Cherubino marks big move with purchase of Margaret River Winemakers

Top winemaker Larry Cherubino has made a major investment in the region, adding Margaret River Winemakers to his business. Cherubino announced the purchase on Friday, with plans to rebadge and upgrade the existing site and open as a new cellar door at the end of the year. The acquisition includes a 2000-tonne facility with warehousing, distillation capacity, and cellar door. Cherubino said as part of the plan, the MRW spirits brand would be rebadged with a focus on utilising Cherubino’s vineyards and fruit resources to create regional and beginning-to-end estate spirits as well as a produce farm shop. The expansion, which had been eyed for 20 years, would complement the existing Cherubino cellar door and Frui Momento and Enoteca restaurants on Caves Road in Wilyabrup. Cherubino and his co-founder wife Edwina said they were excited to integrate the MRW’s assets into their business. “We are committed to a long-term approach to winemaking, and this acquisition represents an incredible opportunity for us to establish the brand not only in terms of supply, but will greatly support our production and marketing capabilities,” the winemaker said. “Cherubino’s newly appointed distribution partner in the UK, Hatch Mansfield, Oatley Fine Wine Merchants in Australia, and our many partners and customers around the world, have allowed us to make this important step with confidence and we look forward to sharing more details of the project soon.” Cherubino’s existing wine facility and equipment would be moved to the new location in coming months. The winemaker said the move would help develop the company’s “unique approach to farming, making and marketing” their portfolio of wines. Margaret River Wine Association chief executive Amanda Whiteland welcomed the celebrated winemaker’s expansion. “It is great to see local winemakers investing in the region, which demonstrates a confidence in fine wine and Margaret River’s future,” she said.