In the country, was Cellarmaster member in the 90s. Was rare...

In the country, was Cellarmaster member in the 90s.
Was rare thing & very special to have wine, or even alcohol, even frequency to go to a cafe wasn’t high, let alone to go to a hotel which was an extremely rare event. Really was not common & still didn’t happen back then really.

Cellarmasters were good.
Early Dan Murphys though was inspired, incredible.
Woolworths middle management in 2000s, unfortunate, held way too much power, even bullying and abusive without experience or wisdom/age, lacked intelligence for the oversight & interfering wielding power they held- however the people who set up the Dan Murphys stores were highly qualified and had a lot of intelligence. Gave huge work. They knew the numbers and level of business which would result.
Woolworths lead the business opportunity in alcohol sales and access to good wines, that was and is still huge business ,never appreciating the people who did it.
Then they spun it out for the ethical reasons etc

Imo- totally independent, generational name very established quality producers , ie. growers lead, grassroots very passionate wine producers direct online marketers, are now far better for wine directly.
Although they will lack the total alcohol cellar stocks that you could walk into a Dan murphys and buy. ( but am not into anyway, not been there in years.)

Check out Naked Wines as example.
Fed- up major winemakers from every name wine label, who produce truly non- commercially produced wines, have en mass migrated to direct sales through more cooperative style direct marketing sales.
Previously, direct Chinese sales had occurred, overtaking operating a cellar - door direct for quality wines from good producers instead of going to or acquiescing to Woolworths and other corporates.