For Calabria Family Wines, the future is family

Calabria Family Wines is expanding its portfolio, and is looking to other family-owned and operated wineries the world over to do so.

An agreement with Portugal’s Symington family last year is the latest in what is hoped to be a long line of partnerships. Calabria now manage the distribution, sales and marketing of Dow’s Port in the Australian market and the business also reached an agreement with Italian Prosecco brand Canti last September.

“It was done with a handshake between two families who had been talking to each other. We shook hands during COVID in what we see as a long term partnership,” said Andrew Calabria, Sales and Marketing Manager at Calabria.

For the Calabria family, these kinds of partnerships mean working with likeminded people who have the same values and respect every facet of the supply chain.

“From staff right through to the customers, we respect all relationships and our brands are built on those relationships,” he said.

While Calabria Family Wines, based in the Riverina wine region, in Griffith NSW, along with a Cellar Door in the Barossa Valley, has been operating for 75 years, the Symington family have been producing port for more than two centuries. Dow’s Port is available in over 50 countries, with 56 per cent of sales trending in the premium price point compared to the industry average of 18 per cent.

Rupert Symington, fourth-generation CEO of Symington Family Estates describes Calabria as a “family-owned and managed business just like our own, and therefore likeminded in the long-term view of the Port market development”. 

“Australia has a rich history of fortified wines and a great connection to Port, and with the increased interest in our premium wines we’ve been witnessing, not just in Australia, but also around the world, we are confident this is the right time for this new partnership and that it will be fruitful for both companies,” he said Rupert Symington.

With Prosecco and Port now in its portfolio, Calabria is turning its attention to Italian southern varietals including Chianti and Montepulciano. He is also open to working with local Australian producers of wine to manage distribution, marketing and sales.

“We are slowly building a portfolio of respected producers. We’ll seed products and build them up over time, “ he said.

The selection of Dow’s Ports to be distributed by Calabria Family Wines include Dow’s Fine Ruby Port and Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port. From next month Dow’s Fine Tawny Port, Dow’s Fine White Port, Dow’s ‘Colheita’ Single Harvest 2007 Tawny Port and Dow’s 30 Year Old Tawny Port join the portfolio.