Australian Grape & Wine - Podcast Series

Join CEO Tony Battaglene with our guest, CEO of Limestone Coast Wine and former Hawthorn FC captain, Richie Vandenberg. As a 4th generation grape grower, Richie talks to us about his move from the family vineyard to football.  He discusses his return to the industry and his passion for the environment, which inspired him to change the goal posts with his wine brand, The Hidden Sea - a brand with a conscience.  The Hidden Sea is proving to be a brand with a purpose by making it their mission to remove plastic waste from the world’s oceans, and help consumers feel part of something bigger than themselves. For every bottle of wine sold, they remove ten plastic bottles from our oceans and waterways. In July 2020, The Hidden Sea announced their ambitious goal of removing 1 billion plastic bottles from the world’s oceans by 2030.  In Feb 2022, they reached the 10 million bottle milestone, a remarkable achievement in the space of 18 months. Tony and Richie also discuss the impact that China has had on Richie’s business as well his attempts to break through the “wall of wine” in Australian retail stores and his success in exporting to UK and Nordic markets.

Join Tony Battaglene and guest Henrik Wallgren, Business Services Manager for the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA), as they discuss the use of heavy vehicles in the Australian wine industry, particularly throughout Vintage, and addressing the Changes to the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws [https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscanmail.trustwave.com%2F%3Fc%3D4062%26d%3Dkpa64Qn_w2rdN1xVe8JVt-Wtac2gdgXYOzmerrT-Sg%26s%3D1462%26u%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.nhvr.gov.au%252fsafety-accreditation-compliance%252fchain-of-responsibility%252fchanges-to-cor&data=04%7C01%7Cali%40agw.org.au%7C8632f4dda0ed4ee3565408d9c35177b0%7Ce7dc5202e3ef4a41b369c5d8b8e28f1b%7C0%7C0%7C637755579044301389%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=TB7IpyaMjsCOIILznH2Ye30w628zGQQ9r6OZRVjdcfw%3D&reserved=0] that were introduced on 1 October 2018.  Australian Grape & Wine have collaborated with SAWIA to establish a Registered National Industry Code of Practice, [https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.winesa.asn.au%2Fnews-resources%2Fwork-health-safety%2Fchain-of-responsibility%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cali%40agw.org.au%7C8632f4dda0ed4ee3565408d9c35177b0%7Ce7dc5202e3ef4a41b369c5d8b8e28f1b%7C0%7C0%7C637755579044311338%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=uHSP%2FZFspuI0ugXkgN0bpk%2FMp1FAPc1359xcNdaaeuk%3D&reserved=0] through a grant from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator [https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscanmail.trustwave.com%2F%3Fc%3D4062%26d%3Dkpa64Qn_w2rdN1xVe8JVt-Wtac2gdgXYO2jD-eb5GA%26s%3D1462%26u%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.nhvr.gov.au%252f&data=04%7C01%7Cali%40agw.org.au%7C8632f4dda0ed4ee3565408d9c35177b0%7Ce7dc5202e3ef4a41b369c5d8b8e28f1b%7C0%7C0%7C637755579044311338%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=UfmWd0vx6dG5OPepWWqjPI%2BDwZ0MnunGjkfoiapsNW8%3D&reserved=0].  A nation-wide consultation process commenced in 2020, however due to ongoing, unstable border restrictions, consultations in-region will resume in 2022. Chain of Responsibility is designed to ensure everyone in the supply chain play their part in ensuring the safety of their transport activities,  so that breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law [https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscanmail.trustwave.com%2F%3Fc%3D4062%26d%3Dkpa64Qn_w2rdN1xVe8JVt-Wtac2gdgXYO26e_uetHA%26s%3D1462%26u%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.nhvr.gov.au%252flaw-policies%252fheavy-vehicle-national-law-and-regulations&data=04%7C01%7Cali%40agw.org.au%7C8632f4dda0ed4ee3565408d9c35177b0%7Ce7dc5202e3ef4a41b369c5d8b8e28f1b%7C0%7C0%7C637755579044321299%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=924Two5zf6BntSs4jgUsk7OHOLL40RsFq7D6hTNPsVc%3D&reserved=0] do not occur. Vintage is a peak time for the use of heavy vehicles in the wine industry and with this, comes certain legal obligations of drivers, wineries, grape growers and vineyard contractors for ensuring the safe transportation of goods.  The Registered National Industry Code of Practice will include framework that ensures goods are not overloaded, that they are secured properly and that drivers are not encouraged or pressured to speed or drive while fatigued.  For the duty holder (eg a winery receiving grapes, a grape grower loading grapes onto a truck and a transporter carting grapes or finished wine), ignorance is not an excuse and the cost of non-compliance is significant.

Join Australian Grape & Wine CEO, Tony Battaglene and Lee McLean, GM Government Relations & External Affairs,  as they discuss two highly topical issues currently facing the Australian wine sector.  Firstly, Container Deposit Schemes and the inclusion of wine bottles as part of the environmental policy around waste reduction; and secondly, off the back of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Winegrapes Market Study from 2019, the ACCC are currently scheduling to follow up on their recommendations to address market transparency, perceived power imbalances, market information, to name a few, by the end of the year. Tune in to hear Tony & Lee break down these issues for grape and wine businesses to plan and be prepared for any potential outcomes, which ever way the cards fall.

While the Australian Government’s policy is that receiving a vaccination is free and voluntary, it aims to have as many Australians vaccinated as possible.  Join Tony Battaglene and guest, Will Snow, Partner at Finlaysons Lawyers as they discuss the various State Government's Vaccine Mandate positions on double vaccination for COVID-19 and the impacts these positions have on grape and wine businesses in Australia.  Community transmission is the bedrock foundation that risk assessment and duty of care is based on to assess and measure risk factors within the workplace.  Will expertly tackles the big questions around the “Double Vax” issue and provides us with sound advice on how to navigate your business through this challenging time for all Australian businesses.  The Australian Fair Work Ombudsman [https://coronavirus.fairwork.gov.au/coronavirus-and-australian-workplace-laws/covid-19-vaccinations-and-the-workplace/covid-19-vaccinations-workplace-rights-and-obligations#requiring-employees-to-be-vaccinated] provides guidance on requiring employees to be vaccinated, with a good approach on understanding levels of risk for workplaces. AON Insights [https://aoninsights.com.au/new-workplace-challenge-ethics-law-and-the-covid-19-vaccination/] also has a great webinar on COVID vaccines and legal issues, with excellent information from a large food manufacturer and why they implemented their mandate - this emphasizes that each employer must consider the issues in their own context.

Join Tony Battaglene and guest Angie Schipano, Director of Bird Control Australia [https://birdcontrolaustralia.com.au/product-category/agricultural/], as they discuss effective, humane and eco-friendly methods of controlling pests in and around the vineyard.  In the leadup to harvest, birds damage fruit by plucking entire berries from the cluster or pecking holes in the berries. Bird damage goes beyond yield loss; pecked grapes can harbour bacterial and fungal pathogens that lead to bunch rot and off-flavours in the wine. Angie provides advice on how to tackle damage to fruit by birds and other pests that not only prevent pest infestation, property damage, and the spread of disease, but also eliminate the need for chemical pesticides, poisons, and dangerous traps.