Balinese winery shut

DENPASAR, Bali: The Bali Police seized thousands of bottles of wine, labeled Wine Of Gods, from a winery allegedly owned by five Australian nationals on Jl. Raya By Pass Ngurah Rai, before shutting the premises down on Friday.

"This establishment has no license to produce alcoholic liquor, and the plant itself has no official building permit from the Bali administration," Bali police chief of detectives Sr. Supt. Bambang Hendarso said.

Balinese entrepreneur Putu Suwindia's PT Destore Bali Bestari has managed the one-year-old winery, while other official documents state that it is owned by five Australians.

Police also seized thousands of unlabeled bottles of wine and 16 barrels of raw liquor from the winery.

"We have yet to get hold of Suwindia. We only caught employees when the raid was conducted," Hendarso said. (zen/ylt)