Bibendum strengthens Australian portfolio with Wynns

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 13 March, 2014

Bibendum has added Coonawarra estate Wynns to its portfolio, along with boutique Margaret River producer Fraser Gallop and fortified wines Morris of Rutherglen.

Wynns, which is owned by Treasury Wine Estates, will be available to the on trade and off trade, but wines from the other two estates will be sold through the independent and on-trade channels only.

Bibendum's buying manager for the New World, Matt Smith, said: "Wynns is a perfect fit for Bibendum, with a range of wines that work across a variety of channels. We already work very closely with Treasury Wine Estates on Penfolds and when the opportunity to partner with Wynns came up, we jumped at the chance."

Dan Townsend, Treasury Wine Estates's general manager for the UK, said: "This is fantastic news for Wynns. We were determined to take the brand to a distributor that recognised not only the quality and heritage of Wynns but also had an unparalleled network and. Bibendum was the obvious choice."

Fraser Gallop is a family-owned winery in Margaret River. Former Vasse Felix winemaker Clive Otto is in charge of the cellars and has built a strong reputation for his Chardonnays, Cabernets and Semillon-Sauvignon blends.

Morris of Rutherglen, founded in 1859, is one of Australia's oldest wineries. It operates under fifth generation family winemaker David Morris to produce the sweet fortified wines typical of the region.

Smith added: "We are always looking for new, exciting producers and Fraser Gallop and Morris are certainly exciting - albeit for different reasons. Fraser Gallop's wines really stood out in a recent WA blind tasting for their purity and balance. In addition, I have always had a soft spot for Rutherglen stickies and Morris in particular. They are phenomenal wines that are full of history and great value too."

Bibendum Wine sells over 1.5 million cases of wine to around 3,000 on-trade customers, from Michelin-starred restaurants to independent pubs and international sporting venues. The company's off-trade division supplies all the major high street wine shops.

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