Australian wine industry law firm, Finlaysons, wine partner Will Taylor said many wine businesses around the country were on the market, either formally or informally. 

“Our perception at the moment is that a lot of people in the wine industry are reaching a critical time,” he said.

“In some cases this reflects many years of financial stress coming home to roost. 

“Others are reaching retirement age; they want to retire and the kids don’t necessarily want to go into the wine industry. Or if they do, not right away.” 

Speaking ahead of Finlayson’s 23^rd annual Wine Roadshow at Rutherglen on Wednesday, Mr Taylor said other wine businesses were looking for an investment in capital. 

He said in these cases they sought investment so they could expand the business to support more families.

“We think there will be a lot of transactions in the next couple of years as people face up to these business decisions; to sell, buy or take an investment,” he said.  

“This industry renewal should be a good thing; it is important that people of a certain age have the opportunity to retire and that the industry is refreshed by investors with new money and new ideas.”

My Taylor said there was more optimism in the Australian wine industry now than there had been for 10 years. 

“The fall of the Australian dollar against the US dollar and the renewed interest in Australian wine in the US are starting to make a difference,” he said. 

Mr Taylor felt the industry had bottomed out and there were positive signs coming out of the US in respect to Australian wines.

“We have a great product that stacks up at any price point,” he said.

“Rutherglen has world-class fortified wines; there has got to be more opportunities to promote this unique offering.”  

Finlaysons dedicated its 23rd annual Wine Roadshow seminar series to: “Decision Time? Bringing an investor in or buying or selling a wine business.”  

It travels to Barossa, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Hunter Valley, Canberra district, Rutherglen, Mornington Peninsula, Launceston, Margaret River and Swan Valley to advise industry players on commercial and legal issues.