In My Own Words

David Pegler
Position: Infrastructure and Support Manager
Location: Adelaide

A Typical Day Involves …
Ensuring IT systems are meeting the daily needs of the company. 

What I Like About Working at Australian Vintage And In The Wine Industry Is ...
Australian Vintage is ever evolving and challenging.  Innovative ideas are always required to meet the needs of the company.  My role ensures the supporting IT infrastructure is responsive to these ideas and needs.

My Favourite Australian Vintage Wine Is …
McGuigan Genus 4 Shiraz 2001

If I Was A Wine I Would Be …
A blend - something like a Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 


Craig Toshack
Position:  National New Business Development Manager
Location: Sydney


A Typical Day Involves …
Running around like a mad man trying to make sure everyone has enough of our wines before collapsing at home with a glass of same in hand.

What I Like About Working at Australian Vintage And In The Wine Industry Is ...

That I get to work with a product that encourages enjoyment and promotes the fact that life is still about fun if you want it to be.

My Favourite ‘Australian Vintage’ Wine is …
At the moment it would have to be any of our excellent brands that still have wine in the bottle (at my place anyway!). Heading into the cooler months its got to be a red – McGuigan The Shortlist Cabernet Sauvignon from the Coonawarra. It’s won a stack of gold medals recently so at least I know I think the same as a few, more credentialed, others out there. Maybe I should be a wine judge. I know I’d certainly try hard.

If I Was A Wine I Would Be …
The type that gets consumed young. I couldn’t see myself on a shelf covered in an inch of dust waiting for someone to release me in 50 years. Would have to be a lighter style; but serious when required. Apparently I can speak a couple of different languages when I have had a few glasses – so perhaps the Tempus Two Pewter Sangiovese.


Casey Mohr
Position: Key Account Manager Export
Location: Adelaide – some of the time!

A Typical Day Involves …
I don’t generally have too many typical days.  However, when I am in the office it involves working with wine allocation, production and marketing to bring new opportunities to life for the markets I am involved in, along with optimising sales and customer service to our Asian, New Zealand and some European customers.  Another day might be getting a taxi somewhere in Asia with a list of appointments written in a different language and trying to make sure I end up at the right place on time.

What I Like About Working at Australian Vintage And In The Wine Industry Is ...
I enjoy working for Australian Vintage as I have a broad exposure to the business, which means I get to work with a variety of people in a variety of roles.  Building our business in Asia is extremely rewarding as I get to see our brands develop in these markets, and the markets themselves develop into wine drinking countries.  I was exposed to the alcohol industry early in my career and I have never looked back.  The industry has some of the world’s most iconic brands and such diverse products, along with the fact that the people involved are generally some of the most personable people you can come across in business.

My Favourite ‘Australian Vintage’ Wine Is …
Nepenthe Altitude Sauvignon Blanc 2007 – I was so excited when we acquired Nepenthe, this wine has been a favourite of mine for quite some time.

If I Was A Wine I Would Be …
Methode Champagne – conservative in background, yet bubbly, and made for celebrating! 

 


 

Daniel Dmytrenko
Position: Export Commercial Manager
Location: Adelaide

A Typical Day Involves …
Actions to ensure the export area is delivering a commercial return on wines sold internationally eand that they are achieving budget objections.

What I Like About Working at Australian Vintage And In The Wine Industry Is ...
Good exposure to all parts of the wine industry both internally through dealing with Merbein and our wineries, and externally with large scale international customers.

My Favourite ‘Australian Vintage’ Wine Is … 
Nepenthe Tempranillo

If I Was A Wine I Would Be …
Sauvignon Blanc – fresh & crisp 

 


 

Grant Elsley
Position: Cellar Door Manager McGuigan Cellars &d McGuigan Club 2000 Manager
Location: Pokolbin, Hunter Valley

A Typical Day Involves …
Working with and guiding Cellar Door team members to present McGuigan Wines to the public and ensuring all our visitors have a fun and educational experience and leave with a positive impression of the McGuigan brand.  In an average week the Cellar Door team will look after over 4,000 visitors.  I’m also kept busy ensuring that the Cellar Door has all the resources in place especially wine, merchandise and packaging, dealing with the all of the paper work that goes with running a wine retail business and developing and implementing wine selections, events and newsletters for our Club 2000 members

What I Like About Working at Australian Vintage And In The Wine Industry Is ...
I can be actively involved in the development of our products through conveying the feedback from our cellar door customers on what they like and want to drink to the winemaking team.

My Favourite ‘Australian Vintage’ Wine Is …
McGuigan Personal Reserve Shiraz

If I Was A Wine I Would Be …
A full-bodied, savoury Hunter shiraz 

 


 

Liz Kennedy
Position: Customer Service and Brand Development
Location: The Big Apple, New York, USA

A Typical Day Involves …
Wake up, Gym, Subway, Starbucks, Office, catch up on emails, send out samples, follow up with customers, pitch marketing plans, place sample requests and purchase orders, brain storm about new accounts, WSET wine course, dinner, home

What I Like About Working at Australian Vintage And In The Wine Industry Is ...
The wine industry itself is ever changing and growing full of great new opportunities. The Australian Vintage New York office feels like family!  Oh and all the wine I can drink… (only kidding)!

My Favourite ‘Australian Vintage’ Wine Is …
Tempus Two Botrytis Semillon

If I Was A Wine I Would Be …
Naturally something that keeps getting better with age. 

 


 

Brenton Storer
Position: Planning and Production Co-ordinator      
Location: Merbein

A Typical Day Involves …
The responsibility of coordinating wine supply, packaging line space and linking with other Packaging team members to achieve the best possible outcomes for our table wine at our modern packaging facility in Sunraysia.  Particularly important is the linking of the customer's specific packaging requirements to wine availability and available capacity so as to meet the strict delivery timelines and qualitative targets required by our customers.  My day typically involves continual liaison with winemakers, line supervisors and account managers to get it right first time.

What I Like About Working at Australian Vintage And In The Wine Industry Is ...
I have enjoyed the opportunity to grow and develop from my initial role to the important position I fill today.   The close working relationship with other team members, the direct communication with senior management, which has included the chance to influence outcomes that affect my area, has been rewarding and enjoyable.   Having been involved in wine packaging for some time (as well as being born and raised in Sunraysia) I find the industry itself to be constantly growing and changing through innovation and I could think of no other industry I would rather be involved in - other than Australian Football as Coach of the Carlton Football Club.  Always open to offers!

My Favourite ‘Australian Vintage’ Wine is …
If I was to choose it would be one from each winery as not to upset any of the winemaking team as they all do a cracking job getting wine to me.

If I Was A Wine I Would Be …
Yaldara Farms Barossa Shiraz - strong, complex, lots of character, tall, well-packaged, will go the distance and quality, quality, quality.


Heath Williams
Position: Territory Manager
Location: Melbourne


A Typical Day Involves ...
Working with licensed retailers and restaurant / hotel managers to ensure mutual benefits arising from the sale of Australian Vintage products

What I Like About Working at Australian Vintage and the Wine Industry Is ...

Not too many people get to spend their day talking about something they are passionate about - I'm one of the lucky few.
 
My Favourite 'Australian Vintage' Wine Is ...
Black Label Red - it's an iconic Australian wine for a reason
 
If I Was A Wine I Would Be ...
Hunter Semillon - young, upfront, attractive and zingy but left in a cool dark place will mature well


 

Jodie Belleville
Position: Assistant Winemaker      
Location: Hunter Valley


A Typical Day Involves …
Everything from being a cellar hand to accounts invoicing clerk to data entry extraordinaire to blending trials to cleaning demon to finishing bottling wines.

What I Like About Working at Australian Vintage And In The Wine Industry Is ...
The people of this industry are what makes it unique. The friendship amongst winemakers, especially in the Hunter, is one where people work and play together and love to discuss and share their knowledge over a cold beer at the end of the day.

My Favourite ‘Australian Vintage’ Wine is …

Our Hunter Valley Semillon of course. It is edgy and elegant, with beautiful finesse.

If I Was A Wine I Would Be …
Hunter Semillon, because it’s lean, racy and ages really well.