By Felicity Carter for Meininger's Wine Business International
The CEO of Australia’s Treasury Wine Estates talks about life since TWE was de-merged from beer giant Foster’s in 2011. Today, it’s a wine-only company.
Neil McGuigan is CEO of Australian Vintage (AVL), a publicly listed company that includes McGuigan Wines, with one winery in the Hunter Valley and one in the Barossa Valley; Nepenthe from the cool climate Adelaide Hills; Tempus Two in the Hunter Valley, founded by Lisa McGuigan; Miranda Wines and a clutch of other labels.
By Robert Joseph for Meininger's Wine Business International
Jose Luis Muguiro Aznar is a director, general sales manager and member of the family that owns Marqués de Riscal, one of Spain’s leading wineries. Marqués de Riscal currently produces 12m bottles per year in Rioja, Toro and Rueda.
By Adam Lechmere for Meininger’s Wine Business International
The founder of McGuigan Wines, holder of the Australian Medal and official Living Legend of the Hunter Valley, Brian McGuigan is one of Australian wine’s most recognisable figures. More than anyone else, McGuigan is responsible for driving Australian wine and giving it the reputation it enjoys worldwide – for good or ill.
By Felicity Carter for Meininger's Wine Business International
Stevie Kim, a Korean American who’s resident in Italy is general coordinator of Italian wine trade fair, Vinitaly. She has travelled extensively through China, researching the market for Vinitaly.
By Felicity Carter for Meininger's Wine Business International
Lenz M. Moser is founder and general manager of German company TxB Fine Wines, importer and wine brand development agency, which has a joint venture with China’s Changyu winery. He offers his insights into China.
Gerard Basset has scaled an extraordinary series of peaks of the wine industry. He is the only person to have won the titles of both Europe’s and the world’s best sommelier, to have qualified as both a Master Sommelier and a Master of Wine, and to have a Wine MBA. A British citizen since 1990 – despite his strong French accent – he was honoured by the Queen of England with an OBE in 2011 for his services to the UK hospitality industry.
At the age of 76, Bernard Magrez occupies a unique role in the wine world. After successfully building a highly successful spirits and branded wine business called William Pitters, he turned his attention to super-premium wines. Today, he is owner of six top-flight Bordeaux chateaux, and over 30 estates in countries ranging from Japan to Uruguay.
Sir George Fistonich is owner and manging director of Villa Maria Estate, which he founded in 1961. In 1976 he bought the Vidal winery, and in 1987 added Esk Valley, making his company the third largest producer in New Zealand. In September 2011 he was honoured with an IWC Lifetime Achievement Award.
By Richard Woodward for Meininger's Wine Business International
A lawyer by profession, Barbara Banke has been immersed in the wine world since she joined Jackson Family Wines in 1983, shortly before she married founder Jess Jackson, one of the California wine industry’s best-known figures.
