Endeavour Group has announced that it has reached an agreement with Moët Hennessy to acquire Margaret River winery, Cape Mentelle, which join the group’s fine wine portfolio in Paragon Wine Estates.
Endeavour Group CEO and Managing Director Steve Donohue described the purchase as an important step in enhancing Paragon Wine Estates’ fine wine portfolio, which already contains a range of award-winning wineries from across Australia and New Zealand.
“Cape Mentelle founder David Hohnen once said ‘wine is a journey’. I’m excited for Cape Mentelle to join our Endeavour Group journey and help us create a more sociable future, together,” Donohue said.
“Anyone who has tried a Cape Mentelle Cabernet or Chardonnay knows just how special this winery is. I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Cape Mentelle to the Endeavour Group and Paragon Wine Estates families and to see it continue to grow on a global scale, while giving more people across Australia access to its fantastic range of wines.”
Cape Mentelle was established in 1970 as one of the five founding wineries of Margaret River and is known as a pioneer of many of the region’s renowned wine styles. Sustainability is a key part of the winery, which is a member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and was the first winery in Western Australia to obtain the Entwine accreditation for its sustainability program.
The transaction is still pending licensing approval and Endeavour said it will be business as usual for the winery and that key personnel will remain, including Estate Director Penny Dickeson, Viticulturist Dave Moulton and recently appointed Senior Winemaker Eloise Jarvis.
Paragon Wine Estates was established in 2019 following the acquisition of McLaren Vale’s Chapel Hill winery and other brands in the portfolio include Chapel Hill Winery, Krondorf Wines, Riddoch of Coonawarra, Shingleback Wines, Oakridge Wines in Victoria, Isabel Estate in Marlborough New Zealand and Josef Chromy Wines in Tasmania.