Winepress - July 2024

From the Editor

I’M NOT a fan of buzzwords like “connection” and “collaboration” that roll off the tongue so easily but are a lot harder to put into action. I once had an editor whose mantra was “show, don’t tell”, by which he meant share stories, use reallife examples, don’t expect readers just to be told – in effect, give substance to buzzwords. And that’s what WinePRO achieved last month.

The three-day event in Blenheim proved to be a celebration and showcase for the wine industry. From Marlborough’s new players in agritech to recycling broken posts, there was something for everyone - grapegrowers, wineries, suppliers, service providers, investors and wine drinkers. The financial data isn’t in yet on what business was done, but anecdotally there’s been great feedback of people making connections, sharing ideas, seeing where the industry is going, and improving productivity for the region. Wine Marlborough is keen to keep the discussions going because understanding the broader picture benefits everyone in the industry.

We could have filled the whole magazine with WinePRO stories but it was held in the week the magazine goes to press so there’s a taster in this month’s magazine, with more to come in later issues.

In another example of collaboration, Wine Marlborough and Federated Farmers joined forces in the Marlborough District Council chamber in June to call for a longer-term view on water security for the whole region. “We need rivers for our wellbeing, our enjoyment, our survival and our livelihoods. Water is our insurance policy for the future,” said Beth Forrest, Marlborough Winegrowers chair as she advocated for a water resilience strategy that involves all users working together.

Sounds like a great topic for the next WinePRO conference.

BEV DOOLE