Calabria Family Buys Three New Brands

Calabria Family Wines has bought three Australian wine brands – Deakin Estate, La La Land and Azahara.

The formal agreement is a brand-only sale and transfers ownership of these brands from the Wingara Wine Group, part of Henkell Freixenet, to the Calabria family.

Calabria Family Wines will now produce all of the wines across each of the brand’s portfolios from their Griffith winery as well as manage marketing across all markets. Calabria Family Wines will continue the current distribution partnership with Red & White for all three brands in Australia.

“Each of these brands brings something new to the table for the team at Calabria and we are eager to welcome them to the family as we diversify and broaden our wine offering,” third-generation general manager Michael Calabria says.

“Deakin Estate, with over 50 years of winemaking history behind it, has achieved outstanding distribution, particularly in challenging export markets where many haven’t. That can only happen with a good quality product and dedicated team behind it.

“Both La La Land and Azahara, while newer to market, are unique brands with well-established portfolios and market presence, both domestically and overseas. We look forward to relishing in La La Land’s dedication to emerging wine styles with our own Italian alternatives and celebrating Azahara’s effervescent flare and sophistication.”

Wingara Wine Group is part of Henkell Freixenet, a global market leader in sparkling wine, which was formed in January 2019 from the legacy Henkell & Co. Group and Grupo Freixenet.

Sean Shortt, executive director, Sales and Marketing at Wingara, says, “Henkell Freixenet considers Australia an important market with great potential, and our strategic focus is the development of our global icon brands, Henkell, Freixenet and Mionetto.

“We are delighted that the Deakin Estate, Azahara and La La Land brands are moving to a family-owned company who have the resources and drive to take the brands to the next level.”

Both parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction.