The continued expansion of the Orange wine industry is dependent on forward thinkers, according to Cumulus Wines’ Martin Gransden.
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The viticulturist spoke about the importance of “fresh eyes and fresh thinking” in relation to the opening of applications for the nationwide Future Leaders 2019 intake.
Up to 15 places will be available for wine industry employees to undertake training.
Having completed the program in 2012, Mr Gransden said the week he spent in Canberra ‘experiential learning’ with Future Leaders – which involved camping, navigating and team bonding – taught him to get out of his comfort zone.
It’s really important from the Orange wine region’s perspective that we have people in those [leadership] roles
- Martin Gransden
“Every industry needs new and evolving leaders to meet the new challenges every industry faces,” Mr Gransden said.
He pointed to fellow Future Leaders graduate, Printhie Wines’ Ed Swift, as an example of the type of person the Orange wine industry needs in order to grow.
“He has gone on to hold roles with ORVA [Orange Region Vignerons Association] and gone on to state and federal advocacy bodies,” Mr Gransden said.
“It’s really important from the Orange wine region’s perspective that we have people in those roles.”
Mr Granden said with Orange leaders on the Winemakers' Federation of Australia board there is an opportunity to effect policy, lobby for funding, promote the region, and encourage research and development.
He said since the program he’s been accepted into a national advocacy body for grape growers and been the recipient of a Nuffield Scholarship, allowing him to spend 18 weeks travelling the world investigating alternative wine grape varieties.
Mr Gransden journeyed to Greece, Armenia, Georgia, Portugal, Spain and the UK in an effort to find varietals of grapes which would thrive in Australia and be accepted by consumers.
While the work is ongoing, the grower said he believed the most promising varietals are from Spain.
Applications for Future Leaders are open at www.winefutureleaders.com until March 15.
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