Winery sale shocks grape growers' group
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The Padthaway Grape Growers Association says it is shocked by last week's announcement that Stonehaven winery would be put on the market, leaving the jobs of 70 workers in limbo.
Stonehaven's owner, Constellation Wines Australia, says it would like to contract at least half of its production back from a future owner.
But the grape growers association's secretary, Carolyn Brown, says that could be easier said than done.
"It's viable, but in the current climate of the wine industry and the global industry a lot of the bigger companies are having issues in relation to the dollar and exports and things like that," she said.
"I just don't know who would be in a position at the moment to be buying it, I think that's the question on everyone's mind, who would take it on?"
