Brother behind Yellow Tail wines involved in drug ring: police

One of the three brothers behind Australian wine export success Yellow Tail has been charged over his alleged involvement in a major drug ring that produces and sells cannabis and methamphetamine.

Marcello Casella, 54, appeared in Griffith Local Court in NSW yesterday facing one count of cultivating a large commercial quantity of a prohibited plant and one count of participating in a criminal group, Fairfax Media reports.

Police first raided a property linked to Mr Casella just outside Griffith in February.

No drugs were seized in the raid but police did lay charges relating to the improper storage of two pallets filled with shotgun cartridges and 60kg of gunpowder on the property.

Two weeks later Mr Casella ceased being a director of Casella Wines, leaving his two brothers, Joe and John, as the joint directors of the business.

Casella Wines exports about 12 million cases of Yellow Tail wine to more than 50 countries each year.

Mr Casella was charged with the more serious offences by the NSW Drug squad in September.

His arrest, along with eight others, was reportedly the result of a long investigation into organised crime.

It is not clear if Mr Casella has entered a plea but he will appear in court again in January next year.