always believed the Riverina to be incredibly underrated, both locally and globally, but through our consistency of quality wines from year to year, the region continues to be the heart of the NSW wine industry. 

“One thing that stands out is the incredible sense of community and camaraderie found in the region and I send my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the ongoing success of our family winery over the past seven decades.”

 

The Riverina Legend award first launched in 2019 as part of the Riverina Wine Show. Bill Calabria joins Les Worland (2019) and Jim and Keith McWilliam (2020).

Family wine group becomes a major industry player

What began as a small family wine producer in the Riverina is now a major player in the Australian liquor industry. 

The Calabria family has launched the Calabria Family Wine Group following a year of significant brand acquisitions, including the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand and Hanwood Winery along with Deakin Estate, and La La Land Wines. 

The rapid growth of the family business has evolved significantly, cementing them among the largest family-owned wine groups in Australia.

The Calabria Family Wine Group will house the family’s collection of brands and aims to ensure each of the brands continues to carry their distinct identities, portfolios, and distribution strategies.

Vintners & Co. Merchants is the new distribution arm of the company representing Calabria Family Wines’ international distribution partnerships and includes the Italian brands Canti and Librandi, port house Dow’s, Argentinian winery Dona Paula, and Champagne producer Champagne Deutz.

“It’s been an exciting year for us at Calabria Family Wines," said third-generation sales and marketing manager Andrew Calabria. 

"We have rapidly expanded from a single producer-owned and operated wine company to a wine group housing some of Australia’s best-loved wine brands and a selection of diverse international wine distribution partnerships. 

"The creation of the Group is a direct response to this growth and our mission to showcase each of these brands in the best way possible. 

“This evolution is a significant step and a proud moment for us as a family. Calabria Family Wine Group now sits among the largest family-owned wine groups in Australia and made even more significant given we’ve just celebrated our 75th anniversary.

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming a new group of talent to the Calabria fold, including Scott McWilliam as our Global Brand Ambassador. We’re confident he and the rest of the team will help us bring together the Calabria and McWilliam’s families in the best way possible, while also helping the Calabria Family Wine Group on a path to growth.” 

The Calabria Family Wine Group will be operated by family patriarch Bill Calabria AM (above, a former boxer and talented musician), and the third generation of the Calabria Family.

Another new innovation from Calabria is the launch of customised labels for the Belena range - a very nifty gift. 

Calabria will send you your own personalised label to affix directly to a bottle (it will come as a sticker label that you peel the back layer off and stick to the label!)⁠

Customers must purchase any two bottles of Calabria Bélena Moscato or Pinot Grigio from selected liquor stores or online (Dan Murphy’s, First Choice or Liquorland stores), retain proof of purchase and fill out a form. 

For details see www.calabriawines.com.au/personalised-belena

It's a deal! Calabria purchase of McWilliam's Wines deal finalised

                                           

                                           Andrew Calabria and Scott McWilliam

Calabria Family Wines’ purchase of McWilliam's Wines is now complete.

Calabria family patriarch Bill Calabria announced the finalisation of the deal in a letter to associates.

"Both of our families have a rich heritage, contributing much to the Australian wine industry 
and the Riverina wine region," he said. 

"While the recent acquisition closes a difficult period for the McWilliam family, I speak for everyone in the Calabria family that we aim to respect their many contributions to the growth of Australian wine and champion the unique attributes that have made the McWilliam’s name celebrated around the world.

"Since our own founding 75 years ago, the supportive relationships with our Riverina neighbours have always been an important part of our journey, not least with the McWilliam family.

"The McWilliams were instrumental in helping my father, Francesco Calabria, in establishing our vineyard and winery. I know that it’s in this spirit that Frank, Michael, Andrew and Elizabeth are proud and honoured to be working with Scott McWilliam and the rest of the family to bring both of our businesses together in the best way possible.

"Over the next four weeks, our focus will be to integrate each McWilliam's Wines business department into our own - from production and sales to marketing and operations. We aim to align all systems to work together, while both brands maintain their unique identities.

"Our ultimate goal is to ensure we are both on a path to prosperity. Combined, McWilliam's and Calabria have over two centuries of winemaking experience and excellence - and it’s our goal to give the utmost respect to that.

"While these businesses will continue to operate as two entities, both families will work together - stronger as one."

Andrew Calabria and Scott McWilliam