briefs
PUSH FOR MORE WOMEN
THE Australian wine community now has a Diversity and Equality In Wine Charter which all grape and wine producers are being encouraged to sign on to.
The aim of the charter is to create an inclusive industry where all participants can contribute to their full potential and receive equal pay for equal work. At present, women working in the Australian wine industry are among the most disadvantaged. “We know we have around 50-50 representation of female/male graduates from university courses in winemaking and viticulture,” said Tony Battaglene, chief executive of the newly-formed Australian Grape and Wine Inc, an amalgamation of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia and Australian Vignerons.
“But there are approximately only 10 per cent of females in leadership roles within the sector, so we have a bit of work to create balance in this space. “Balance is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue. “We believe that all participants across the entire value chain should adopt the principles in the charter because it is the right thing to do and, on top of that, it makes good business sense.”
For further information on the charter and how to become a signatory visit www.wfa.org.au.
CASH CRISIS AVERTED
ONE of Australia’s biggest wine companies, McWilliam’s Wines, has been forced to seek a capital injection following what it called “cash flow challenges”.
The seventh largest wine producer received $16 million in recapitalisation in January from fund manager Laguna Bay and West Australian businessman Peter Fogarty of The Fogarty Group, owner of Evans & Tate, Deep Woods, Smithbrook and Lake’s Folly. McWilliam’s under new chief executive David Pitt promises to embark on a business course that will trim $10 million in operational costs, concentrate on higher quality wines and build stronger export markets, particularly in China.
Some McWilliam’s wine brands are also expected to go as Pitt prunes and trims the business to fit into a more consumer-focused model.
ANOTHER PHYLLOXERA OUTBREAK
THE deadly phylloxera vine louse which was first detected and quarantined in the heart of the Yarra Valley in 2006 has now been discovered to the east in the St Andrews sub-region.
The phylloxera strain found at the unnamed St Andrews vineyard has been confirmed as the same found in 2006. “This latest phylloxera outbreak in Victoria is a concerning development,” said Vinehealth Australia chief executive Inca Pearce. “It highlights the critical role that industry must play in preventing further spread.”
Phylloxera is a tiny, root-feeding aphid that destroys the roots of grapevines. It was responsible for the near destruction of the French industry in the 1860s. It arrived in Australia in 1877 and had a similarly disastrous effect on Victorian vineyards before an antidote was discovered - American rootstock. The aphid is regarded as the wine industry’s greatest biosecurity risk and Victorian wine producers must follow strict protocols in order for the aphid not to spread further, especially when moving grapes, juice and machinery out of affected regions.
FIRE VICTIM BLAMES GOVERNMENT
THE devastating Victorian bushfires of early March have left one West Gippsland wine producer, who lost everything in the fires, seeking answers.
Andrew Clarke lived in
