Two historic family-owned wineries have joined forces to roll out premium McLaren Vale wine across all 50 US states, elevating the South Australian wine region’s world-class reputation.

Iconic McLaren Vale winery Wirra Wirra has used a government program to help secure an exclusive deal with the world’s largest family-owned wine company, leading US winery and distributor E. & J. Gallo Winery.

Gallo will exclusively import Wirra Wirra’s premium Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon wines through a new two-year deal, with the first year focused on increasing distribution in the US.

Under the agreement, Wirra Wirra’s products will be stocked on supermarket shelves and in restaurants nationally in the largest wine-consuming market in the world – promoting McLaren Vale as a premium wine region to a global audience.

Gallo will provide Wirra Wirra direct access to all 50 states across the US market, which has a highly regulated system for alcohol distribution and can prove challenging for South Australian wineries to navigate.

Wirra Wirra received support through the 2022-23 US Market Entry Program, with the state government and Wine Australia co-funding the company’s participation.

The initiative matches local wineries with US buyers and retailers to build industry connections and help them secure orders and break into the US market. The US is the largest consumer of imported wines, highlighting growth opportunities.

In the last US Market Entry Program, South Australian producers received a combined $1.8 million in opening order sales.

The US is the second most valuable market for SA wine exports, reaching $164.5 million in the year ending June 2023, as the demand for premium wines above the lucrative USD$15-25 per bottle price range continues to grow.

The McLaren Vale winery – founded in 1894 – already exports to more than 20 countries around the world, including Canada, Singapore, England and Hong Kong.