Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has agreed to sell Seppelt to Stonier CEO and Co-Owner Aaron Drummond and partners, as the wine giant continues to simplify its brand portfolio and production footprint.
Read full story →Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has agreed to sell Seppelt to Stonier CEO and Co-Owner Aaron Drummond and partners, as the wine giant continues to simplify its brand portfolio and production footprint.
Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has agreed to sell Seppelt to Stonier CEO and Co-Owner Aaron Drummond and partners, as the wine giant continues to simplify its brand portfolio and production footprint. The deal includes the Seppelt brand, Great Western winery, cellar door and vineyards, as well as the Drumborg vineyard near Portland, and will see the historic wine business remain under Victorian ownership. TWE announced at its June Investor Day that it would explore the sale of non-core brands and assets as part of a broader transformation aimed at creating a more focused portfolio. Angus Lilley, TWE’s Managing Director, Australia & New Zealand and Europe, said the agreement brought together two Victorian wine businesses with an appreciation for Australian wine, heritage and regional winemaking.
Martiny’s Co-Founder and Beverage Director Takuma Watanabe has been named the winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2026.
Martiny’s Co-Founder and Beverage Director Takuma Watanabe has been named the winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2026, ahead of The World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in Milan next month. The award is voted for by bartenders from venues on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026 list, with each asked to nominate the bartender they believe has made an outstanding contribution to the global bar industry during the voting period. Watanabe opened Martiny’s in New York in 2022, bringing together Japanese bartending traditions, classic cocktails and an approach to service grounded in the Japanese concept of omotenashi, which centres on anticipating a guest’s needs. “I am incredibly honoured to receive the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2026. I am so grateful that my peers recognise my passion and dedication to this industry over the last 20 years. I will continue to strive to live up to the honour of this award and I hope to be a bartender who can lead by example for the next generation. I may be the person who is receiving this award, but it is also for my team, my customers, my peers, my mentors and everyone who has supported me,” he said.
The 10th edition brings together leading spirits buyers, master blenders, […]
The 10th edition brings together leading spirits buyers, master blenders, bar directors and hospitality professionals shaping today’s global drinks market. The London Spirits Competition has announced the first group of judges for its landmark 10th edition, assembling one of the most commercially influential judging panels in the international spirits industry. Bringing together senior spirits buyers, globally respected master blenders, luxury hotel bar directors, specialist merchants, retail decision-makers and leading mixologists, the 2027 panel reflects the competition’s distinctive approach to evaluating spirits through the lens of today’s marketplace. Since its launch, the London Spirits Competition has distinguished itself from traditional spirits competitions by judging products not only on quality, but also on value for money and packaging. Every spirit is assessed by professionals who actively buy, source, develop, list, recommend and serve spirits as part of their daily work. These are the decision-makers who determine what reaches retail shelves, luxury hotel bars, restaurant drinks programmes, specialist merchants and distribution portfolios, making recognition from the competition particularly valuable for spirits brands seeking commercial success.
South Australia’s grape and wine industry has recognised leading businesses and individuals at the 2026 South Australian Wine Industry Dinner.
South Australia’s grape and wine industry has recognised leading businesses and individuals across sustainability, workplace safety, biosecurity and wine tourism at the 2026 South Australian Wine Industry Dinner. Hosted by the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) at the National Wine Centre, the annual event brought together growers, winemakers, industry leaders and government representatives. The dinner was opened by Governor of South Australia Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, with Premier Peter Malinauskas delivering the keynote address and announcing a $109m support package for the state’s grape and wine industry. The evening also saw the presentation of the 2026 SAWIA Excellence Awards, Vinehealth Australia Biosecurity Champion Award and 2027 Adelaide Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Awards.
The South Australian Government has announced a $109m support package for the state’s grape and wine industry.
The South Australian Government has announced a $109m support package for the state’s grape and wine industry, including $100m in government-backed loans to help fund vineyard transition. The SA Wine Industry Transition and Growth Package also includes $1m to help growers transition or diversify their vineyards, $2m to develop disposal solutions for CCA-treated timber posts and $500,000 for industry-led measures addressing surplus wine inventories. A further $5m will extend and expand the Global Wine Growth Program for two years, while the package provides $675,000 for an advertising campaign promoting South Australian food and wine. The Government will also appoint a Wine Industry Coordinator to work with government and industry during the transition.
The Night-Time Industries Association, and other groups, have condemned a second NSW Police operation targeting LGBTQIA+ venues on Oxford Street in three months.
The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has called on the NSW Government to intervene after NSW Police conducted its second major operation at venues on Sydney’s Oxford Street in three months. The most recent operation, which took place on Saturday, 12 September involved venues including Arq, Palms, The Beresford and Kinselas. The NTIA said an estimated 18 to 20 police officers took part, with more officers deployed throughout the precinct. NSW Police described the operation as “intelligence-led” and said it was intended to disrupt drug supply, antisocial behaviour and other offences. Police searched 65 people across several venues, recording 28 drug detections and issuing 12 fines, six cannabis cautions and one move-on direction. NTIA Vice-Chair James Thorpe said: “Nobody in the night-time economy is arguing that Police should ignore serious crime or organised drug supply. Of course they shouldn’t. But there is a very important difference between intelligence-led policing and policing that simply looks intelligence-led.”
The former owner of OG’s Kitchen & Bar in Cronulla has been banned from holding a liquor licence or being involved in the management of licensed venues for five years.
The former owner of OG’s Kitchen & Bar in Cronulla has been banned from holding a liquor licence or being involved in the management of licensed venues for five years following a decision by the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA). ILGA found Jake Samuel-Brennan was not a fit and proper person to hold positions of responsibility in the liquor industry following repeated harassment of four employees in July and December 2025, which involved hundreds of unwanted phone calls and inappropriate messages. Following a complaint lodged by NSW Police, ILGA banned Samuel-Brennan for five years from holding a liquor licence, being a close associate of a licensee or being the manager of licensed premises under the Liquor Act 2007. Liquor & Gaming NSW Executive Director Regulatory Operations Dimitri Argeres said the decision reinforced expectations around workplace safety within hospitality venues.
A 100-seat rooftop izakaya and a ground-floor Parisian restaurant are launching soon.
Jonathan Barthelmess and Sam Christie's Apollo Group is expanding its Wunderlich Lane footprint with two new venues set to open at The Eve Hotel. The announcement comes after Liquid & Larder confirmed they were winding up their partnership with the hotel, which saw the closure of Lottie and Bar Julius in August this year after two years of operation. Tenjo is the first of the Apollo Group's new venues to launch, with the 100-seat izakaya located on the rooftop of The Eve. Former Sushi E chef Fredy Lim is leading the kitchen as head chef, with the team focusing on creating an unrestricted menu that allows diners to have flexibility with how and what they order. “With Tenjo, we wanted to create the kind of Japanese restaurant where you can eat in lots of different ways," says Barthelmess. "The food is grounded in traditional Japanese cooking, using the incredible produce we have here in Australia. It’s generous, delicious and somewhere you can come back to often and have a different experience each time.”
It's the latest concept from Melbourne-based group Only Hospitality.
Domain Road in South Yarra has welcomed a new concept from growing Melbourne hospitality group Venues by Only. Kiki's Tavern opened its doors at number 159 last week, securing the leasehold of Scott Pickett's Matilda 159, which closed in August. The all-day eatery is inspired by Founder Julien Moussi's travels, with the name of the venue an homage to a family nickname. “Some of my memorable experiences are at places you could return to at different points throughout the day—somewhere for coffee in the morning, a long lunch, a drink in the afternoon or dinner that carries on into the night," he says.“That’s what we want Kiki’s to be for Domain Road. It’s not defined by one meal or one occasion. It’s a neighbourhood tavern people can make their own."
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Treasury Wine Estates has agreed to sell Seppelt to Mornington Peninsula winery executive Aaron Drummond and partners, keeping the Victorian brand and associated assets in Victorian hands. The team behind Stonier Wines will purchase the Seppelt brand, the Drumborg vineyard near Portland, and Great Western vineyards and cellar door, which, at 161 years old, is one of Australia’s oldest winery sites. The sale marks a significant step forward in TWE’s plan to slash its portfolio to less than 30 brands, with a focus on global Power Brands Penfolds, DAOU and Matua, and Regional Heroes including Australia's Wynns, Squealing Pig, Pepperjack, and Coldstream Hills. Angus Lilley, TWE’s Managing Director for Australia & New Zealand and Europe, said the sale was a positive outcome for Seppelt, with the team behind Stonier Wines uniquely placed to take the brand forward.
The South Australian Government has announced a $109 million package to support the embattled wine sector as it grapples with global oversupply, declining prices, and shifting demand. At the centre of the Transition and Growth Package is a $100 million loan scheme offering eligible growers loans of up to $500,000 to transition unviable vineyards to alternative land uses, with no principal or interest repayments required for the first two years. The package also supports a sustainable exit from wine through $1 million to provide growers with independent diversification planning advice, $2 million for the disposal of CCA-treated timber posts, and $500,000 to develop solutions for surplus wine stocks. The package also includes measures to expand market demand and promote regional investment, including $5 million to extend the Global Wine Growth Program, and $675,000 for an advertising campaign to promote the state’s food and wine tourism offer.
The Australian drinks trade has a busy spring ahead, with a packed calendar of trade tastings, educational sessions, awards, festivals and industry campaigns. Here are 18 of the most important and exciting opportunities in the Australian drinks calendar, specifically tailored to industry professionals. The Australian grape and wine industry has until Friday 25 September to provide feedback on the independent review of the Wine Australia Regulations 2018. The Regulations govern how wine and grape products are described, labelled and exported, protecting the reputation of Australian wine and ensuring it meets its international obligations.
The Redman family has announced its first Rouge Homme wine after re-acquiring the brand from Treasury Wine Estates in May. Officially being unveiled at a special launch dinner and tasting on 23 October, Rouge Homme Shiraz/Cabernet 2024 is the first Rouge Homme wine to be produced by the brand’s original makers since 1965. Redman Wines co-owner and fourth-generation winemaker, Dan Redman, said: “Rouge Homme has a special place in the heart of Coonawarra. Welcoming it back in the 60th year of Redman is especially meaningful - a full-circle moment. We’re often asked about the connection of Rouge Homme with Redman, and now the future is back in our hands. We can’t wait to release a limited edition medium bodied style, a blend like those wines that my grandfather and great grandfather used to make.” Rouge Homme Shiraz/Cabernet 2024 will retail for $55. More information is expected to become available closer to its launch next month.