Treasury Wines is going more upmarket in exports

TREASURY Wine Estates will inherit the mantle of Australia's biggest locally owned alcohol company in December, when shareholders in former stablemate Foster's are expected to approve a $12.3 billion takeover by British-South African beverage giant SABMiller.

TWE managing director David Dearie, who has led the company since it was demerged from Foster's in May, says he's not taking the mantle lightly.