Archive

WBM – Australia's Wine Business Magazine, was launched in April 2004 and since then we've featured some of the wine industry's most inspirational people on the cover. If you would like back issues of WBM (we've been to many wineries that have all 50 editions in the library!) please click here. Meanwhile, do you know someone who deserves to be on the cover of one of the world's most respected wine publications? If so email info@awbm.com.au

AN HOUR WITH BRUCE TYRRELL
By Anthony Madigan

On a wet Tuesday in October I’m sitting in a pub opposite the Adelaide Railway Station waiting for Bruce Tyrrell AM. The mobile rings: he’s running a bit late; showing samples to another journo around the corner. No worries, after the ‘big dry’ no amount of wine drinking pleasure could ever match the enjoyment of staring at rain through a window. Actually, I’ll take that back: Bruce appears with a carton of Tyrrell’s finest under his arm. He offers an apology and a firm handshake and then places about 10 bottles in a perfect line on our table. They’re all there—Vat 1 Semillon, Vat 47 Chardonnay, Single Vineyard HVD Semillon, Single Vineyard Belford Semillon, Single Vineyard Stevens  Semillon, Vat 9 Shiraz, Lunatiq Heathcote Shiraz and the list goes on—shining examples of the good stuff Paul Henry wants the world to know about, in all their gold medal sticker glory.

TALTARNI VINEYARDS
This great Australian wine brand is back. Meet the young man who engineered the big turn-around. 

THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'
Anthony Madigan on the future of the wine industry.

NEWS
The amazing life of Filippo Casella.
Structural surpluses 'devaluing our brand'
New research: there's no place like home for booze
The movie McLaren Vale winemakers are hoping will be successful

BOOT SCOOTIN' AND FOOT SHOOTIN'
By Peter Fuller.

ASKING THE QUESTION
By Penny Boothman.

THE DEATH OF MARKETING
By Larry Lockshin.

DON'T SWALLOW IT ALL
By David LeMire MW.

10 GOOD WINERIES
Meet some wineries that are making the world a better place.

GRANGE AS GOOD AS A HOLIDAY?
Is it time Grange got a facelift?

WINE OF DESIGN
An amazing charity event by Rory Kent.

COMING FULL CIRCLE
Kate Fuller interviews US importer Deborah Gray.

FROM THE TASTING BENCH
A different spin on Rizza, by Nick Bulleid MW.

CHINA
Talking the talk.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Prodigy's internet odyssey.

NEW COMMUNICATION
Peter Fuller talks about one-dimensional PR.

CRUSHING AND PRESSING
Meet the press gang.

ENGAGING THE BYSTANDERS
Introducing a clever piece of marketing.

JAPAN
Too big, too hard or too good to miss?

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
Grant Burge shows Anthony Madigan around the Barossa.

LOVE ABOUNDS
Meet Tony Love, a very important person in the wine industry.

BEER RADAR
John Kruger on the endless search for the perfect pub.

WHO'S DOING WHAT?
WBM keeps you informed of the comings and goings of the wine industry.

THE MARKET
Basket pressing and must-have products.

BUSBY'S BLOCK
It's time the industry had a bit more fun. Busby has an idea.

AN HOUR WITH COLIN MCBRYDE
Colin is the 2009 Young Gun of Wine. The clever winemaker with the PhD, shaved head and tattoos talks about the rise and rise of his cult brands Some Young Punks and Adelina and has his two bobs' worth on what the future holds for Australian wine.

GRIN AND BARE IT
Australian wine is copping a hiding in the international press. So? Anthony Madigan.

REGIONALITY RULES
Tyson Stelzer launched his new book Barossa Wine Traveller in August and he had some strong words to say about regionality being under attack in this country.

DAN TRAUCKI IN GOOD FORM
WBM reader Dan Traucki explains why an OC system for Australia is a silly idea.

FUTURE LEADER SPEAKS OUT
Toby Bekkers talks about good farming and marketing spin.

A BREAK IN THE RANKS
Peter Fuller examines the new initiative called Australia's First Families of Wine.

COSTCO
Penny Boothman reports on the launch of Costco in Australia.

LARRY LOCKSHIN
Larry doesn't pull any punches: Australian wine is lacking a leader.

LIFE AFTER GRANGE
What's former Grange guru John Duval up to? Kate Fuller tells you.

WASTE NOT WANT NOT
Climate change combineid with growing consumer demand for sustainable products is pushing environmental issues further up the Australian wine industry's agenda. Nicola Jenkin of WRAP (the UK's Waste & Resources Action Program), explores what's at stake and looks at some of the positive measures already being implemented.

WARNINGS ON WINE LABELS
They're almost certainly coming, says lawyer Leanne Stewart.

OAK: THE CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS
Peter Leske talks about the latest oak innovations and trends.

THE NON-NEGOTIABLES OF OAK
David LeMire has his say on oak trends as well.

EXCITING NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR WINEMAKERS
Cavitus has released a new patented technology which can help winemakers improve colour and flavour extraction without spending more on grapes.

10 CELLAR DOOR SERVICE TIPS
By the WFA's cellar door guru Robin Shaw.

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS
We pay tribute to WISA Supplier of the Year Award winners Infield Ag, Croplands, IWTECH and Tarac Technologies.

NEWS FROM ACROSS THE DITCH
Misha Wilkinson reports on the fifth New Zealand Wine Exporters Forum.

CLICK GO THE YEARS
Kate Fuller interviews a legendary US wine importer.

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
The vital role Australia Post plays.

INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION
By Darren Oemcke.

WOMEN ARE THE NEXT BIG THING
By Peter Fuller.

BEER RADAR
John Kruger reports on beers that changed people's lives.

BUSBY'S BLOCK
Busby finds a few gems in Tyson Stelzer's new book Barossa Wine Traveller. 

AN HOUR WITH WILLIAM RIKARD-BELL
Thursday 17 January 2008 was a dark day for the Australian wine community. It was the day an explosion ripped through Drayton's winery in the Hunter Valley, killing Trevor Drayton and boilermaker Eddie Orgo. Those in the wine industry who monitored news websites for updates on the story that day will never forget the haunting photograph of a lone survivor standing in a dam up to his neck in water waiting for help to arrive.

That young man was assistant winemaker William Rikard-Bell who suffered burns to 70% of his body. He ran 100 metres to the dam, jumping a barbed wire fence and throwing himself in the water to put out the flames. William, after clinging to life for several days after the accident, has made a remarkable recovery. He's back at Drayton's in his new role as senior winemaker and in April he married long-time girlfriend Kimberley Booker.

If this story doesn't inspire you, nothing will.

READER FEEDBACK TO JULY EDITION
"I've just finished reading the WBM July issue and my assessment of a good issue is the number of pages I rip out. July is a very good issue." —Martin Lightfoot, Hastwell & Lightfoot.

"I’ve been too busy to read the current issue of WBM but look forward to doing so. However each time I see the WBM cover it makes me smile. What a lovely gesture on your part. I am sure it will be an inspiring and uplifting story."  —Josephine Rozman, managing director, Synergy Marketing and AWBC Board member.

"Look forward to receiving The Week That Was every Friday and WBM is always a good read." —Bill Ilic, Beckett's Flat, Margaret River.

"I finally found the time (who says I'm a bit slow?) to read the July WBM. Great stuff!" —Dan Traucki, Wine Assist Pty Ltd.

"Congratulations on a great magazine. I have a good laugh with your newsletter The Week That Was and enjoy it very much. Keep your sense of humour, it's good for us in these trying times in the wine industry. —Anna Sergi, Monichino Wines.

NEW WINE CLOSURE
Vinpac Packaging has released a brand new innovation in sparkling wine closures.

GRANGE THE ULTIMATE ADVERTISEMENT
The Australian wine industry is desperate to be known for the top-end stuff, but, really, Grange is the best ad of all.

MEET THE MAN IN THE HOT SEAT
Meet Andrew Cheesman, the new CEO of the AWBC.

ABOUT THOSE GREEN CLAIMS
Packaging guru Shay McQuade responds to WBM's supplement called The Green List in the July WBM.

THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN CELLAR DOOR TOUR
Peter Fuller explains why a tour is timely.

NEW DAWN IN ASIAN MARKETS
Penny Boothman tells you why there's much to be excited about.

EXCITEMENT BUILDING IN ASIA PACIFIC
AWBC stats guru Lawrie Stanford reports on the latest with this potential gold mind region for Aussie winemakers.

WINE: WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
Absolutely everything, says wine marketing legend Larry Lockshin.

JUDGEMENT DAY
David LeMire MW examines the mechanics of the Operation Kerplonk promotion.

DAVID CLARKE: MY FIGHT WITH CANCER
Business icon David Clarke tells WBM about the day he was diagnosed with cancer ... and the months that followed.

THE 5 HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL WINE CLUBS
By Kevin Bascomb.

LEGENDARY HUNTER SEMILLON
Nick Bulleid, one of two MWs writing for WBM, tasted some Hunter Semillon recently that blew him away.

COULD OUR OWN 'OC' BE THE ANSWER?
In the first of our guest columns by the 2009 Future Leaders, which WBM sponsors, winemaker Nicole Esdaile ponders the potential for a certification system.

GOLDEN DEBUT FOR TOPAQUE
Pfeiffer Wines has a message for all those cynics who thought Topaque was a silly name for Tokay: it's booming.

THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT
Echo Ridge Wines co-owner Anthony Ward is excited—and so are his customers. A great positive story for the Australian wine industry.

LANDMARK'S LEGACY
Peter Fuller was an appreciative guest of Wine Australia at the Landmark Tutorial presentation lunch.

JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
Chris Coffey accompanied Jamie Goode on a trip to the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley.

CATCHING THE NEXT WAVE
Get set to hear a lot more about Wave, which has been developed by Google's Sydney team.

CASHFLOW: THE REAL LIFEBLOOD OF YOUR WINERY
A timely article by chartered accountant Michael Ford.

ABOUT THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS
Be careful: it's not easy being green.

10 TIPS FOR A BETTER DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP
By Angie Bradbury.

BLUE SKIES AHEAD IN THE US
WBM's US correspondent reports on the state of the nation—and on that US$3 Australian Chardonnay.

FIRST THE GFC AND NOW CPR
All you need to know about the Carbon Pollution Reduction (CPR) scheme, by Des Caulfield.

MOVING YEAST
WBM asks leading yeast experts Anthony Heinrich and Jason Amos for the latest word on trends and innovations.

BITE THE BULLET
Go on, bite the bullet, says viticulture expert Di Davidson.

FAB LABS
Mark Gishen tells you all you need to know about setting up a good wine laboratory.

PULL THE PLUG ON HIGH POWER BILLS
Darren Oemcke explains how you can do something about those spiralling energy costs. Just reading this article alone could save you tens of thousands of dollars.

GOD BLESS HELP YOURSELF WINE BARS
You can help yourself in the US, says Kate Fuller.

10 TIPS FOR BUILDING AN ONLINE WINE STORE
By David Cumming.

STEAM AHEAD WITH BEER MAN JOHN KRUGER
John, who writes a beer column Beer Radar, reckons steam beer rocks.

LUXURY BY ASSOCIATION
It makes sense to associate your brand wiht upmarket events: Reschke sponsors polo.

LANDMARK OCCASION
Twelve influential wine media and educators took part in the Landmark Australia Tutorial.

WE'RE STILL STRONG IN THE UK
Lisa McGovern reminds us that one in five bottles of wine bought in the UK is Australian.

MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES
It would be a travesty if MIS vineyards - motivated solely by greed rather than a commitment to wine - are allowed to proper when so many growers and small winemakers are facing ruin.

MULTI-REGIONAL BLENDS ARE ALL THE RAGE
There has been a spate of multi-regional releases recently, all proudly displaying the two or three regions concerned on the front label. They thumb their collective noses at the 'Regionality' ideal.

'PRODUCE QUALITY AND HANG IN THERE'
Yes, it's tough out there. How do you get through it? "The quality has got to be there irrespective of everything else," says Peter Lehmann. "Apart from that, just have faith and hang in there."

REGIONAL HEROES
McLaren Vale icon d'Arenberg is celebrating two big milestones this year - the 50th anniversary of the tred stripe, and Chester Osborn's 25th year as chief winemaker.

SWEDEN BUOYANT BUT...
Despite global volatility in 2008, the Swedish wine market grew by 7 million litres (upp 4%) and 717 million Swedish Kroner (up 5%). Aussie wine sales dropped 2% in volume, but rose 1% in value.

SMART MARKETING
Larry Lockshin has an idea to educate consumers that could result in another renaissance for Aussie wine sales around the world and the building of a marketing-based competitive advantage.

WRITING: THE NEW WORLD ORDER
Wine writing is not the closed shop it once was notes David LeMire MW.

LEAN GREEN PACKAGING
Australian wine suppliers are flooding the marketplace with environmentally friendly wine packaging options including lighter glass bottles and PETs. WBM introduces you to some of the innovations.

HEAVY GOING
We all know about the heavy bottle stigma, but is it really that much of a problem?

MARKETING GROUP CLOSER TO REALITY
"We are the best winemaking industry globally," says Nick Yap, who wants to get a marketing association off the ground. "Let's now set the global benchmark in wine business and marketing."

THE POWER OF COWRA
Cowra made its name with Chardonnay, but for the three judges of the Cowra Region Wine awards this year - Russell Cody, Tim Kirk and Nick Bulleid - Shiraz was the winner on the day.

MOSCATO: HOW SWEET IT IS
Moscato is the smash hit that it has become because of the style of the wines - light, floral, sweetish, fresh - none of which is defined by grape variety, profuction region or price point.

LET'S BE HONEST
Readers Digest columnist Winsor Dobbin says winemakers should be honest with the content of media releases - and they should put a sticker on the sample bottles giving the RRP and contact details.

FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION
Total visitor numbers for the London International Wine Fair were slightly down on 2008's record high, at 13,893 over the three-day event, however this is still the show's second highest ever footfall.

FOCUS ON WHAT PEOPLE WANT
It is opening up new forms of communication, but remember: your sales message is immaterial - it is what people want that is important. And there is nothing new about that basic rule of marketing.

BULK WINE 'QUITE FLUID'
Despite a smaller vintage in 2009 the bulk wine market remains "quite fluid".

JIMMY WATSON UNDER REVIEW
The Royal Melbourne Wine Show committee is in the process of finalising any changes to entry and judging rules for the Jimmy Watson Trophy, with extensive stakeholder consultation underway.

CLEAR COLLABORATION
When it comes to collaboration a lack of trust can lead to costly legal bills and limited outcomes.

BOXES ARE BETTER
Scientists say certain wine boxes reduce the levels of substances that lower wine quality.

WINTER WARMERS
Beer man John Kruger puts a few winter beers to the test. Southwark Old Stout comes up trumps.

BOUND FOR SCHILD ESTATE
Scott Hazeldine has been appointed winemaker at Schild Estate in the Barossa Valley.

GOT IT? DON'T FLAUNT IT
Busby says that if you've got money, now is not the time to let everyone know about it.

An Hour Jancis Robinson
Bad news travels quickly in the Australian wine industry. British wine critic Jancis Robinson has written plenty of glowing articles about Australian wine over the years but when she wrote a piece for the Financial Review titled 'How Australia went down under' copies of the article ricocheted around inboxes faster than the Victorian bushfires that marred her trip to Australia in February.

Vintage '09
Special report including seven case studies.

Anthony Madigan
Sorry to get personal, but ...

News
Marketing association closer to reality.

Numbers Game
Online engagement deepens.

Letters
The Australian wine industry needs to get behind the AWBC marketing initiatives, says Tim Boydell of Angove.

Peter Fuller
'Your country needs you'

Penny Boothman
What's in a number?

Market Snapshot
AWBC stats guru Lawrie Stanford brings you up to date with the US market. Hot off the press!

David LeMire MW
Picture yourself in a boat on a river ...

Larry Lockshin
For your wine to be chosen, you need to be considered first.

From The Tasting Bench
The Wairarapa way, by Nick Bulleid MW.

First Drop: Mission Successful
Penny Boothman went along to a meet-the-press day with a difference.

Penfolds Grange Dinner
What do you get for $380 a head? WBM found out.

Design Clinic
Critters: the end of the road for the roo.

New Communication
Peter Fuller presents the best of the bloggers.

Marketing
So, what's your orientation?

Tanks
Special feature on the all-important tank.

Salesmanship
Is sales a dirty word?

Richard Pratt
From rags to riches.

Engineering Excellence
Sustainability through technology.

Business of Viticulture
Di Davidson explains the way forward for growers.

Obituary
Winemaker, bon viveur and entrepreneur extraordinaire.

Human resources
People philosophies, not policies—that's the Yalumba way.

Who's doing what?
Keep on top of the staff movements in the wine industry.

Exports
Grant Burge Wines are on the ground in Europe.

Innovation
Green label goes greener.

World Wine Web
Presenting news stories from websites across the globe.

Beer Radar
John Kruger reports live from his brewing shed in Cowandilla.

iTips
Twitter: Early birds catch some fat worms.

The Market
News from O-I, Tchillbag and Teralba Industries.

Busby's Block
The Barossa Vintage Parade was outstanding—it's just a pity that one of the participants got done for DUI.

An Hour With Larry Cherubino
Robert Oatley Vineyards is arguably Australia’s most dynamic emerging wine business. It is, of course, the latest venture of former Rosemount owner Bob Oatley, who has unfinished business in the wine industry after his inauspicious dealings with Southcorp. It says a lot about Larry Cherubino’s skill as a winemaker that the wealthy entrepreneur has chosen him to help make his first Western Australian wines.

The oversupply
Markets will sort it with help, says Lawrie Stanford.

With guns blazing
Kate Fuller meets our new man in America, James Gosper.

Larry Lockshin
Has America foreclosed on Australian wines?

Australia Day Tastings in the UK
Winemakers: where the bloody hell were you?

Lean Action Learning
Meet the lean mean warehouse machine.

Direct marketing
How to get more bullseyes.

After the bushfires
Steve Webber talks about the Yarra Valley following the terrible bushfires in February.

Latest export statistics
Volume, value take a big hit.

Letters
It's the end for Langton's, says Dan Traucki.

Peter Fuller
C'mon Aussie, C'mon.

Penny Boothman
Not the usual.

From The Tasting Bench
Nick Bulleid's media piece in February stirred the possum, so Nick has come back for more.

Langton's
The end for fine wine?

Packaging
• Dress to impress.
• P is for Perfect.
• Red Baron flies high with Qantas.

10 tips for tough times
Marketing advice from an expert.

Business of Viticulture
The miracle of the burnt vine, by Di Davidson.

David LeMire MW
The success behind 'the high-rise in Coomandook'.

Marketing
IT wizardy not the El Dorado.

Going clubbing
What you should know about wine clubs, by Penny Boothman.

Barrel rejuvenation
Flight of the Phoenix.

New Communication
The numbers have it, says Peter Fuller.

Internet marketing tips
Short and tweet: that's Twitter.

Who's Doing What?
We tell you.

Beer Radar
Beer boy John Kruger is so over American Pale Ale.

Research
You'd like to phone a friend?

Discovering Healdsburg
Many down-at-heel Australian wine villages could learn a lot from the aspirations of this town.

Busby's Block
The wine industry's most popular columnist.

All this and a lot more in the February WBM!  SUBSCRIBE