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Jane Campbell is the General Manager of the family owned and run Campbell’s winery which is crafting world class wines in Victoria’s Rutherglen wine region. The Campbell’s story now spans 5 successive generations, from John Campbell who set sail from St Andrews in Scotland to join in the Gold rush but who ended up planting vines near what was then the Bobbie Burns gold field. The Campbell family survived phylloxera outbreak of the late 1800’s and then, with an eye on the future, consolidated then steadily grew without compromising quality or integrity. Campbell’s is now run by 5th generation sisters Jane and Julie Campbell, who are tirelessly working to share the Campbells message. Jane sat down with me to share the Campbells story and some insights into a wine family that is part and parcel of Australian wine history. A huge thanks to Jane for joining me.

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Chris Thomas is the winemaker and managing director at Dowie Doole in South Australia’s McLaren Vale. The rumour is that in his younger schoolboy days he excelled in the math and science departments, but when it came to undertaking later studies he was convinced to pursue oenology after talking to a friend who raved about how interesting and fun it was. Chris accrued a wealth of experience across the industry and makes particular mention of the influence of Steve Serafino Maglieri who is a champion of alternative varietals and a pioneer of the modern McLaren vale wine scene. Chris aims to channel diversity and excellence through the Dowie Doole Vineyards at Blewitt Springs and Tatachilla and he joined me on the show to share a bit about his work in the McLaren vale and the mission for Dowie Doole. A huge thanks to Chris for joining me. 

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Wine personalities don’t get much bigger than that of US Master Somm Bobby Stuckey. Bobby started working tables as a bus boy, and after discovering a brochure on the Court of Master Somms while working at the Little Nell in Aspen he dedicated himself to achieving excellence in the world of wine. Bobby is now widely recognised as an industry leader in United States hospitality. After talking to Bobby about his business philosophy and his approach to leadership it’s not difficult to see why. Bobby joined me for a conversation in which he shared his story and insights into the world of wine, business and specifically hospitality. A huge thanks to Bobby for joining me. 

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Dan Eggleton, is a producer and advocate for small wine makers, and has been a leading voice in generating important conversations and asking hard questions at a grass roots level in Australian wine. He is as true blue as you find, and acutely feels the plight of small producers of premium wines across Australia. Dan felt that he had to become vocal after witnessing the difficulties of particularly the last two vintages, given the urgency of what is at stake. He is humble and genuine, but not backwards in coming forwards. Dan and I had a fascinating conversation in which we discussed the current representation of small producers, the protection of wine making integrity and what is at stake if no change is made. Many of these topics are uncomfortable and difficult to approach, and Dan is worthy of admiration for raising them. These are all topics that need to be further unpacked and talking with Dan has caused me to take a deeper look into many of the issues discussed and my views have accordingly developed even since. However, I hope that Dan and my conversation is food for thought and the greater industry can collaborate to provide meaningful solutions to many of the questions that need to be tackled. A huge thanks to Dan for joining me. 

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Nestled in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley is Brave and Maiden Estate, named after a Romeo and Juliet type legend that was passed down by the Americans native to the area. Victor Robaglia is the head wine maker at Brave and Maiden and overseas a program of Bordeaux varietals which he crafts in partnership with the unique Santa Ynez terroir. Despite having French parents, Victor has an extremely international narrative, being born in Canberra and having done vintages in South Africa and the USA. Victor was attracted to Santa Barbara given the unique terroir and the exciting possibilities it presented. Victor invited me out to the winery where he educated me on Santa Ynez and all thing Brave and Maiden. A huge thanks to Victor for joining me. 

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Nearly two years ago, I met Priscilla Hennekam, a Brazilian woman with an infectious laugh and an arguably unrivalled passion for wine and the wine industry. Since our first conversation, Priscilla has been working hard to narrow her focus and channel her passion—her new mission being to revolutionize the world of wine communication, to demystify wine, to make it approachable, and to build traction with generations of younger consumers who seem to be questioning whether wine is for them. Priscilla’s vision is most visible through her blog, *Rethinking the Wine Industry*, a forum dedicated to rethinking and challenging the current means of communicating the wine industry’s messaging to consumers. Priscilla has also solidified her position in the consultancy space, where she delivers advice across the globe on wine communication. Priscilla and I recently caught up for a long-overdue chat to hear about the development of her work and her vision for the future. A massive thanks to Priscilla for joining me.

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Cokie Ponikvar loves wine. Her passion is contagious, and she wants to share her passion for wine with the world. She is studying for MW exam while chasing her dream of becoming an MS, and she shares her studies with the world through her online education platform Cokie’s World of Wine. Cokie released early that wine lends itself to a pretentious air that has resulted in the alienation of entire generations of future potential wine lovers. So, she has made it her mission to break down the barriers, thereby creating an attractive and welcoming portal through which all can see the world of wine in its full beauty. She is young, observant, dedicated and passionate - the perfect ambassador to share the word, and the traction she has garnered means her work is being noticed. Cokie sat down with me to share her story, her work and a little bit about herself in this thoroughly enjoyable conversation. A huge thanks to Cokie for joining me.

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David LeMire MW is joint CEO and head of sales and marketing at Shaw and Smith. His experience ranges from being the import manager for Negotiants Australia to taking on the revered Master of Wine accreditation. David also writes for Anthony Madigan’s Wine Business Monthly publication, where David shares his perspectives with panache. David joined me on the show from the Adelaide Hills to share his story, the story of Shaw and Smith and associated wineries  including Tolpuddle, and some perspectives on the bureaucratic structures tasked with supporting and advocating for the Australian wine industry. A huge thanks to David for joining me.  

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Some weeks ago, I caught up with one of my absolute favourites, Alex Head of the Head Wines label. In typical cool, calm, and collected fashion Alex shared his perspectives on the economic roller coaster Australia is riding and its impacts on the industry, the need for an active optimism and the importance of embracing personal responsibility when it comes to facing challenges. Alex and I also discussed the most recent developments with Head Wines. Alex’s measured and acute observations are valuable and an enjoyment to listen to and consider. A huge thanks to Alex for joining me. 

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I recently managed to grab Ashley Ratcliff, the owner of Ricca Terra Wines, for a quick update on his recent activities. Ashley is a passionate crusader for the Australian wine cause and also for what is possibly one of the most misunderstood regions in the Australian wine landscape, South Australia’s Riverland. Ashley’s time and travels in and across the industry have given him acute perspectives and an eye for opportunity, and after a recent trip to the USA, Ashley believes more than ever that there is an abundance of opportunity if the industry embraces thinking outside the box. It was a quick chat, but it doesn’t take long to gauge Ashley’s passion and his vision. A big thanks to Ashley for joining me.

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