WineNZ Summer 2019-20

Wine & Time
Philipp describes Olivia, who
started as a kitchen hand at
Charley Noble early last year, as a
“keen worker who is willing to put
in the hard yards” and as a result,
she moved up the ranks quickly
and is now managing a section
in the Charley Noble kitchen.
“This is impressive for a 20-yearold
who has only been in our
kitchen since February last
year, so I pushed Olivia to do
the WelTec course. I believe
qualifications are very important
for those who have ambitions in
this industry,” he says.
Olivia first tried her hand at
studying psychology at Victoria
University Wellington when she
left Wellington High School, then
she worked at a restaurant in
Johnsonville.
“I started in this industry washing
dishes and now I manage a
section in a famous kitchen,” says
Olivia. “There is so much more I
still don’t know and I am excited
and determined to succeed in my
course.”
“Hospitality is still a very
underappreciated industry in
Wellington,” says Philipp. “We
work very hard to serve highquality
food, and people don’t
necessarily understand the level
of skill that it requires. The more
people with qualifications, the
better it will be for employers, and
ultimately, for our guests.”
Wolf Blass crowned
Great Australian
Red 2019
The South Australian Winery has,
yet again, been crowned Great
Australian Red, which makes
this year the third time it has
taken this award home since its
conception in 2006.
Source: Winetitles
Yealands Wine Group
appoints new CEO
Renewed focus on worldleading
sustainability practice
and global market expansion
Leading New Zealand wine
producer, Yealands Wine Group,
has today announced the
appointment of Tiffani Graydon
as Chief Executive Officer.
Graydon brings with her a
wealth of 25 years’ industry
knowledge and senior
executive experience in both
New Zealand and offshore
markets as well as a proven
record in business and brand
transformation. She has
previously worked at Yealands
in a General Manager Sales
and Marketing capacity.
“After rapid expansion over
the last decade, Yealands Wine
Group is now ready to enter the
next phase of business growth.
The future is very bright, and
one I’m excited to lead the
team through as we focus on
building brand equity globally
and here in New Zealand;
alongside cementing our
position in sustainable wine
making.
“What sets the Yealands’ story
apart from many others in the
New Zealand wine industry, and
part of what drew me back to
the company, is the opportunity
we have to take a genuine
leadership role in sustainable
winemaking. It’s a value held
strongly by our people but is
also something which is driving
consumers’ decision-making in
their brand choices,” Graydon
says.
In the coming weeks,
Graydon and the senior
leadership team, will refine the
organisation’s business strategy
focusing resources on key
growth areas for the business.
The sustainability efforts at
Yealands are centred around
the idea to ‘tread lightly’. Its
focus continues to be on
delivering the best quality,
award-winning wines, with a
light environmental footprint, to
its existing 65 global markets
and beyond.
“Yealands is the first winery
in the world to achieve
carboNZeroCertTM certification
from inception and we are
currently the only winery in
New Zealand that holds this
accreditation. We’re very proud
of this achievement but we
certainly don’t rest on our
laurels and are committed
to continually finding new
sustainable practices,” Graydon
says.
Peter Radich, Chairman of
Yealands Wine Group says
“We’re looking forward to
Yealands’ business growth with
Tiffani leading the way. She has
invaluable
international and senior
executive experience in the
wine industry, a passion for
sustainability, and has a strong
determination to succeed.”
Yealands Estate Wines is one
of New Zealand’s largest wine
exporters and is proud to be
100% locally owned, a rarity in
the wine industry. Owned by
the people of Marlborough,
Yealands is committed to
opening its doors to give locals
the opportunity to experience
firsthand their own investment
as well as deliver a strong
performance over the coming
years.
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