THE family behind one of Australia's most successful wineries has distanced itself from family member and former Casella Wines director, Marcello Casella, after he was charged over his alleged involvement in a major drug syndicate.
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Marcello Casella, the youngest brother of John Casella, managing director of Casella Family Brands, is alleged to be part of a criminal syndicate that produced, distributed and sold commercial quantities of cannabis and methylamphetamine throughout southern NSW.
In February this year Marcello Casella who helped turn Yellow Tail wines into one of the great Australian export success stories was charged with several firearm offences, followed in September by charges over his alleged involvement in a drug syndicate.
It is alleged he took part in growing a large commercial crop of 2750 cannabis plants between December 2013 and February 2014 in Crowther, north of Young.
The 54-year-old appeared in Griffith Local Court on Wednesday, facing charges of one count of cultivating a large commercial quantity of a prohibited plant and one count of participating in a criminal group, as well as several firearms offences relating to the improper storage of two pallets filled with shotgun cartridges and 60kg of gunpowder on the Yenda property.
Together with his two brothers, Marcello Casella transformed Casella Wines, started by their father Filippo Casella in 1969, from a tin shed on a 39 hectare block into one of Australia's major wine exporters, with Yellow Tail taking the US by storm with an estimated annual turnover of $100 million at its peak.
The case was adjourned and Marcello Casella will appear in court again in January 2015.
His bail conditions involve reporting to the Griffith police officer in charge every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
On February 27, Mr Casella ceased being a director of Casella Wines, leaving his two older brothers, Joe and John, as the joint directors of the business which exports some 12 million cases of Yellow Tail wine to more than 50 countries annually.
The family has now distanced themselves from their former director.
In a statement a Casella Family Brands spokesman said the alleged incidents would relate to " the behaviour and actions of the individual" of Marcello Casella and "in no way" it would impact or has impacted on the family business.
"Mr Marcello Casella resigned as a director of Casella Family Brands earlier this year and therefore this matter is entirely unrelated to the company or any of its associated brands," the statement said.