Bimbadgen Estate Expansion for 2005.

Leading New South Wales winery, Bimbadgen Estate, has announced some exciting news which sees the pace of market expansion accelerate in 2005 for the Hunter Valley producer.

Sales for Bimbadgen Estate has moved from a modest 1800 dozen in 1998 to over 70,000 dozen at the end of 2004. During the same period Bimbadgen has positioned itself as a leading Hunter Valley winery in a region boasting over 120 cellar door facilities. It was voted Best Tourism Winery for the third consecutive year in the state of New South Wales in a wine region that sees the most wine visitors out of any wine region in Australia.

Bimbadgen has had a strong start to 2005 both domestically and internationally. Announced in February 2005 was a national distribution deal with RW & S (formally Rutherglen Wine and Spirits) and will see a sales network of 45 people across Australia. Å“This national distribution has become imperative as Bimbadgen Estate moves from a somewhat ËœSydneycentric™ sales strategy to a more national one with core listings on hotel wine lists such as ACCOR and the Intercontinental Hotel Group, said National Sales and Marketing Manager, Paul Stuart.

On an international level, Bimbadgen opened its own warehouse in Holland, in December 2004, allowing for better service and distribution to a range of national wholesalers. Working with Bimbadgen as European Business Development Manager, is Mr. Gino Scheltema. Mr. Scheltema was previously European export director for large USA producer Kendall Jackson and brings a great deal of expertise and knowledge of specific regional needs. The establishment of a European base underlines Bimbadgen™s commitment and focus to expand its export markets. The winery presently sells mainly to on-premise accounts in the United Kingdom as well as to Japan, Hong Kong and the USA.

Whilst Bimbadgen specializes in Semillon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Verdelho, Bimbadgen winemaker Simon Thistlewood looks to other quality wine regions to produce contemporary Australian styles and varieties. Å“We aim to produce the best Hunter Valley wine styles from our own vineyards but I also choose varieties such as Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc, for example, from regions better suited to these varietals, said Mr. Thistlewood.  

Some recent achievements for Bimbadgen include the recent trophy for their Bimbadgen Estate Verdelho for best in its class, as well as a Gold medal at the prestigious Sydney Wine Show this week.  The Bimbadgen Sparkling Semillon has been selected as the first pour wine at the Sydney Opera House and Hayman Island resort (recently voted best resort destination in Australia) along with other whites and red in their range.

Bimbadgen Estate is exhibiting at Prowein in March and will be found at Hall 6 stand F 30.

For further information regarding Bimbadgen wines, please contact“

Gino Scheltema
P: +31 356780194
E: gino.scheltema@wine-ex.com
W: www.bimbadgen.com.au