d’Arenberg Buys Craft Distillery

d’Arenberg has purchased McLaren Vale craft distillery Settlers Spirits and the associated premium mixer brand, Oceans Spirit.

Founded by Rowland and Shelley Short in 2018, Settlers Spirits has become one of the industry’s premier boutique gin distillers.

d’Arenberg chief winemaker Chester Osborn says there are currently no plans for significant changes to the business.

“I’m a fan of the diversity and craftsmanship of Rowland’s gins and spirits,” he says.

“The methodical and detailed blending methods represent a philosophical alignment to what we do here at d’Arenberg.

“Rowland has some exciting ideas around product development, and we are excited to work together to bring those ideas to fruition which can only be a great thing for fans of Settlers Spirits.”

Settlers’ McLaren Vale cellar door operations, known for behind-the-scenes experiences such as the gin blending masterclass, will operate independently.

Rowland said, “I couldn’t be happier to see d’Arenberg as custodians of Settlers Spirits and to see ownership remain within the McLaren Vale wine region.”

According to Settlers Spirits’ website, Master Mariner Rowland Short navigated the Earth’s oceans as both ship’s captain and aboard his self-made yacht, making landfall in faraway ports in search of exotic and native botanicals that would marry seamlessly with his other great passion: gin.

“Botanicals, he says, are the natural world’s language of joy and splendour; arousing human senses of smell, taste, sight and sound. The perfect antidote to an endless horizon of blue ocean,” the site says.

“Finally settling in McLaren Vale, Rowland set up a beautiful column still, and embarked on a new journey.

“Today, Settle’s Spirits combines botany and exploration with long established traditions to produce a range of expertly crafted and distinctly blended gins.”

With 13 different flavoured gins along with a range of whisky, rum, vodka, flavoured liqueurs and customer favourites Rare Dry Gin, Pink Gin and Yuzu Gin, Settlers Spirits has established nationwide distribution.