Leading Tasmanian winemaker Pipers Brook is actively seeking a relationship with a mainland maker of traditional Australian red wines from cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. Chief executive Andrew Pirie says that it first came home to him while travelling overseas that despite Pipers Brook’s popularity with its own range of wines, overseas markets would welcome the addition of more traditional Australian styles to the portfolio. This has led Pirie to pursue actively the possibilities of mergers or purchases of existing high-profile small Australian wineries, preferably those with a complementary interest in their terroir and regional expression. It is no secret that Chapel Hill, the small McLaren Vale maker is presently for sale through KPMG in Adelaide and while Pirie agrees that it would make the ideal target for Pipers Brook’s expansion, he suggests that the present owners are more likely to be attracted by a purely cash deal from new entrants to the wine industry. However he certainly hasn’t given up hope, but also has his eye on several other quality options. Chapel Hill is certainly a difficult proposition to value, since although it has doubtless proven capable of making excellent red and white table wine, its sometimes erratic movements from vintage to vintage have made it a difficult brand to firmly establish in the retail and restaurant markets.
