News
February 2009
Casella Wines – Winner at 2008 Ethnic Business Awards
Casella Wines, owner of Australian wine phenomenon [yellow tail], has been announced as the winner of the Medium / Large Business category at the 2008 Ethnic Business Awards. Finalists of the award categories met at a black tie gala event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney where the incoming winners were announced.
Beating three other finalists (of 250 original entries in this category), the award recognises Casella Wines' long family history of grape growing and winemaking in Sicily, Italy. In 1965, Filippo Casella purchased a vineyard in the Riverina region of New South Wales in Australia and began selling grapes to local winemakers before beginning in wine production himself in 1969. Today Casella Wines prides itself in blending the historical art of winemaking with the latest technology. Flagship brand [yellow tail] is exported to over 40 countries and is recognised as being the most successful launch of any Australian wine brand in Australia's history.
Now in its 20th year, the Ethnic Business Awards are a celebration of diversity and success. Regarded as one of Australia's most prestigious and longest running awards, they are a reminder of Australia's immigration success story.
Casella's most successful brand, [yellow tail] continues to have enormous success around the world and has just been named the 5th most powerful wine brand in the world by independent UK consultancy Intangible Business in its report The Power 100. August 2008 was the most successful month in [yellow tail]'s history. Over the course of the month, 1,231 containers were shipped from Casella Wines in Yenda (this equates to 500,000 bottles per day (5 day week) and over 1,500,000 cartons of 12 in 23 days).
Judges of the awards were looking for business savvy, determination to succeed and a contribution to the community.
Filippo Casella said: ‘We are delighted to have won this award, building on our consistent wine show successes throughout the years. Industry awards are important in benchmarking the quality of Casella Wines. This Ethnic Business Award recognises the valuable contribution that companies like ours are making to Australian business and the economy.