viticulture

Culture and managing the unknown

Ash Keegan is the CEO of FABAL Pty Ltd, one of Australia's largest private agriculture management companies. Prior to this Ash was the Chief Viticulturist and entered the industry from a less than conventional path.

This is a fantastic conversation, with some real nuggets of wisdom along the way including being OK with not knowing the answers to every question. We also discuss the need to care about your employees in building team culture and the paddock PHD.

Other topics covered include:

  • 12 questions to ask your staff

  • 3 rules of profitable business

  • How to push the boundaries of your knowledge and understanding

Enjoy.

" Agriculture is in my blood" Dr Mark Krstic - The AWRI

"I was given room to really grow, given responsibility beyond my age to go and do things...." Dr Mark Krstic,

Dr Mark Krstic - Business Development Manager of the AWRI (Australian Wine Research Institute) - has foundations in diverse fields of agriculture and now finds himself well entrenched in the research community of the Australian and global wine industry.

We discuss the history of the AWRI, his mentors and influences throughout his career, future industry opportunities and the first release of the Shipwreck beer project made in collaboration with James Squire.

Click the image to watch the video….

**** This is a recording from 2018, and the bottled shipwreck beer sold out in fast time****

**I too missed out on sampling the beer from the worlds oldest yeast made new again!***

Biological Farming - Stuart Proud

"I remember back in University it was all chemistry and physics, whereas I think the biology plays such a massive role. I really hope that for the next generation of people that come through, more of that is emphasized." Stuart Proud - Biological farmer

Stuart Proud is the Viticulturist and winemaker for Thousand Candles in the Yarra Valley, along with his family project, Proud Primary Produce.  He follows biological farming practices, focusing on soil health and natural farming systems to produce exceptional fruit for great wines.

Stu discuss's the concept of biological farming, his influences in the switch to this appoach, value adding through better farm health and the first steps to take towards biological practices. 

Blooper cuts galore at the end of this episode!

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McLaren Vale Grenache to the World

"..the best businesses have a conversation with people, they don't just transmit stuff, and the very best ones understand what emotion they are trying to engage within their customer."

Toby Bekkers, Bekkers Wine

Toby Bekkers is many things. A Viticulturist, Vigneron, Wine Business Consultant, Nuffield scholar, McLaren Vale identity and master observer.

Toby chats about converting vineyards to organics and biodynamics, selling wine to race horse owners, where he observes to find the best learnings and Graham Norton.

Click the image and Enjoy the video

Vineyard Soils Guru - Professor Bob White

"Provided you're putting adequate amounts of the right kind of organic matter you will have a diverse micro flora in the soil." Prof. Bob White
 

Professor Bob White, author of "Understanding Vineyard Soils" and "Soils for Fine Wine"  knows his soils.  We discuss what makes a great viticultural soil, soil biology, terroir and how he came to be involved in the world of vineyard soil's.

Speaking with Bob is a real privilege, as he is a gem of the wine industry's soil sphere.

It is just a pity we had an unexpected intruder at the end...

Click the photo to view the video and enjoy.