Calabria Family Wines is preparing to add extra jobs in its bottling plant as it prepares to invest in the business' future.
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The winery has received a funding grant from the Commonwealth Government's manufacturing modernisation fund which will see a new carbonator installed.
General manager Michael Calabria said the project was about keeping jobs in Griffith.
"We're looking at upgrading our bottling lines so we're not sending product out of the region," Mr Calabria said.
Calabria Family Wines has outsourced the bottling of some sparkling wine varieties as they machinery to do the job on site isn't available.
We expect more full-time roles to be created in the business. It helps support our community, which is really important during these tough times.
- Calabria Family Wines general manager Michael Calabria
A carbonator effectively puts bubbles into wine bottles which means when someone opens a bottle of sparkling wine there's a pop.
Carbonating wine usually has to be done at very cold temperatures.
Mr Calabria said the new machine would be more efficient and it would be able to be done at higher temperatures, which means extra savings in the process.
"There's savings on refrigeration, and (not) sending the wine to somewhere else to be bottled and then bringing it back for warehousing," he said.
The project is budgeted to cost $417,600, the federal government will contribute $100,000 with Calabria Family Wines picking up the rest of the tab.
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While the winery will soon be able to bottle all of their wines and be more efficient at it, more staff will be needed to get the job done.
"We expect more full-time roles to be created in the business," Mr Calabria said.
"It helps support our community, which is really important during these tough times."
Mr Calabria said the business was looking to invest in its future and not just to get past the COVID-19 situation.
"We're investing for a long time, there are more hurdles but we've got to think of the future," he said.
Like many businesses the pandemic has had an impact, and the winery's cellar doors have had to change how they work.
Instead of offering a tasting experience they've become bottleshops.
It's meant some casual workers have been left without work and Mr Calabria said they were grateful for the support of the communities the winery operated in.
"It's the 75th year of Calabria Family Wines and we want to be here for another 75 years."
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
