The state’s alcohol regulator has approved an online liquor licence for a commercial office at 64-72 Banna Avenue in Griffith.
According to its published decision, the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority gave the green light to a business named Wholesale Vintners, which lists 46-year-old Fillip Casella as its director.
Fillip is the nephew of John Casella, managing director of the billion-dollar winery Casella Family Brands, and also a general manager of Shaw Family Vintners, a Barossa Valley winery owned by the Casellas.
‘Vintner’ is an old-fashioned term for a person who buys and sells wine.
ILGA licencing coordinator Kieran McSherry highlighted the “positive benefits” of the licence application in his decision.
“The proposed licence will provide convenient access to liquor by taking orders online, by phone, fax or mail order, and delivery to customers via courier,” Mr McSherry said.
“No sales will be made in person at the licensed premises and members of the public will not be permitted to attend the premises to place or collect their orders. Liquor will be stored in a storeroom at Ravenhall and Marsden Park.
“I am satisfied that the business model, conditions imposed, and any other information contained in the application will provide that the lawful operation of the premises will not be detrimental to the local or broader community.”
The licensed premises will be a commercial office where sales invoices are processed on-line. Trading hours are between 9 am to 10 pm Monday to Saturday.
The location of 64-72 Banna Avenue was formerly the site of winery Nugan Estate’s cellar door, but is now occupied by several businesses.
Mr McSherry wrote that Griffith City Council advised that they had no objection to the liquor licence.
“A police submission was received with no objection. No public submissions were received relating to any matters with the application. I am satisfied that the applicant has been provided with an opportunity to consider and comment upon the conditions contained in the licence document. I am satisfied that the statutory advertising requirements have been met. Having reviewed all the material, I am satisfied that granting this application for an online-packaged liquor licence will not be detrimental to the local or broader community,” Mr McSherry said.
Region reached out to Mr Casella to ask whether the commercial office in Griffith was now operational, what online products the office would be selling and why 64-72 Banna Avenue was chosen as the location. We did not receive a response.