Is your favourite wine brand about to be sold or dumped?

Penfolds is the jewel in the crown.

Wynns Coonawarra Estate and Coldstream Hills have been declared safe. Rouge Homme has been sold.

But what is the future for iconic Australian wine brands including Seppelt, Lindeman’s or Wolf Blass?  What about St Huberts' or 19 Crimes? 

That's all up in the air right now after owner Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) outlined plans to reshape its portfolio around “evolving consumer and customer needs” and to focus increased investment behind its strongest long-term growth opportunities.

The company said it will focus on Penfolds, Californian brand DAOU and New Zealand label Matua, which will be complemented by "regional heroes’ including Frank Family Vineyards, Beaulieu Vineyard and Stag's Leap in the US, along with Wynns Coonawarra, Squealing Pig, Pepperjack and Coldstream Hills. 

TWE said its goal is to become “a simpler and more focused luxury wine business” investing in fewer, stronger brands, while increasing its emphasis on lighter styles and no and low- alcohol wines". 

Sounds like following fashion to me.  

The restructure is expected to result in a significantly smaller TWE portfolio, from 76 brands possibly down to as few as 30. But it is not known which brands will be sold or dumped.

TWE chief executive officer Sam Fischer (above) said the company was building on strong foundations.

“We have some of the world’s most recognised wine brands, outstanding vineyards and winemaking assets, deep expertise from grape to glass, and strong customer relationships across global markets,” Fischer said.

“Wine continues to play an important role in consumers’ lives, but consumer preferences and market dynamics are changing.

“The future belongs to wine businesses that are more focused, agile and closely aligned to where consumers and customers are heading.”

Fischer said TWE’s new look would be designed around the trends shaping the future of global wine.

“Premiumisation remains a powerful long-term trend, with consumers increasingly choosing to drink less but better,” he said.

“At the same time, we’re also seeing strong growth in lighter styles, more relaxed social occasions and moderation trends, particularly among younger consumers.

“We’re reshaping Treasury Wine Estates to where we see the strongest long-term demand and growth opportunities in luxury red, luxury white, and more contemporary wine experiences.”

Rouge Homme Wines back in the Redman family

Iconic Coonawarra wine brand Rouge Homme is back in its traditional home with original owners the Redman family. 

Global wine producer Treasury Wine Estates today announced the sale of the brand. 

First bottled in 1952, the label grew an Australian and international following for its distinctive wines, including its cabernet sauvignon/shiraz blend. 

Rouge Homme (literally Red Man in French) was sold in 1965 to Lindeman’s, which is now part of TWE. In recent years it has languished. 

Redman Wines was launched in 1966 by the family after the sale of Rouge Homme. 

Redman Wines co-owner and fourth-generaIon winemaker Dan Redman said he was delighted to have the label back in the family’s brand portfolio. 

“Rouge Homme has a special place in the heart of Coonawarra," he said. "Welcoming it back in the 60th year of Redman Wines is especially meaningful - a full-circle moment. 

"We’re often asked about the connection of Rouge Homme with Redman, with many wine drinkers enjoying the wines that were made in the 50s and 60s. The label is synonymous with the Redman family and we’re proud to take it into the future.”

Treasury Wine Estates senior viticulturist Ben Harris said: “We’re proud to have been the custodians of Rouge Homme and are delighted that it’s been acquired by the Redman family. 

"With storied brands, unmistakable terroir and exceptional wines, global interest in the Coonawarra region continues to grow, and we look forward to following the next chapter of the Rouge Homme story.”

No financial details were disclosed. 

Rouge Homme was officially handed over at a lunch at the historic Wynns Coonawarra Estate. 

Redman Wines intends to make a small premium release of Rouge Homme in keeping with its award-winning history. 

The sale of Rouge Homme back to Redman Wines includes a small quantity of back-vintage wine.

Snoop Dogg's latest wine pays tribute to a musical milestone

I love a wide range of musical genres from Led Zeppelin, to Smokey Robinson and the Miracles to Jerry Jeff Walker. 

I have not, however, become enamoured with the music of wine mogul Snoop Dogg, or his departed friend Tupac Shakur. 

Which means I was blissfully unaware that this year marks the  30th anniversary of one of rap's most iconic collabs: 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted. 

To mark this momentous milestone, wine brand Cali By Snoop has dropped (I think that means released) Kingz of Cali, a wine that is a personal tribute from Snoop Dogg to Tupac. 

I'm reliably told that Australia has a deep love of West Coast hip-hop. And Kingz of Cali is a red blend that celebrates the history of two of hip-hop’s greatest superstars.

Along with the tribute featuring on the bottle, Snoop Dogg also stars in a homage film, where Mr Broadus reminisces on their experience together and pours a glass of wine in Tupac’s honour. 

The film also features rare, archival behind-the-scenes footage from the music video for “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.”

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since Pac and I got together to make 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted," says Mr Dogg. .

"Nobody did it like us, and I can’t think of a better way to honour his legacy than with a drink.” 

Kingz of Cali was inspired by a time in Snoop and Tupac’s history where they came together as young artists. 

The label design is inspired by a moment etched in hip-hop history at the 1996 VMA Awards, featuring Snoop Dogg and Tupac. 

Here comes the hype: 

“It’s been an absolute privilege to work with Snoop Dogg and the Tupac Estate to develop a wine celebrating this historic collaboration, and worthy of two of hip-hops greatest Icons,” said John Wardley, senior vice president of brand, innovation, and partnerships at Treasury Wine Estates.

 “The “Cali by Snoop” range has always pushed the boundaries of traditional wine culture. We are proud to honour Tupac and Snoop's legacy with a truly unique wine.”

I'm not sure what makes it "truly unique". It is a shiraz-driven red blend from the US. 

Kingz of Cali is available for an RRP of $18 at Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores. For more info see CaliBySnoop.com.

And here's a link to the very unGhetto video: https://youtu.be/E2C2EBAsZ5Q

Coldstream Hills marks a milestone in style

Coldstream Hills, the Yarra Valley producer founded by wine guru James Halliday, is celebrating its 40th birthday.

Halliday has retired to Sydney and Coldstream Hills has long been part of Treasury Wine Estates, but it remains one of the Yarra's most celebrated wineries. 

Consistency is provided by former Seppelt winemaker Andrew Fleming, who has been chief winemaker since 2001. 

To mark 40 years, The Amphitheatre Experience will be held on November 15 and 16 at the Coldstream Hills cellar door. 

Hosted by wine raconteur George Samios and set overlooking the spectacular Amphitheatre Block - the first vineyard planted by Halliday in 1985 - the tasting will includes eight current and back-vintage wines, paired with an artisanal grazing platter.

The cost is $60 per person. Book Your Tasting. 

There will also be a 40th birthday wine dinner on Wednesday, November 19, at The George on Collins, Melbourne. 

Guests can join Fleming and Samios for a three-course menu matched with rare and current Coldstream Hills wines, plus behind-the-scenes tales of how it all began.

This costs $250 per person. Book your dinner ticket. 

There will also be back vintage tastings every weekend in November at the cellar door. 

Tasters can go into a draw to win a museum magnum selected by Fleming, and receive a bonus bottle of Beenak Pinot Noir with every six-bottle purchase. 

I'd recommend enjoying a glass of the award-winning 2018 Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay, which I thoroughly enjoyed at a recent tasting. It is lemony and briochey with a very lively mousse. A serious bargain for $35. 

Also try to taste the restrained, elegant and minerally 2024 Beernak Chardonnay ($55), the soft and plush 2024 Deer Farm Vineyard Pinot Noir ($50) and the Coldstream Hills 2024 Reserve Chardonnay ($60), a wine of balance and intensity. 

   
Coldstream Hills Cellar Door, 29 Maddens Lane, Gruyere, Vic. https://www.coldstreamhills.com.au/

Wine producer agrees to cough up millions

Treasury Wine Estates, which owns brands including Penfolds and Seppelt, has just suffered a legal whopping.

A $65 million settlement has been reached between Slater and Gordon Lawyers, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and Treasury Wine Estates on behalf of shareholders who sustained losses due to Treasury’s conduct when it downgraded its forecast earnings for 2020.

The plaintiffs alleged that Treasury had engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct in breach of Australian Consumer Law and breached its continuous disclosure obligations under the ASX Listing Rules.

Slater and Gordon and Maurice Blackburn filed class actions against Treasury in relation to that contravening conduct that were consolidated in late 2020 and have since then jointly represented the joint plaintiffs, and investors, who lost money when Treasury downgraded its earnings guidance for 2020 on January 28, 2020.

The class action alleged Treasury engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct and breached its continuous disclosure obligations based on the earnings guidance it provided the market in 2018 and 2019.

A seven-week trial was due to commence this week before Justice Waller in Victoria’s Supreme Court, to consider those issues and ultimately determine Treasury’s liability to affected Treasury shareholders.

Slater and Gordon’s lead plaintiff Brett Stallard said he was “pleased that a settlement had been reached on behalf of investors who lost money as a result of result of Treasury’s earnings downgrade in 2020”.

Slater and Gordon Class Actions Principal Lawyer Mitchell Coidan said: “We are pleased to have been able to reach this outcome for group members on the eve of a trial listed for seven weeks, following hard-fought litigation with Treasury.

"The outcome means that group members who sustained losses as a result of Treasury’s allegedly contravening conduct, will receive compensation in the short term. We are glad to have achieved this result for affected group members, without the need for a protracted court process.”

The settlement remains subject to court approval and Treasury has made no admission of liability.

Now Reese Witherspoon has her own wine range

The celebrity wine trend is becoming a tidal wave.

Australia’s Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has announced the launch of a new Drop of Sunshine range created in partnership with Hello Sunshine, a media company founded by movie star Reese Witherspoon.

TWE has teamed up with Hello Sunshine to launch a new range of three wines - a California Brut Sparkling Rosé (US$25), Central Coast Chardonnay ($20), and Central Coast Red Blend ($25), news portal drinks business reports.

Hello Sunshine is an American media company founded by Witherspoon and Strand Equity founder and managing partner Seth Rodsky in 2016.

The wines will make their debut this weekend in Los Angeles at Hello Sunshine’s second annual Shine Away event, featuring two days of panel discussions and workshops for female brand founders.

Hello Sunshine focuses on telling female-driven stories on film, TV and digital platforms.

Sarah Bakx, president of the Bold Brands business unit of Treasury Americas, a division in the super-complex TWE heirachy, gushes: “We are honoured to work alongside Hello Sunshine who (sic) elevates women’s voices and ensures our stories are heard. Wine is all about connection and is a fantastic platform for sharing special moments and storytelling. Our female-led Drop of Sunshine team collaborated with Hello Sunshine to create a line of engaging and vibrant wines that tell a story about the journeys that shape who we are and celebrate the drops of joy we feel along the way.”

Righto.

Treasury to sell some of Australia’s highest-profile wine brands

Wolf Blass, Lindemans and Yellowglen were once among the most powerful wine brands in Australia.

But owner Treasury Wine Estates today announced that all three brands are no longer wanted and will be sold.

The lower-priced wines have no place in Treasury's increasingly premium portfolio, headed by Penfolds and Wynns Coonawarra Estate.

Treasury told the Australian stock exchange that it intends to divest its commercial brand portfolio. That portfolio also includes US brand Blossom Hill.

The compnay said that collectively the four brands represented less than 5% of TWE’s net profits in the recently financial year 2023-2024.

“Following the latest review of the carrying value of the Group’s assets as part of its annual impairment testing process, TWE will recognise a non-cash impairment charge of $354m ($290m post-tax) in its financial result for the year ended 30 June 2024 in relation to the TPB division,” TWE said in its message to the ASX.

TWE has also announced that it will be increasing the price of Penfolds wines globally “by leveraging our unique Penfolds brand status to drive ongoing demand, we remain steadfast on our clear ambition to be the number one luxury wine brand in the market,” said Penfolds CEO Tim Ford.

Treasury Wine Estates swoops on premium US producer

Australian industry giant Treasury Wine Estates has pounced to purchase a leading premium wine producer in California.

Treasury - which owns brands ranging from Penfolds and Wynns Coonawarra Estate to 19 Crimes and Squealing Pig - today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire DAOU Vineyards.

The luxury wine business founded by brothers and co-proprietors Georges and Daniel Daou will command an "upfront consideration" of $US900 million, plus an additional earn-out of up to $100 million.

The press release says the "transformative deal will accelerate TWE's focus on a portfolio that is increasingly luxury-led with a greater presence in key growth markets such as the US".

Founded in 2007 and based in Paso Robles, California, DAOU is billed as the fastest-growing luxury wine brand in the US trade over the past year. It is known for its award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon-based Patrimony wines.

DAOU should prove a strong complement to TWE's existing portfolio in upper-luxury price points and fills a key portfolio opportunity for Treasury in the $20-40 range in the US, as well as strengthening its luxury portfolio in the $40+ range.

Tim Ford, the CEO of Treasury Wine Estates, said: "The US is the world's largest wine market and we're beyond thrilled to add DAOU to our portfolio, cementing our position as a global luxury wine leader.

"This is a transformative acquisition that will accelerate the growth of our luxury portfolio globally and paves the way for new luxury consumer experiences. DAOU is an award-winning luxury wine business with an outstanding track record for growth and we have grand plans for DAOU to become the next brand with the international scale and luxury credentials of Penfolds.

"With DAOU, we will be well-positioned to connect with a new generation of wine lovers, combining tradition with innovation, culture-led experiences, and global distribution."

"The last frontier has always been international, and as part of the Treasury Wine Estates portfolio, we have unlocked the potential to be amongst the highest-end wines for consumers to enjoy globally," said Georges and Daniel Daou, who will remain with the business.

"In Treasury Wine Estates, we have found a partner that not only understands the value of our brand and the premium assets we have cultivated but also the importance of ensuring that we maintain a relentless focus on quality and craftsmanship as we step into our future. 

"Both companies are change leaders and by joining forces, we will continue to boldly disrupt the industry and bring the very best in wine and luxury experiences to consumers around the world."

New project for veteran winemaker

 

Chris Hatcher spent almost three decades as chief winemaker for the high-profile Wolf Blass wine brand, part of global giant Treasury Wine Estates.

Then, suddenly, he was gone.

Hatcher is now making wines under his own brand HATCH in the Barossa Valley, where he lives.

"HATCH Wines are coming along nicely and I will be releasing a 2023 Clare Valley Watervale Riesling and 2023 Eden Valley Flaxman’s Valley Riesling on September 1, followed by a Barossa Shiraz and a McLaren Vale Shiraz on November 1," he announced on LinkedIn.

Great news, but Hatcher's departure from Wolf Blass was handled most peculiarly.

I asked the Treasury media team for a press release on Hatcher's departure, and info on who would be replacing him.

After three days I finally got a one-line response; "Thank you for your email. We didn’t issue a media release but Wolf Blass continues to be made by our experienced team of winemakers "

Which is seriously weird given Hatcher had been the face of the brand.

Hatcher, now 71, completed a Science degree at the University of Adelaide in 1974, before studying winemaking at Charles Sturt University.

After working in Orlando and Kaiser Stuhl in the Barossa Valley and Simi Winery in California, he joined Wolf Blass in 1987. He was senior winemaker for nine years and in 1996 was promoted to chief winemaker.

He was named International Winemaker of the Year on multiple occasions.

In May, Hatcher presented the launch of the 2023 Wolf Blass luxury range.

On July 7 he retired with zero fanfare.

After almost 40 years. Odd is an undertatement.

Treasury Wine Estates goes hard on solar power

Australian wine industry giant Treasury Wine Estates this week unveiled the largest winery solar installation in Australia.

Commissioned 12 months ago, the solar system is now operational at the wine producer’s Barossa winery and production centre in South Australia, including on the car park roof.

The switch-on means brands including Penfolds, Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Squealing Pig and Pepperjack are on track to meet the company’s target of being produced using 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2024.

Featuring almost 6,000 solar panels at the Barossa site alone, the Australian systems are expected to generate more than 5,500 megawatt-hours of electricity per year, the equivalent of powering 900 homes.

The system has been designed to maximise the capacity of Barossa’s regional renewable electricity infrastructure, with the investment in Australia’s wine industry being promoted as TWE’s sustainability credentials.

It complements other systems already online across TWE’s Australian sites, including Coldstream Hills in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Penfolds in South Australia’s Magill, and Wynns in Coonawarra.

Kerrin Petty, Chief Supply & Sustainability Officer for TWE, said the investment in transitioning to 100% renewable electricity was prompted by the urgency to decarbonise TWE’s global operations.

“Installing solar panels is the most significant contribution we can make to move closer to our ambition of net zero direct emissions," Petty said.

"Waste not, want not" message for winemakers

Waste from winemaking could be a valuable source of ingredients for nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and food colouring, a new Australian study has revealed.

Research from chemical engineers at Monash University, Rachel Liu and Victoria Haritos, found that compounds derived from red wine grape varieties have significant levels of bioactive natural compounds called polyphenols and anthocyanins..

“Bioactive polyphenols and anthocyanins could have a number of commercial applications as functional ingredients, in dietary supplements and as natural food colourings” said Liu.

Diets rich in polyphenols, which are found in a range of fruits, vegetables and cereals, have been associated with protection against developing cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases in a number of epidemiological studies.

Anthocyanins, the pigments responsible for the colours red, purple and blue in many fruits and vegetables, have also been associated with antioxidant effects and the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes among other conditions.

In Australia, around 2 million tonnes of wine grapes are crushed annually, with about 20% by weight remaining as waste, including skins, seeds and stalks, after processing.

The majority of winemaking waste is currently returned to the land as compost, or other low-value uses and the potential value of the bioactives it contains goes unrealised.

“Across the Australian wine industry this means there is a massive volume of waste from which these compounds could be recovered and used,” said Haritos.

“We see great opportunities and are keen to explore how this waste product can be processed commercially.”

The initial research has been published in the international journal Cleaner Waste Systems and was supported by Treasury Wine Estates and in collaboration with Coldstream Hills Winery in the Yarra Valley.

Image: Goran Nikolic, Scop.io

Wolf Blass unveils new luxury releases

No matter what your price point is, there will be a Wolf Blass wine to match it.

If you are looing for a cheap tipple, then the brand created by German migrant Wolfgang Blass back in 1966 will have something to match your budget.

But Wolf Blass, now part of Treasury Wine Estates, also has several prestige wines in its new luxury collection, this week releasing five across three ranges - from $40-$200.

Chris Hatcher, the Wolf Blass chief winemaker, believes that the 2023 Luxury Collection captures the essence of the brand’s premium origins.

“Wolf forged a new path in luxury Australian wines, always setting a much higher standard amongst his peers and this philosophy remains as relevant today to the 2023 Luxury Collection as when he first began over 50 years ago,” Hatcher said.

The new collection’s wines feature three in the ‘grey’ range, and one each in the ‘black’ and ‘platinum’ ranges.

They are:

# Grey Label Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2022 – RRP $40

# Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021 – RRP $45

# Grey Label Langhorne Creek Cabernet Shiraz 2021 – RRP $45

# Black Label Barossa, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale Cabernet Shiraz Malbec 2021 – RRP $130

# Platinum Label Medlands Vineyard, Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021 – RRP $200

“The Grey Label range - the first wines to bear the Wolf Blass name back in the day - represent the benchmark styles of their regions, showcasing varieties that carry a definite sense of place," says Hatcher.

“Black Label, the first ultra-premium wine made by Wolfgang in 1973 - and the record four-time winner of Australia’s most prestigious wine trophy, the Jimmy Watson Trophy - put the winery on the map and this embodies the history, style and quality of Wolf Blass, establishing itself as one of Australia’s greatest wines..

“To complete the collection, Platinum Label, our ultimate wine, is the manifestation of unique terroir and vineyard excellence, enhanced with our winemakers’ experience and skill.

“Individually and collectively, these wines have been consistently recognised the world over. Sophisticated and multi-layered, they are equally traditional yet contemporary, showcasing the Wolf Blass hallmarks of power and elegance.”

The outlier in the range, the Adelaide Hills chardonnay, was the nicest surprise for me; very elegant, classic Australian cooler-climate chardonnay with real personality.

The Grey Label Langhorne Creek cabernet shiraz is one for the cellar. Inky with dark berry and cassis notes, it is still tightly wound. 

For now I would go with the delightful Grey Label McLaren Vale shiraz; intense and juicy but smooth on the finish. Think black and blue fruits, power and intensity.

The Black Label cabernet shiraz malbec blend is impressively; deep and long with dark fruit notes and charry oak.

My first thought on the Platinum Label wine was that it merits another 20 years in the cellar. It is a huge wine, high in alcohol - although the label claims only 14.5%. Drink the others first. Save this one.

Treasury snaps up historic Bordeaux wine estate

Australian wine powerhouse Treasury Wine Estates is the new owner of Chateau Lanessan, one of the old wine estates in Bordeaux.

"We’re pleased to announce the completion of our majority acquisition of Chateau Lanessan," the company said in a statement,

Founded in 1793 by Bordeaux wine merchant Jean Delbos, the property features 390 hectares of land and 80 hectares of Haut-Medoc-appellation vineyards, a winery, and two 19th century chateaux in the commune of Cussac near Fort Médoc.

The vineyard is planted with 52% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot, 8.5% petit verdot and 2.5% cabernet franc.

The estate held a rating of Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, until this classification was annulled.

The Bouteiller family has been the custodian of the property for nine and will continue to play a role as Treasury continues to build its multi-national luxury wine portfolio.

Penfolds managing director Tom King said: “We look forward to collaborating with the Bouteiller family and winemakers to enhance the château’s production capability and reputation for quality wine, while also deepening our relationships with the local Bordeaux community.

"The region’s winemaking traditions complement the quality and innovation that Penfolds is known for, and we have ambitious plans to invest in the historic property and welcome wine lovers to experience the region’s unique winemaking traditions.”

No financial details were announced but the deal was completed earlier this week. 

Wine company unveils $165 million new facility

Treasury Wine Estates, the company behind some of Australia’s biggest wine brands, has unveiled a $165m new state-of-the-art facility in the heart of the Barossa. 

TWE, which produces Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Pepperjack among many, says it is the largest premium winemaking site in the Southern Hemisphere, with the capacity to produce more than 100 million litres of wine every year.

The TWE Barossa site is the winemaker’s largest bottling operation in the world, packaging up to 216 million bottles per year, operating four bottling lines, and exporting to more than 70 countries around the world. 

The site will employ around 400 permanent team members and up to 600 during peak vintage periods.

It was opened by CEO Tim Ford and chief supply officer Kerrin Petty alongside South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.

The new site provides TWE with the ability to increase premium winemaking capacity by one-third, drive production efficiencies, and expand storage capacity. 

The site includes an additional production line, processing infrastructure and additional barrel storage facilities.

Petty said the new facility demonstrated the company’s commitment to South Australia and its continued focus on innovation in the wine sector.

“It’s a proud moment to unveil our new Barossa wine production facility, which has been two and a half years in the making through the challenges of the pandemic,” Petty said. 

“The new site is purpose-built for premium winemaking with the flexibility to scale up or down production depending on demand, which is crucial given the ebbs and flows of wine production.

“Sustainability has been front of mind throughout the entire project with the new infrastructure allowing us to manage the impacts of climate change on vintages and ensuring we can protect our most valuable grapes and produce the highest quality wine even in challenging years.

“It also sets us up to pursue our commitment to net zero. As our first step toward our target of being powered 100% by renewable energy by 2024, we are installing solar panels to offset 22% of the site’s energy consumption from the grid.

“We have also installed a purpose-built 254 megalitre dam to store treated water waste in winter and irrigate our vineyards in summer.”

The new winemaking site at Stockwell also includes a 4,500m2 Icon Cellar Building which will offer site tours. 

Meet the Big 4 who control over a third of Australian wine sales

Four major companies control well over a third of the Australian wine business, research by Savvy has revealed. 

The four major producers are led by Treasury Wine Estates Ltd with a market share of 13.5%. They produce some of Australia’s best-known premium brands including Penfolds, Wolf Blass, Lindemans, Seppelt, Wynn's Coonawarra Estate, 19 Crimes and Rosemount Estate.

Accolade Wines was in second position in terms of 2020 total wine production. Its brands include Hardys, Grant Burge, St Hallett, Petaluma and House of Arras. 

Casella Wines Pty. Ltd., in third position as of 2020 in terms of total wine production. It has a share of  7.7% of the market with wines including Yellow Tail. 

Pernod Ricard Pacific Holdings has a 7% market share and is the subsidiary of French luxury spirits and wine group Pernod Ricard SA. It owns Jacob’s Creek and St Hugo.

Underneath the Big 4 are medium-sized wine companies including Australian Vintage Limited (4% share), Kingston Wine Estates and De Bortoli Wines. 

Bill Tsouvalas, finance expert and founder of Savvy, says: “While the fundamentals of the wine business remain good, the industry has really been impacted by first the China trade tariffs and now the ongoing pandemic. 

"This has been reflected in the decline in business equipment lending we've seen in that sector, compared, say, to the craft beer market, where producers are increasing in number and expanding production capacity.

"But this may have as much to do with the comparative maturity of the industry - Australian wine producers have been established much longer and probably now have excess production capacity."

Wine Australia says that in the year ended December 2021, Australian exporters shipped wine to 112 markets, compared with 114 the year before. 

Red wine production leads the way in the Australian wine industry, comprising 59.5% of all products, followed by white wine on 32.2%. 

IBISWorld says the Australian wine industry is worth $6.9 billion, taking in $409.8 million in profits as of the final quarter of 2021. This represents a 5.9% profit margin for producers and wineries.

Here is the full Savvy report: https://www.savvy.com.au/wine-in-australia-still-the-taste-of-the-world/

# Savvy is one of Australia’s largest online financial brokers.

Crimes set to pay for “winemaker” Martha Stewart

Much-loved convicted fraudster and former cigarette spruiker Martha Stewart is the latest celebrity to sign up with Australian-owned wine label 19 Crimes. 

The sales blurb for 19 Crimes claims 80-year-old Stewart played an active role in crafting the Martha's Chard (sounds like a vegetable recipe), a Californian chardonnay that will sell in the US for $11.99.

Stewart joins a fellow felon: rapper Snoop Dogg, as a 19 Crimes partner.

Stewart, dubbed the "domestic goddess of white-collar crime" is famous for her books and TV cooking shows in the US.

“The release of 19 Crimes Martha’s Chard comes as the brand has experienced explosive growth, delivering the No.1 US Wine Innovations in both 2020 and 2021 for our first California wines with global icon, Snoop Dogg,” said John Wardley, Treasury Wine Estates’ vice president of brand marketing. 

“Just like her creative collaborator and friend Snoop, Martha Stewart also embodies the spirit of 19 Crimes - disruption and culture creation. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome another absolute icon of modern American culture to the 19 Crimes family.” 

The publicity blurb goes into overdrive, saying: "Martha worked side by side with 19 Crimes to create a wine that breaks preconceived notions of California chardonnay – approachable and simultaneously as bold as her personality. "

A former model who appeared in ads for Tareyton cigarettes, in 2004,Stewart was convicted of felony charges related to a stock trading case and served five months in federal prison.