The owners of the massive brand “Yellow Tail”, the Casella family have bought Peter Lehmann Wines in Barossa Valley. Casella acquired a controlling stake in Peter Lehamann from the Hess Group for US dollars 49.5 million, significantly less than the US 103 million Hess paid in 2003. Peter Lehmann’s widow, Margaret, said she was going to sell her 10.8 % share to Casella which would give it a 90 % controlling share. John Casella, MD of the company and his team are confident they will be fine custodians of the Peter Lehmann legacy. . They have a clearly defined strategy to extend their portfolio to highlight the the enormous diversity of Barossa wines and Lehmann wines will feature in the premium end.
Meanwhile the youngest of the three Casella brothers, Marcello, has been charged with being part of a “criminal syndicate that produced, distributed and sold commercial quantities of cannabis and methylamphetamine throughout southern NSW. Marcello has stepped down as a co-director of Casella Family Wines