MORRIS Wines will remain open after the iconic Rutherglen business was purchased by Griffith-based winemakers, Casella Family Brands on Friday.
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Award-winning winemaker David Morris will continue in the role after Casellas bought the winery from Pernod Ricard Winemakers.
The Morris family founded the business in 1859, but its owners for the past 46 years planned to shut the winery in a move which would have affected 14 full-time and casual staff.
Pernod Ricard Winemakers cited an ongoing decline in the consumption of fortified wines for the decision announced last month.
The deal includes purchase of the winery, cellar door, 80 hectares of vineyards, stock and the Morris of Rutherglen brand.
Casella Family Brands managing director John Casella said the terms of the sale would remain confidential and believed an opportunity existed to grow the Morris of Rutherglen brand in the premium price segment.
“I’m delighted to welcome Morris Wines into the Casella family, particularly due to our long-standing relationship with the Morris family, which goes back 50 years to when my father supplied grapes to their former Griffith winery,” he said.
“Morris Wines is an iconic Australian winery and one of the greatest fortified wineries in the world, with over 150 years of history and winemaking tradition.
“I believe the premium fortified category offers growth potential and Casella Family Brands is well placed to invest in developing the Morris of Rutherglen brand.”
Mr Morris said he always hoped the winery could avoid closure.
“I’m delighted that Morris Wines has been returned to family ownership,” he said.
“The Morris family has built Morris of Rutherglen into an iconic Australian brand and John Casella believes in honouring family legacy and winemaking tradition.
“The purchase by Casella Family Brands can only be a positive outcome for the winery, the brand, the region and the industry.”
Mr Morris is the fifth generation and has been chief Morris winemaker since 1993.
The Morris range of fortified, table and sparkling wines has won more than 4250 awards including 1399 gold medals.
Winemakers of Rutherglen executive officer Natalie Ajay said the Morris Wines sale was the talk of the town.
“It is such a wonderful turnaround from what was a completely devastating situation,” she said.
“They are a founding family of this town and to know the brand could have been lost to history was really painful.
“The entire town is so excited.”