Australian Vintage invests AU$11m in packaging facility

Australian Vintage has invested $11 million in a new state-of-the-art bottling facility in Victoria in order to “significantly increase” its production capabilities.

The new facility was officially opened this week on 12 February and has been described by Australian Vintage as “one of the most technologically advanced packaging facilities in the world”.

The project is part of a larger $19 million investment to improve the company’s operations across all its sites.

Thanks to the new packaging plant, Australian Vintage will be able to bottle both its still and sparkling wines for its three key brands – McGuigan, Tempus Two and Nepenthe – under one roof. This will enable the company to bring new products to market faster and respond to what it says is “growing demand” for its sparkling wine.

The Merbein-based facility will be able to package still and sparkling wine at rates of 11,000 and 7,000 bottles per hour respectively.

Australian Vintage has also installed one of the largest privately-owned solar plants at its winery at Buronga Hill and has committed to new vineyard plantings covering over 180 hectares. In November last year, it signed what it described as a “landmark” renewable energy deal, rendering it the first wine producer in Australia to run 90% of its operations on solar and wind power. 

Australian Vintage chief executive officer, Neil McGuigan, said: “The opening of our new Merbein packaging facility is a landmark moment for Australian Vintage and represents a step-change in our capabilities as Australia’s fifth largest wine company. The $11 million investment we have made means we now have one of the most technologically advanced packaging sites in the world.

“We embarked on a meticulous two-year search for the best possible machinery available, which took us right across the globe. As a result, I am confident this investment will take our already outstanding quality reputation to the next level. It will also allow us to create new and exciting products for both domestic and global markets.”