Leasingham, one of the first wineries established in the Clare Valley more than 100 years ago, is to be closed down by Constellation Wines Australia at the end of August.
Constellation has already sold off a number of its Australian wineries and vineyards, with a predicted loss of 350 jobs.
It has been looking for a buyer for Leasingham for some time, but a deal has yet to be done.
There is a possibility that a cellar-door operation may be retained at the site, which was set up in 1893, and whose roll call of winemakers includes Tim Adams of Tim Adams Wines, and Neil Paulett, of Paulett Wines in Polish Hill River.
decanter.comreported in May that the majority of the site may be demolished and replaced with housing.
A Constellation spokeswoman said, 'The winery has been an important part of our business, however this has been substantially underutilised for our Leasingham wine requirements.
'Whilst there has been interest in this well-equipped 4,500-tonne winery, the currently constricted global economic climate has made it difficult to confirm new ownership.'
She added that Leasingham's 'viticultural headquarters' will move to the Constellation-owned Provis vineyard, and that the company will retain the Leasingham brand.
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The fact is that Leasingham will just become another brand that exists in name only, having no root or meaning. Whilst all its history and wealth of fabulous wines will be lost forever. However, this does not have to happen if Constellation were prepared to sell the brand to Tim Adams (I believe he offered to buy the winery). Instead negotiations have stalled because Constellation won't sell the brand with the physical winery. It seems senseless to me. Of course for some time to come they will get value out of it, but a time will come when it dies a death like many other wineries and their brands that have been absorbed by the bigger wineries. For example Kaiser Stuhl and Krondorf. At that point in time the brand will be worthless and Constellation or their successor will wish they had sold it when they had the opportunity.
James Tilbrook, Australia
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