Cupitt’s Winery: Popular Ulladulla venue looks to go nationwide with $2m expansion

A popular south coast winery has set its sights on taking is acclaimed beers and wines nationwide as pre-pandemic plans for a massive $2 million are revealed.

One of the south coast’s best kept culinary secrets is on the verge of going national as plans for a $2 million expansion of the popular winery are revealed.

Cupitt’s Estate at Ulladulla has long been a mecca for wine, beer and food lovers, attracting tourists as well as locals to its idyllic farm setting and busy cellar door and restaurant.

Under new plans, visitors could soon be picking up a south coast stout or pinot gris as the family-run business seeks to grow its capacity with a new brewery and winemaking facility.

Under plans submitted to Shoalhaven Council on March 8, Cupitt’s Estate plans to demolish the existing wine shed, build a brewery and convert the existing brewery into a storage shed, as well build additions to the existing storage shed and staff facilities.

The submission states that: “The existing buildings have passed their functionality and considered obsolete and the new buildings are purpose built to facilitate current production practices.’’

The new 1225sq m metal-clad wine processing building will comprise a ground floor wine processing area, a cool room, wine tanks, a press, and storage capacity for 288 pallets.

A mezzanine area including three enclosed storage areas and an open storage area for the storage of wine, will also be built.

Wine lovers flock to Cupitt's Estate. Picture: Elise Hasse.

Customer experience manager and family member Libby Cupitt said the goal of the winery had always been to showcase products from the south coast.

“As we grow our capacity, we can go nationwide in distribution,” Ms Cupitt said.

“It will shine a light on the south coast and south coast producers.

“Hopefully, the Shoalhaven food, wine, and beer producers can continue to thrive and make the region a place people want to visit.”

For more than two years, the Cupitt family has sought to expand its facilities, but like many south coast hospitality businesses and venues, faced a drop off in customers during the pandemic.

With lockdowns now likely a thing of the past, Ms Cupitt said the winery was eager to apply lessons learnt from the Covid crisis.

“Covid has really highlighted how important it is for us to have an off-site sales channel,” she said.

“When things were all locked down, we were still able to sell wine and beer in stores to stay afloat and keep the business going.”

Cupitt's family Libby, Tom, Rosie, Griff and Wally. Picture: Elise Hassey

While some local businesses in the Ulladulla area have had to close their doors in recent months, including Annabel’s Cafe in Milton and the Tribe Cafe in Batemans Bay, Ms Cupitt was confident in the estate’s expansion.

She said that many people supported businesses such as Cupitt’s during the pandemic and did not believe that patronage was going to wane anytime soon.

“What we’ve realised is how good it is on our own doorstep,” she said.

“When international travellers do come back, business owners will be in a better position to push their businesses as we have worked quite hard.”

Plans are afoot to give Cupitt's Estate a national profile. Picture: Elise Hassey

Ms Cupitt said there was still some concern that with borders open for the first time in two years over the winter period, the typically slow period for local venues might prove to be even more challenging.

“We know we‘ve got to compete with the snow season, and everyone going to New Zealand and other safe countries,” she said.

“That is our off peak season, but hopefully people will still want to start to visit the south coast.

“A lot of businesses were closed during their peak period, so I’m hoping everyone will survive – it has been pretty tough.”

The expansion is pending council approval.

If granted, Ms Cupitt said it should be completed by late 2023.