Visitation to Grampians Estate has more than doubled in the past nine years, the wineries owner says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Grampians Estate owner Tom Guthrie said the increased amount of visitors to the winery has enabled the winery to consider renovating.
“We will be adding 100 sq/m to the winery with 75 sq/m to the inside area and 25 sq/m to the outside area,” Mr Guthrie said.
Part of the additional space inside the winery will provide room for a kitchen.
“We plan on increasing our cafe options and having space for small functions,” Mr Guthrie said.
“This will also mean that we will hopefully be able to hire more staff.”
In six to eight years the highway will bypass Great Western, Ararat and Beaufort.
Mr Guthrie said he hopes the expansion will encourage visitation to Great Western despite the bypass changes.
“Great Western is going through an exciting stage of growth,” he said.
Grampians Estate, Best’s Wines and Seppelt Cellar Door have some of the oldest vines in the state.
Vines were first planted at Grampians Estate in 1883.
For assistance with the renovation, Grampians Estate applied for funding in the state government’s wine grant fund.
They were successful in getting funding.
The wine growth fund aims to support wine businesses to innovate and grow in a range of areas. Victoria has 21 wine regions.
The Victorian wine industry contributes $7.6 billion to the state economy and directly employs nearly 13,000 people, the state government says.
Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the fund aims to grow the industry by providing vital grants.
“The wine growth fund aims to grow the industry by providing innovative growers, organisations and projects with funding to expand – supporting activities from the vineyard to the cellar door and beyond.”
With the grant Grampians Estate has been given Mr Guthrie said he plans on having glass windows that overlook the vines.
He said the expansion could be an opportunity for people to see and learn more about wine.
There will be a third round of funding from the state government from the wine growth funding coming up.
Mr Guthrie said Grampians Estate will be applying for it to further assist with the wineries renovations.
Grampians Estate are planning to complete the renovations by Autumn next year Mr Guthrie said.
They will release an 1883 shiraz in celebration of it.