Castel Winery Begins Production

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia –The winery built at a cost of 300 million Birr by Castel Winery Plc, a sister company of BGI Ethiopia, said it has begun production of wine.

Winery Manager, Fetehanegest Aynalem told ENA on Friday that the factory will export over a million bottles of wine abroad.

Fetehanegest said Castle has vineyard covering 350 hectares land with in the environs of Batu Town, in Oromia State , 163km south of Addis Ababa.

The winery and the vineyard created more than 900 new jobs.

Castel has been cultivating varieties of wine fruits such as Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay since May 2008.

Deputy Chief of Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha Woreda and also head of the woreda agriculture development office Hussein Kebero on his part said establishment of the winery and the vineyard help to speed up development in the area.

Groupe Castel was founded in 1949 by nine brothers and sisters. Less than a decade later, the Castel family began establishing bottling plants.