After the news about the insolvency of the Australian traditional winery McWilliam's in January 2020, the all-clear was given only a few weeks ago: In cooperation with the consulting firm KPMG, the Griffith-based company Calabria Family Wines was won as a buyer.
As has now become known, however, the creditors' meeting has now approved a sale in two parts. This is reported by Australian media. This means Calabria Family Wines will take over the brands, the intellectual property, and the shareholdings of McWilliam's as well as the vineyard, the wine estate, and the production facilities of Hanwood.
However, the Mount Pleasant premium winery in the Hunter Valley, which also belongs to McWilliam's, will be sold to a Sydney-based real estate development group belonging to the Medich Family investment company. The latter has not been active in the wine business so far. Furthermore, it became known that the De Bortoli family wine company from Riverina had made a bid for the whole McWilliams estate but did not win the bid.
It seems to be undisputed that the Calabria Family wants to continue to make wine and to grow with the newly acquired estate. However, it remains unclear what plans the real estate investors have for the Mount Pleasant wine estate. aw
