Skip to main content
News

Winemakers’ Federation of Australia to merge with Australian Vignerons

By Tuesday 13 November 2018No Comments

The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia will amalgamate with Australian Vignerons to form a single body. There was an agreement to merge at the WFA AGM held today.

The new body will be known as Australian Grape and Wine Incorporated (AGWI).

“It will deliver on behalf of winemakers and grapegrowers of all sizes and business needs,” WFA chairman Sandy Clark said.

It is not yet known when the new entity will begin to operate.

Mr Clark told the AGM that the Australian wine sector should continue to perform well over the coming year, building on a strong performance in 2017-18.

“I have just returned from Shanghai, where we saw wholehearted support for Australian wine,” he said.

“We are hoping for a strong performance in the United States over the coming year, with both markets remaining as a focus of the $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package.”

Mr Clark also announced a number of new Board members.

“The WFA Board is undergoing constant renewal and I welcome Matt Stanton from Accolade Wines, Luke Edwards from Casella Family Brands, Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi from Ballandean Estate, Rollo Crittenden from Crittenden Estate, Jeff McWilliam from McWilliam’s Wines Group Ltd and Robert Hill Smith from Yalumba Wine Company,” he said.

Outgoing Board members include Libby Nutt, Julie Ryan, Mitchell Taylor, Corrina Wright and David O’Leary.

Mr Clark has also accepted a further term as president of WFA and as inaugural chairman of AGWI.

WFA Board directors 2018-19

Small Winemakers’ Membership Committee Representatives
James March, Heathvale Wines (chair)
Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi, Ballandean Estate Wines
Edward Swift, Printhie Wines
Colin Campbell, Campbells Wines
Rollo Crittenden, Crittenden Estate (permanent alternate)

Medium Winemakers’ Membership Committee Representatives
Alister Purbrick, Tahbilk Pty Ltd (chair)
Victoria Angove, Angove Family Winemakers
Bill Moularadellis, Kingston Estate Wines
Jeff McWilliam, McWilliam’s Wines Group
Robert Hill Smith, Yalumba Wine Company (permanent alternate)

Large Winemakers’ Membership Committee Representatives
Angus McPherson, Treasury Wine Estates (chair)
Matt Stanton, Accolade Wines
Helen Strachan, Pernod Ricard Winemakers
Luke Edwards, Casella Family Brands

Members appointed to the three committees

Small Winemakers’ Membership Committee
James March, Barossa Grape and Wine Association, Heathvale Wines (chair)
Edward Swift, Printhie Wines
Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi, Ballandean Estate Wines (Queensland Wine Industry Association)
Colin Campbell, Campbells Wines
Tom Ward, Swinging Bridge (NSW Wine Industry Association)
Trevor Whittington (Wines of Western Australia)
Rollo Crittenden, Crittenden Wines (Wine Victoria)
Alexandra Burt, Voyager Estate
Chris Pfeiffer OAM, Pfeiffer Wines
Mary Hamilton, Hugh Hamilton Wines
Andrew Ewart, SKEW Wines
Adam Morris, Bimbadgen
David O’Leary, O’Leary Walker Wines

Medium Winemakers’ Membership Committee
Alister Purbrick, Tahbilk Pty Ltd (chair)
Mitchell Taylor, Taylors Wines
Robert Hill Smith, Yalumba Wine Company
Victoria Angove, Angove Family Winemakers
Bill Moularadellis, Kingston Estate Wines
Jeff McWilliam, McWilliams Wines Group

Large Winemakers’ Membership Committee
Angus McPherson, Treasury Wine Estates (chair)
Matt Stanton, Accolade Wines
Helen Strachan, Pernod Ricard Winemakers
Luke Edwards, Casella Family Brands

The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia was established in 1990 as the peak national body for the wine
industry, representing wineries on national and international issues.

Leave a Reply