Its reverse takeover of Southcorp has not adversely affected Rosemount’s joint venture with key Californian wine maker Robert Mondavi, who have both reaffirmed their intention to create and market two new wine brands, one each from Australia and California. The wines will be focused on two entirely separate price points, namely $25-30 retail and $135-150 plus and represent an investment of around US$16 million over six years. The Rosemount brand will continue to be the Southcorp label visibly associated with Robert Mondavi in these ventures, and its winemaker Philip Shaw, now Southcorp’s chief winemaker, will have a personal role in the project matched by Mondavi’s equivalent in Tim Mondavi. The first release of four varietal Australian wines from the 2001 vintage (a Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay) will take place in September 2002, together with three wines from California (a 2000 Shiraz Cabernet, 2000 Cabernet Merlot and 2001 Chardonnay Viognier). The release will comprise 25,000 cases of Australian wine and 35,000 from the US. Robert Mondavi will be responsible for global distribution of the Australian wines, except in Australia and New Zealand, while Southcorp will be responsible for global distribution of the joint venture’s California wines. The first top-end wines from the project, shiraz blends from both Australia and California, are due for release in 2003.
