Calabria Family Wines owner Bill Calabria has released a limited-edition 20th Anniversary Richland Shiraz to commemorate the success of the Richland label, to honour his parents and the role the Riverina region in south-west NSW now plays on the world winemaking stage.
Mr Calabria launched the Richland label in 1996 with a shiraz that he made to prove that the Riverina, with its perfect Mediterranean-like climate, could produce wines equal to the best from anywhere else in Australia. He named the wine Richland in homage to his parents, Francesco and Elizabeth Calabria, whom he describes as “pioneers of the rich land of the Riverina”.
Over the past 20 years, Richland has won several trophies and some 480 medals on the show circuit. Having the Richland Shiraz named ‘NSW Wine of the Year’ in 2004 was a highlight for the Calabria family.
Mr Calabria describes his 20th Anniversary Richland Shiraz as a “collaborative wine”, saying it encapsulates the best of fruit from dedicated high-quality Riverina family growers, and is then crafted by his own dedicated winemaking team.
In October, Calabria Family Wines acquired ownership of a large Riverina facility at Griffith, and the business now has the capacity to produce more than two million cases annually, making it one of the largest family-owned wineries in Australia.
Last month, Calabria Family Wines’ Emma Norbiato was named Winemaker of the Year at the 2016 Australian Women in Wine Awards.