Endeavour Group has terminated one of Australia’s most celebrated winemakers, David Bicknell, after more than 24 years at Oakridge Wines.

Bicknell is a Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year Winner (2017), a past Dux of the Len Evans Tutorial (2005) and co-founder of the Victorian Pinot Noir Workshop (2002). He has led the Oakridge winemaking team since 2002.

Bicknell posted on Instagram: “Well, that’s it. After nearly 24 and a half years, my time (at) Oakridge Wines has come to an end. They say you never know you’re going to get boned until you do. And so it is. Thankfully, I leave a highly trained, capable and talented team for the next piece of history. Your support for them would mean a lot to me. Love my team.”

Endeavour Group recently appointed Colliers as the selling agent for Oakridge Wines as part of the drinks giant’s restructure of its Pinnacle Drinks division.

The company announced in May that it would seek a new owner for the Oakridge brand and its operation. It also flagged that the Chapel Hill, Riddoch Coonawarra and Krondorf Barossa brands would be retained, but their vineyards and physical assets would be sold.

“Divesting physical vineyards in South Australia alongside the Oakridge brand and operations will refocus Pinnacle [Drinks] as an asset-light, customer-led portfolio,” an Endeavour Group spokesman said.

Endeavour Group purchased Oakridge in 2021 for an undisclosed sum. Established in 1979, Oakridge Wines has under the D’Aloisio and Atlas family-run ownership grown to become an internationally recognised wine producer of award-winning wines and a popular Yarra Valley destination.

Last month, Oakridge was once again shortlisted Winery of the Year in the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion.

Anna Webster from the Halliday Tasting Team noted: “Auality has remained a constant at Oakridge… Seventeen of the 21 wines Halliday looked at for the ’27 Companion received gold-medal scores, an impressive feat made more so by the regularity with which this ratio is achieved, year on year.”

Endeavour Group has also let go Chapel Hill winemaker Michael Fragos, who had been at the winery for 22 years.