The chief executive of Australian Grape & Wine (AGW), Tony Battaglene, was upbeat in his assessment of the organisation’s first-year performance at its inaugural annual general meeting held in Adelaide yesterday.
AGW was formed on 1 February 2019 following the merger of Wine Grape Growers Australian and the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia.
“Australian Grape & Wine has hit the ground running,” Battaglene said.
“In what has been a challenging year, with threats from the anti-alcohol lobby, increased regulation with mandatory pregnancy labelling, threats to the extension of container deposit schemes, drought, water shortages and an ACCC market study into the sector, we have had plenty on our plate.”
He went on to say, “The unity that we have been able to show to Government with a single voice has been very valuable in our advocacy efforts”.
Australian Grape & Wine chairman Sandy Clark, said, “There are many challenges ahead, and for our industry to grow and prosper we need to continue to work cooperatively within the sector and collaboratively with Government”.
“We will shortly be releasing a vision for the future and we are well placed to control our destiny. Our strong involvement from the industry in Australian Grape & Wine, and a solid revenue and membership base give us a springboard to help the sector grow and prosper. I congratulate the new Board and Committee members and look forward to another productive year in 2019-20.”
Australian Grape & Wine board directors for 2019-20 are:
Small Winemakers’ Membership Committee Representatives
James March, Heathvale Wines Pty Ltd (Chair)
Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi, Ballandean Estate Wines
Edward Swift, Printhie Wines
Rollo Crittenden, Crittenden Estate
Mary Hamilton, Hugh Hamilton Wines (Permanent Alternate)
Medium Winemakers’ Membership Committee Rrepresentatives
Alister Purbrick, Tahbilk Pty Ltd (Chair)
Victoria Angove, Angove Family Winemakers
Bill Moularadellis, Kingston Estate Wines Pty Ltd
Jeff McWilliam, McWilliam’s Wines Group Ltd
Robert Hill Smith, Yalumba Wine Company (Permanent Alternate)
Large Winemakers’ Membership Committee Representatives
Helen Strachan, Pernod Ricard Winemakers Pty Ltd (Chair)
Robert Cairns, Treasury Wine Estates
Dave Gorge, Accolade Wines
Luke Edwards, Casella Family Brands
Vignerons Committee Representatives
Andrew Weeks, Independent consultant (Chair)
Heather Webster, Independent grower and Chair of Wine Grape Council SA
Mardi Longbottom, Independent grower and Senior Viticulturist Australian Wine Research Institute
Colin Bell, AHA Viticulture
Ben Rose, Performance Viticulture (Permanent Alternate)
Members appointed to the four committees are:
2019 – 20 Small Winemakers’ Membership Committee
James March, Heathvale Wines Pty Ltd (South Australian Wine Industry Association) (Chair)
Edward Swift, Printhie Wines
Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi, Ballandean Estate Wines (Queensland Wine Industry Association)
Rollo Crittenden, Crittenden Wines (Wine Victoria)
Mary Hamilton, Hugh Hamilton Wines
Belinda Chambers, Lake Moodemere Estate
Sarah Collingwood, Four Winds Vineyard
Mark Bourne (New South Wales Wine Industry Association)
Larry Jorgenson (Wines of Western Australia)
Chris Pfeiffer OAM, Pfeiffer Wines
Cath Oates, Oates Ends
Sarah McDougall, Lake George Winery
David O’Leary, O’Leary Walker Wines
2019 – 20 Medium Winemakers’ Membership Committee
Alister Purbrick, Tahbilk Pty Ltd (Chair)
Mitchell Taylor, Taylors Wines Pty Ltd
Robert Hill Smith, Yalumba Family Vignerons
Victoria Angove, Angove Family Winemakers
Bill Moularadellis, Kingston Estate Wines Pty Ltd
Jeff McWilliam, McWilliam’s Wines Group
Simone Tierney, Zilzie Wines
Sean Cole, CCW Cooperative Limited
2019 – 20 Large Winemakers’ Membership Committee
Helen Strachan, Pernod Ricard Winemakers Pty Ltd (Chair)
Robert Cairns, Treasury Wine Estates
Dave Gorge, Accolade Wines
Luke Edwards, Casella Family Brands
2019 – 20 Vignerons Membership Committee
Andrew Weeks, Independent consultant (Chair)
Heather Webster, Independent grower and Chair of Wine Grape Council SA
Mardi Longbottom, Independent grower and Senior Viticulturist Australian Wine Research Institute
Colin Bell, AHA Viticulture
Ben Rose, Performance Viticulture
Ashley Keegan, The FABAL Group
David Travers, Independent grower
Jenny Venus, BC Contracting
Sami Gilligan, The Wetlands Vineyard
