Victorian winery Mac Forbes in Healesville – one of Australia’s best wineries – has gone into administration.
It comes at a time when the wine industry in Australia and across the world struggles with a crippling oversupply, rising business costs and falling alcohol consumption.
The administrators, Con Kokkinos and Matthew Kucianski advise that a first meeting of creditors of the company will be held in Melbourne on Thursday 24 September.
Mac Forbes spent his early winemaking years at Mount Mary.
He returned to Australia to establish his own business in the Yarra Valley in 2004, with the first vintage in 2005, with a focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Mac Forbes was in the news in July this year when Elgo Estate in the Strathbogie Ranges took to Instagram to demand payment for fruit that Mac Forbes purchased in 2024.
Elgo Estate’s vineyard at Upton Hill was destroyed by the fire in Victoria in early January.
Mac Forbes told WBM at the time that he took full responsibility for the late payment.
“We have been working to get the amount owed down, but appreciate that the extended period has caused Suzie and Grant additional stress, which I deeply regret,” he said.
“I have always been committed to paying this in full, and this will be finalised this coming week.
“The wine industry is going through an incredibly challenging period at the moment, and that is putting pressure on cashflow right across the supply chain.
“That’s the reality we’ve been navigating, though I recognise it doesn’t change what Elgo Estate and other suppliers are owed, or when they’re owed it.
“Our suppliers have been very patient as we work hard to get through this.
“We don’t take this for granted and are committed to meeting all our obligations.”
Over the years Mac Forbes has consistently achieved a five red star rating in the Halliday Wine Companion.