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Growers Unite Four decades of Winegrowers Association SOPHIE PREECE
ON APRIL 9, 1980, a group of Marlborough grape growers decided to join forces as they grappled with a budding new industry. That meeting, 40 years ago this month, resulted in the Marlborough Winegrowers Association, and changed the face of the country’s wine industry. Founding member Phil Rose says there were few growers back then, mostly harvesting Müller-Thurgau, “and we were all new to the game”. There were around eight Montana growers in town, he says. “Some of us had 20 hectares, some only had four.” Bill Walsh was inaugural chair and Phil vice chair of the association, which was incorporated in June that year. The first meeting, held in May 1980, covered spray regulations, grape prices and the risk of phylloxera, which John Marris spoke to, including a push for the restriction of movements of grape cuttings. According to the minutes, John emphasised the “vital importance” of the issue to Marlborough, noting that it would cost Montana, for whom he
20 / Winepress April 2020
worked, $15 million to change to grafted cuttings. Joe Corban then spoke to the inaugural meeting, giving insights into “facets of the wine industry of interest to the association”, and on the workings of the Wine Institute. By the second meeting in June, the opportunity for a Marlborough Wine Festival was raised by Hamish Young. Phil says that led to various scenarios trialled over several years, including one at Waterlea Racecourse and another that moved around wineries. “It was very much in its infancy in those days.” Phil, the founder of Wairau River Wines, was chairman when the association was faced with the feared incursion of phylloxera, an aphid that feeds on the roots of grapevines, and the board looked to isolate the properties impacted. Having a united body was incredibly important when it came to dealing with the incursion, and the association developed and
Phil and Chris Rose
implemented a strategy, he says. “At the end of the day the number one thing was to replant Marlborough in resistant rootstock... Those were interesting times.” The issue “shook” growers. “We didn’t ever think it would land on our doorstep as quickly as it did.” The association was a “whole different beast” to today’s organisation, says Phil. “In those early days it was them and us, with the Wine Institute representing the winemakers and the local associations - whether they be Auckland, Hawke’s Bay or Gisborne - representing the growers.” Marlborough growers had a unified front when the Grape Growers Council and Wine Institute formed the peak body New Zealand Winegrowers, he says. “We are now one, but at least we had our side half organised when it all came together.”
