Australia's Treasury Wine Estates rises after asset sale; Citi says debt cut will please investors

** Shares of Treasury Wine Estates TWE.AX rise as much as 1.5% to A$5.440

** Among top gainers on ASX Staples index .AXSJ, which is down 0.3%

** Citi ("buy", A$6.95 PT) retains positive stance on TWE following sale of Seppelt brand, Great Western Winery and Drumborg vineyard

** Notes sale the first in several planned asset sales that would accelerate debt reduction and please investors

** TWE previously said it would write down inventory, predominantly bulk wine, which it expects to manage through sales into bulk wine markets and internal reclassification.

** 4 of 15 analysts rate TWE "buy" or higher, 11 rate "hold"; median PT A$6.00 – LSEG-compiled data

** YTD, stock up 3.4% vs 0.6% rise in .AXSJ