Like many migrant stories, Francesco Calabria’s journey begins in Southern Italy in the late 1920s. Driven by the hope of giving his young family a better future, he made the difficult decision to leave his homeland, his wife Elisabetta and their son Domenico, and set off alone for Australia.

He arrived in Riverina, NSW, in 1927—a region he often described as “the rich land” for its fertile soil. He settled in Griffith, and after five years of hard work was finally able to reunite with his family in Australia.

Eight more children followed, the youngest of whom, Bill, is today the tireless leader of the family business.

Winemaking was not part of Francesco and Elisabetta’s original plan. Rather, the idea emerged in the early 1940s in response to a growing demand for red wine in an Australia where fortified wines dominated.

Bill left school at the age of 14 to join his father in the business, which at the time was selling bulk wine to Sydney traders. Calabria Wines was officially founded in 1945, and in 1974 the family released its first labelled bottles.

That same year, Bill met Lina, whom he soon married. While Bill managed the vineyards and the cellar, Lina took on the essential role of feeding the farmhands and keeping morale high during harvest under the harsh Australian sun.

Bill Calabria AM

Their four children—Andrew, Frank, Michael and Elisabeth—are all involved in the company today.

The Calabria family’s success, however, hit a temporary standstill during the recession of the 1980s, when local wine production stagnated. Bill refused to give up and took on the job of washing bottles for large wine companies, including McWilliam’s, now part of the Calabria Family Wines portfolio.

“My father never gave up. He simply wanted to make good wine—not to be the biggest or the richest, but to leave a legacy for his family,” says Andrew Calabria.

“His motto was always, ‘Make a good wine and people will buy it.’”

That quick thinking, combined with a willingness to do whatever it took, saved the business and set it up for the success that followed in the next decade, when the British market enthusiastically opened to Australian wines, referring to them as “sunshine in a glass” for their vibrant fruit and drinkability—a contrast to Britain’s beer-driven palate.

“We are proud of our history, and reaching 80 years is a major milestone—it’s definitely a moment for reflection,” shares Bill Calabria. “But we’re not just looking back—we’re firmly focused on the road ahead. Calabria Family Wines is here to stay.”

To mark the anniversary, the family hosted celebratory dinners in most Australian capitals with long-standing clients where they showed a video narrated by Bill’s granddaughter Sophie, recounting the company’s long journey.

It’s a journey that shows no signs of slowing down. The acquisition of century-old vineyards in the Barossa Valley, followed by the establishment of a second winery there in 2019, has expanded the company’s footprint.

The launch of the Belena brand, with popular Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese releases, has also been well received. And the acquisition of McWilliam’s, one of Australia’s most historic fortified-wine producers, has allowed Calabria Family Wines to continue a respected tradition in that category.

Awards have followed too, including the Halliday Award for Best Sweet Wine with the Three Bridges Semillon, and a finalist nomination for Winemaker of the Year for oenologist Emma Norbiato—the first time a Riverina-based producer has been recognised in this category.

Quality wine, genuine relationships and respect for tradition remain the pillars of this remarkable winemaking family.