Lion opened its new winery and cellar door, called Petaluma, in the Adelaide Hills this week.
South Australian Premier, the Honourable Jay Weatherill MP, joined Lion chairman Sir Rod Eddington and Lion CEO Stuart Irvine to toast the multi-million dollar investment with vintage 2011 Croser – one of Petaluma’s flagship wines.
Lion CEO Stuart Irvine said the winery would increase the company's production capacity to 1.2 million bottles every year.
“We believe the increasing demand in Asia for premium products with great provenance is a big opportunity for the wine industry,” he said.
“Australia has some of the most iconic wine brands in the world and a picturesque landscape from which they're crafted.
"With a concerted effort to promote Australia as a quality, premium wine producer, and with the benefit of recently signed free trade agreements with China, Korea and Japan, the wine industry has a unique opportunity to shape its destiny and deliver long-term, sustainable growth in premium segments.”
Petaluma’s head winemaker Andrew Hardy said the winery and cellar door, which is set on 30 hectares of land with a view of Mount Lofty, would complement South Australia’s growing tourism industry.
