BVE History
Barossa Valley Estate Limited is dedicated to the Barossa Valley wine region.
The winery was initially established as a Cooperative with the objective of making and marketing premium-bottled wine.
Barossa Valley Estate wines are truly representative of this world-renowned region.
In 1984, the consumption of red wine was declining. Offering handsome subsidies, the federal government urged growers to pull out their ancient Shiraz vines and replace them with Chardonnay.
But there were eighty 3rd and 4th generation Barossa Valley grape growers who refused. Stubbornness became their strength. Instead of trying to sell the grapes to winemakers for little reward, they decided to take control of their own destiny by forming a cooperative and making their own wine.
Happily, Barossa Valley Estate (BVE) was formed.
Grapes are sourced solely from the Barossa Region. The growers, of which most are shareholders, have strict criteria being placed on advanced viticulture practices. The fruit is handled with the utmost care and great attention is paid to the smallest detail of every aspect of the winemaking process.
The Cooperative bought winemaking equipment and entered into a joint venture agreement with Berri Renmano to utilize their facilities at Heaslip Road, Angle Vale. During the early years of Barossa Valley Estate, as well as producing premium bottled wines, the company also produced bulk and cask wines due to sheer volume of product, pioneering the 3 Litre wine cask at this time.
In 1991 the demand for grapes within the wine industry declined and as such the Cooperative altered its structure to focus solely on producing premium-bottled wines and discontinued its cask wine production.
In 1993, the Cooperative took a number of extremely positive steps toward becoming an even greater force within the wine industry. Firstly, they acquired the land and buildings they had thus far been sharing with Berri Renmano (which had now become BRL Hardy) and appointed a marketing manager to focus on premium wine sales, in particular to expand further the marketplace for E&E and Ebenezer brands.
Secondly, the Cooperative negotiated an agreement with BRL Hardy to bottle and distribute Barossa Valley Estate wines both nationally and internationally throughout the world.
By 1998 the Valley Growers Cooperative felt there was a requirement to expand its business of Barossa Valley Estate Wines and a decision had to be made as to whether they should spend money on upgrading the facilities at Angle Vale or invest in building in the Barossa Valley which had been their dream since forming the Cooperative some 13 years earlier.
Ultimately the pull of the Barossa, home of the Cooperative members, was far too strong. Consequently the search began for a property that would fully showcase the pride, the wine and the title that is Barossa Valley Estate Limited.
Funding for this project was difficult via the Cooperative members alone and so they considered other options that would assist them in achieving the goal of accommodating the winery in the Barossa Valley – did they sell the business or enter into a joint venture agreement? After looking at a number of options it was decided, that due to the past relationship, an approach to BRL Hardy to enter into a joint venture in a 50/50 ownership would be the most appropriate option.
Early 1999 saw the search for a winery site ended when shareholder Con Kraehe released 200 acres of his dry farming land for sale. This land was magnificent – pristine, bordered by heritage-listed date palms and more importantly on the recognised tourist route. The land was purchased and so began the long-term plan to build on this site in Marananga. Plans were drawn and the first soil turned in September 2000 with the winery completed in 2001.
On 31 March 2011, Constellation Wines agreed to sell its 50% equity stake in Barossa Valley Estate Limited to Barossa Growers Holdings, it's joint shareholder in the business, making Barossa Valley Estate 100% grower-owned.
Today these third and fourth generation growers continue to supply BVE with superb quality grapes with every wine being made in reflection of our world-famous E&E.
BVE wines are now distributed to many destinations around the world including the USA, Canada,United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and New Zealand.
