Barossa Valley winemaker, Trevor Jones, has pleaded guilty to destroying over $60,000 wines at rival producer, Kellermeister Wines.
Jones confessed to destroying the Shiraz and Chardonnay on the first day of his trial at Adelaide’s District court.
The damage occurred at the Kellermeister Wines property in Lyndoch in February 2015, with the allegation being that Jones entered the property and turned on the taps of four wine storage tanks. He was due to stand trial on Monday to face five counts of damaging property, but having pleaded guilty to two of the charges the prosecution has dropped the remaining three.
Jones’ lawyer told the court that his client had a number of character witnesses, an exemplary personal history and that full restitution would be made in coming months. He remains on bail ahead of sentencing submissions in October.
Jones previously worked at Kellermeister Wines as winemaker and production manager, before leaving in 2010 to start up his own winery with his wife, Trevor Jones Fine Wine.