The Premier of South Australia, John Olsen, today formally opened the new $30 million Wolf Blass winery in the heart of the famed Barossa Valley winegrowing region.
The new winery represents the first stage of a 10-year development plan for the home of the legendary Wolf Blass wines, the flagship Australian wine brand in the Beringer Blass Wines Estates (Beringer Blass) stable.
"In our view, the Wolf Blass winery is the world's most advanced premium winery, offering the very best in winemaking flexibility, efficiency, safety and environmental protection," said Mr Terry Davis, Managing Director of Beringer Blass, the world's leading premium wine group and a key division of Foster's Brewing Group.
In his address at the grand opening, Mr Davis said: "We set out to build Australia's dream winery. The top priority was to give our winemakers unrivalled flexibility and efficiency in winemaking options. In doing so, we've reduced operating costs and improved workplace safety. We have also substantially improved the quality and distinctiveness of the wines we make to satisfy the international market for ultra-premium wine brands."
The winery development is based on Beringer Blass' long-term expectations for the international success of Australian wines generally, and for the group's own South Australian wine portfolio particularly.
It has capacity to process 20,000 tonnes of premium grapes during the 2001 vintage and has been designed to allow for expansion up to 75,000 tonnes, to cater for the increasing needs of the USA wine market following our union with Beringer Wine Estates.
"Australia's investment in wine processing capacity has not kept pace with increased vineyard planting," said Terry Davis.
"It's remarkable that Wolf Blass managed to revolutionise red winemaking in this country and fill our wine history books with trophy-winning records, while having to outsource all grape-crushing activity. Our new winery will help us sustain the phenomenal growth in sales of our South Australian wines by securing the very best processing facilities for our talented winemakers."
Plant and equipment for the new winery have been selected to achieve the highest winemaking quality with maximum safety and efficiency. Three different types of fermenters (rotary, static and new open-style) provide winemakers with the ultimate range of wine processing options. Also, in a world first, pre-programmed cranes have been introduced to improve the safety and efficiency of a range of manual processes now used throughout the industry.
Community considerations have been important in all respects of the project. All the crushing, destemming, fermentation and pressing equipment used has been made in South Australia. The land surrounding the winery has been landscaped and wastewater will be treated for reuse on the local golf course.
Acknowledging the significance of the project to the State, the Premier commented: "Here is a great South Australian success story. A world class winery that's grown from a tin shed to become the proud centrepiece of a truly global Australian wine company - its 10 year-vision creating an estimated 320 new jobs and $385 million in income for the Barossa region."
Thanking Premier John Olsen, Mr Davis applauded the South Australian Government's far-sighted development approval process and its role in fostering the wine industry in the State.
Further Information:
Rell Hannah
Director Corporate Affairs
Tel: +613 8626 3307
Mob: 0419 369 075
Email: rell.hannah@beringerblass.com.au
