The Australian traditional winery McWilliam's has been bought by Calabria Family Wines. In January 2020, it became known that McWilliam's had to file for insolvency (LINK). Since then, the KPMG consulting firm has been tasked with finding a solution for the continuity of the winery. This solution has now been found, as Calabria Family Wines, the buyer, reports.
With the purchase, the Griffith-based Calabria family takes over McWilliam's brands, intellectual property, and stock, as well as the vineyards, winery, and cellar in Hanwood.
"It is a great honour for our family to become the proud custodians of Australia's winemaking history with the purchase of McWilliam's Wines. Despite recent challenges, we know that the McWilliam's name carries a long and prestigious reputation as one of Australia's oldest wine producers," said General Manager Michael Calabria.
Established in 1877, McWilliam's has grown to become one of Australia's leading family-owned wineries. Various wineries in the Riverina and New South Wales regions are now being farmed by the sixth generation. The company has long been considered Australia's sixth largest wine producer, with sales of AU $87.4 million (about €54 million) in the 2017/18 financial year, but sales had been steadily declining in recent years.
As part of the transition, Calabria Family Wines will work with management consultants KPMG and McWilliam's to ensure it is smooth, it says. aw
