Australia’s First Families of Wine - one year on…….

Published: 11/01/2011

Following the launch of Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) in August 2009, members Brown Brothers, Campbell’s, d’Arenberg, De Bortoli, Henschke, Howard Park, Jim Barry, McWilliam’s, Tahbilk, Taylors, Tyrrells, and Yalumba have been educating, travelling and promoting not only their history, regionality but genuine quality of wine to both trade and consumers alike. They have targeted both a domestic and international audience, drawing upon close to $1,000,000 of their own funds with the welcome addition of $430,000 from the ‘Promoting Australian Produce grant.

The breadth and depth of history and experience is truly amazing with a collective multi-generational input covering seventeen wine-growing regions, forty-eight generations of winemakers and more than 1200 years of experience in winemaking! Amazing stuff and a truly wonderful positive directive within the industry that must surely bring attractive opportunities for the future of Australian wine production.

These statistics have been drawn from a relatively new release book titled Heart & Soul, written by author Graeme Lofts. I treated myself to a copy before Christmas knowing I would have time to at least make a start on a few chapters. Whilst I have not yet finished the book, I can say it makes for an incredible read. For those of you who are wine enthusiasts, buy it, and for those of you who love history, buy it.

More than ever the Australian wine industry needs to remind consumers, retailers, restaurants and export markets that we have a wealth of history, library full of stories and more personality than ever to share……..and the wine we produce is not bad either! Even if all that is achieved by the 12 family owned producers is to bring back excitement and hope to the industry for others to feed from, then surely that is a good thing. I doubt this will be all that comes from such an investment, and if the second year of this initiative is as successful as the first then exciting times are ahead.

Cheers Sarah