CASE STUDY
From Bottlenecks to Business Growth
Background
Hirsch Wine Group
Hirsch Wine Group is a family-owned winery in the Yarra Valley, led by CEO Ben Hirsch. Unusually for the region, the business is built around three integrated pillars: vineyards and brands, a winery that produces both house and client wines, and a growing contract bottling and storage operation.
“To have all those three different pillars under the one business is very rare,” says Ben.
Ben’s business strategy is deliberately innovative and service-led. Their vision has been to do things a little differently from the traditional winery model: investing in modern equipment, and offering clients a seamless, end-to-end service from fruit to finished, bottled, and stored wine.
The Challenge
Bottlenecks at Peak Bottling Times
As Hirsch Wine Group scaled its contract services, one critical gap became clear – they had no on-site bottling facility. That forced inefficiencies, limited flexibility, and created bottlenecks at peak times.
Ben explains, “The missing link was really a bottling line… We did our due diligence, and we found that Grapeworks | Tanium was one of the few suppliers in the wine industry that could service what we were looking for.”
Initially, Ben planned to install a basic bottling line and labeller without automation to keep costs down. But as he explored options with Grapeworks | Tanium, he realised the opportunities extended far beyond filling bottles – a fully automated bottling line could allow them to reshape their business model and fill a gap in the market.
The Solution
From Missing Link to Opportunity
What began as a simple equipment enquiry quickly evolved into a full feasibility study. The Grapeworks | Tanium team guided Hirsch Wine Group through every stage: analysing production needs, modelling labour costs versus automation, and tailoring a solution that would scale with the business.
“They understood what our needs were, and what we wanted to achieve,” says Ben. “The level of service that they gave us was phenomenal. And because they were local, we knew they were always just a call away.”
Ben calculated that automation would deliver long-term efficiencies equivalent to the workload of four to six additional staff, while providing greater precision, consistency, and enhanced brand recognition.
“Plus, robots don’t go on smoko,” says Ben.
The Process
Partnering with Grapeworks | Tanium
From the very first conversation, Grapeworks | Tanium became an extension of the Hirsch Wine Group team.
They supported Hirsch Wine Group through every stage of the project, from the very first conversation to full-scale production. Beginning with detailed pre-purchase consultations, offering in-depth guidance and product education to ensure the equipment met the winery’s needs. Next, they advised on facility preparation, helping refine the site layout and coordinate renovations to optimise workflow. Finally, the team oversaw a staged installation and training process, commissioning each section of the line, testing performance, and coaching operators to ensure the system ran flawlessly from day one.
“Were there challenges? Absolutely. It’s a serious machine,” says Ben. “But Grapeworks | Tanium invested their people into our install, and there wasn’t anything they couldn’t help with.”
The Implementation
A Best-In-Class Bottling Line
The new bottling line at Hirsch Wine Group marks a major leap in capability and efficiency.
At the heart of the system is an Italian-made Alfatek filler with 12 heads, capable of processing up to 2,400 bottles per hour. Handling the downstream operations, Mondo & Scaglione supplied the fully automated end-of-line system. This includes the carton erector, case packer, insert placer, glue sealer with inkjet coding, and robotic palletiser — all working together to create a continuous, high-speed production flow that delivers precision, consistency, and efficiency from start to finish.
Just four months after commissioning, Hirsch Wine Group is fully booked through to vintage, with new bookings now being accepted for April 2026. The facility has quickly attracted clients ranging from boutique producers to major international wineries.
“We’ve got so much more flexibility now – for us and for our clients,” says Ben. “It’s opened up so many new opportunities. In fact, we don’t want anyone else buying a machine!” he laughs.
Conclusion
A Successful Partnership Fuelling Further Growth
Today, Hirsch Wine Group enjoys new revenue opportunities, stronger margins, and a reputation for excellence within the Australian wine industry. Ben and his team have gained the flexibility, speed, and consistency needed to support both their own brands and a growing network of clients.
“Grapeworks | Tanium are a credit to the industry,” says Ben. “It’s hard to find a company that cares the way they do. We look forward to working with them when we expand – sparkling line next, they’ll be our first call.”
Want to find out more – contact the team on 03 9555 5500.