TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY
We are pleased to share with you that Calabria Family Wines' purchase of McWilliam's Wines is now complete.
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Both of our families have a rich heritage, contributing much to the Australian wine industry and the Riverina wine region.
While the recent acquisition closes a difficult period for the McWilliam family, I speak for everyone in the Calabria family that we aim to respect their many contributions to the growth of Australian wine and champion the unique attributes that have made the McWilliam's name celebrated around the world.
Since our own founding 75 years ago, the supportive relationships with our Riverina neighbours have always been an important part of our journey, not least with the McWilliam family.
The McWilliam's were instrumental in helping my father, Francesco Calabria, in establishing our vineyard and winery.
I know that it's in this spirit that Frank, Michael, Andrew and Elizabeth are proud and honoured to be working with Scott McWilliam and the rest of the family to bring both of our businesses together in the best way possible.
Over the next four weeks, our focus will be to integrate each McWilliam's Wines business department into our own - from production and sales to marketing and operations.
We aim to align all systems to work together, while both brands maintain their unique identities.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure we are both on a path to prosperity. Combined, McWilliam's and Calabria have over two centuries of winemaking experience and excellence - and it's our goal to give the utmost respect to that.
While these businesses will continue to operate as two entities, both families will work together - stronger as one.
Importantly, all distribution enquiries will now be handled directly through Calabria Family Wines.
We will update you with any further developments as they occur, but for now, we wanted to share our excitement as the Calabria and McWilliam family enter a new era in our Australian wine journey.
Bill Calabria, managing director and winemaker
WHY AREN'T WE ADAPTING PLAN?
During a recent trip to Albury I heard our Member for Farrer Sussan Ley talking on radio about the government delivering a balanced Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Across the mid to western part of Ms Ley's electorate there is uncertainty, distrust and frustration because we have a local member as Environment Minister, watching by as large, unnatural flows down the Murray River cause unnecessary environmental damage.
Further, in a post-Budget speech, Ms Ley stated: "As our climate changes, we need to adapt and plan."
What we cannot understand is why adapting to climate change does not apply to the Basin Plan. Throughout its implementation there has been a refusal to accept the desperate need for adaptability.
The MDBA Chair, Sir Angus Houston, spoke extensively about climate change and the risks associated with pending reduced flows at the Murray Darling Association annual conference.
So why aren't we looking at solutions to reduce the massive flows to South Australia, and in the process reducing environmental damage and improving our overall water management?
The legislated SA flow targets, based on questionable science, were adopted before the impact of climate change was fully acknowledged.
The answer, of course, is politics. Ms Ley and her Government colleagues are terrified of potential political damage in South Australia at the mere mention of flow reductions, even though securing Adelaide's water supply could be achieved by turning on SA's desalination plant.
This isn't done because it is more expensive than pouring water the length of the Murray River.
Our communities wait eagerly for the day of reckoning, when the damage being caused by a failing Basin Plan is acknowledged. Our hope is that in the meantime the environmental damage being caused is not beyond repair.