Endeavour Drinks has acquired South Australian-based winery Chapel Hill, ahead of its demerger from Woolworths Group.
Endeavour Drinks’ current portfolio of premium and regional wine brands, such as Krondorf, Isabel Estate and now Chapel Hill, will become part of the newly formed Paragon Wine Estates.
In July, Woolworths Group announced it will combine its drinks and hospitality businesses, Endeavour Drinks and ALH Group, respectively, into a single entity and then separate the business through a demerger.
“Welcoming Chapel Hill to the group has inspired the creation of Paragon Wine Estates and is an exciting new element of our diverse Pinnacle Drinks business,” said Endeavour Drinks managing director Steve Donohue.
“This development is an important step in further enhancing our wine business ahead of the proposed transition of Endeavour Drinks to a stand-alone business after the planned merger with ALH in 2020.”
Chapel Hill is located in McLaren Vale and was acquired from the privately-held Swiss corporation Permafix. The acquisition includes the Chapel Hill cellar door, which incorporates an ironstone chapel built in 1865, as well as associated buildings and 40 hectares under vine.
Chapel Hill will join Endeavour Drinks-owned distribution and partnership channel Pinnacle Drinks, which encompasses a range of wine assets, winemaking and wine storage facilities, including its McLaren Vale-based Vinpac wine bottling facility, operating since 2001.
