Westend Winery - 3 Bridges

Web: http://www.westendestate.com/

Address:1283 Brayne Road
Griffith
NSW 2680
Australia

Enologist: Sally Whittaker

History:Westend Estate is a dynamic family owned winery located in Griffith, New South Wales - the heart of the Riverina. In 1945 Francesco and Elizabeth Calabria harvested and vintaged their first wine in the Riverina region of Australia. These wines were made in the tradition of their Italian heritage and with the excellent grape growing conditions the Riverina provided, a new boutique winery had emerged - Westend Wines.

In 1974 their son Bill took over the company and since then has aimed at increasing both the quality and range of wines. This commitment to quality has reaped many rewards but it is the medals and trophies that are true testimony to his success. Bill has been involved in winemaking since he was 16 years old. During this time he has maintained the philosophy of "keeping it personal", so he can supervise every aspect of the winemaking process.

In a twist of irony Managing Director and Chief Winemaker Bill Calabria is unable to even enjoy a bottle of Westend premium wine because of a rare allergy to the natural acids in the wine but as he says, "one doesn't have to swallow wine to know whether it is good or bad."

Westend crushes 1,500 tons of premium selected fruit per season. Approximately 400 tons of this are contributed to Westend's own labels. Westend has further winemaking knowledge by senior winemaker James Ceccato. James has many years of experience in both the styles of wines made by Westend and in the local region.

The team carefully supervises every aspect of the winemaking processes. The relative small crush allows more freedom in separation of premium fruit, which in turn concentrates complex flavors and bouquet. The Riverina's wineries are renowned for large-scale production, this is why Westend with its boutique image is recognized for its quality and is an integral part of the growth of the Riverina wine industry.

The climate in the Riverina is warm summers and cold winters with adequate rainfall. The vineyards are disease free and it is a combination of these factors that make the area ideal to produce wine.

Wines:Botrytis Semillon,Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Durif,