briefs

NEW HEAD OF THE FAMILY

JEFF Burch of Howard Park in Margaret River is the new chairperson of Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW), a collective of Australia’s leading family owned, multigenerational wine businesses.

Burch takes over from Stephen Henschke, becoming the seventh chair of the wine group.

Clearly 2020 has been a year like no other for all Australian businesses and with no international engagement this year, Burch is looking forward to leading the group into the future as the world awakens to a vastly different post-Covid-19 landscape.

“I come to this role at an interesting time for wine businesses at large, and now more than ever I see AFFW’s vital role as continuing to champion fine Australian wine on the global stage at the first opportunity,” he said.

Outgoing Chair Stephen Henschke welcomed Jeff to the Chair saying, “It is with great pleasure that I hand over the reins to Jeff Burch, the seventh chair of AFFW.

“While 2020 hasn’t been quite the year we all envisaged, I have enjoyed my time at the helm, taking the group far and wide in 2019 particularly and continuing to share our vision for Australian wine whilst telling the stories behind every bottle we craft.”

Australia’s First Families of Wine are: Brown Brothers, Campbells, d’Arenberg, Henschke, Howard Park, Jim Barry Wines, Tahbilk, Taylors, Tyrrell’s Wines and Yalumba.

CHILL WITH A PACIFIC PALE ALE

COOPERS Brewery is tapping into Australia's love affair with the sun, surf, and music by releasing Pacific Pale Ale in time for summer.

The launch will see the Australian familyowned brewery’s existing Session Ale renamed as Pacific Pale Ale with the new branded cans available nationally.

As part of its national promotional campaign, Coopers has teamed up with renowned Australian singer/songwriter Angus Stone.

With a striking blue label, Coopers Pacific Pale Ale is styled as "a fresh, sessionable and fruity ale with a distinct dry hop character and mild bitterness".

“It’s still the same great tasting beer in a blue can but with a new name that we feel better reflects its position in the growing craft beer category,” said Coopers marketing and innovation director Cam Pearce.

“We launched Session Ale in late 2017 and it quickly established itself as a popular drink among craft beer enthusiasts.

"Since then the perception of the overall Session Ale category has evolved to now being more reflective of a mid-strength beer while Pacific has