Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) have celebrated the crushing of its millionth tonne of grapes at its Barossa winery site today.

Christina Zavalis, TWE director of wineries for Australia and New Zealand, said that the milestone is an opportunity to celebrate the people and community that have been crucial to the winery's success.

"Reaching one million tonnes is an extraordinary achievement, but what it really represents is 25 years of people, progress, pride and world class wines.

Wine Estates

"There are team members here today who were part of that very first vintage in 2001, and others who have followed in the footsteps of parents and relatives who worked here before them," the Barossa local said.

Richard Mattner and Kate Hongell are both winemakers who have been at the site since day 1.

"Seeing the millionth tonne of grapes come through today is especially rewarding because I was here when the winery expanded in 2001 and saw the very first grapes come through back then," said Mattner.

Mattner and Kate Hongell

"The winery has grown and evolved over the years, and this milestone reflects 25 years refining our approach, investing in winemaking capability and consistently innovating to produce some of the best wines in the world. To have been part of that journey from the beginning is a career highlight," said Hongell.

TWE said that a celebratory gathering of both current and former staff was held on site today as the millionth tonne of grapes hit the winery scales to recognise the people who have "contributed to the winery's growth and success over the past 25 years".

The momentous occasion flags a quarter-century of continuous production since the site first began operating as a crushing winery in 2001.

What you need to know

Previously known as the Wolf Blass Bilyara winery, the development was labelled 'Australia's dream winery' and built upon the legacy of the original Wolf Blass Barossa winery from 1973.

The site was expanded by over a third in 2022, earning it the title of the largest premium winemaking site in the Southern Hemisphere.

Today, the site exports wine from across Australia and New Zealand to more than 100 countries internationally.

There are team members here today who were part of that very first vintage in 2001, and others who have followed in the footsteps of parents and relatives who worked here before them.

Putting it in context

Seasonality, occasion and price point pull in different directions for almost every drinks category, which is why launches often look contradictory from the outside.

What to remember

  • Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) have celebrated the crushing of its millionth tonne of grapes at its Barossa winery site today
  • Christina Zavalis, TWE director of wineries for Australia and New Zealand, said that the milestone is an opportunity to celebrate the people and community that have been crucial to the winery's success
  • "Reaching one million tonnes is an extraordinary achievement, but what it really represents is 25 years of people, progress, pride and world class wines
  • "There are team members here today who were part of that very first vintage in 2001
  • Richard Mattner and Kate Hongell are both winemakers who have been at the site since day 1

By the numbers

  • The momentous occasion flags a quarter-century of continuous production since the site first began operating as a crushing winery in 2001
  • Previously known as the Wolf Blass Bilyara winery, the development was labelled 'Australia's dream winery' and built upon the legacy of the original Wolf Blass Barossa winery from 1973
  • The site was expanded by over a third in 2022, earning it the title of the largest premium winemaking site in the Southern Hemisphere
  • Today, the site exports wine from across Australia and New Zealand to more than 100 countries internationally

All told

Every change on the drinks list eventually reaches the same test, which is whether people keep choosing it once the novelty has worn off.