The Owner - Bruce Browne RDAS(Ag) My first “discovery” of wine was in the 1970’s while living in South Australia. I subsequently studied at Roseworthy (now University of Adelaide) graduating in 1979. In 1980 I joined the NSW Ag Department as a farm consultant . In 1985 I transferred to Mudgee where I became a specialist viticulturalist. My role with the Ag Dept was to help wine grape growers improve their vineyards. I regularly presented results of my research and other work at district, regional, national and international conferences and seminars such as the “National Sustainable Viticulture Seminars” and the “Fourth International Micro Irrigation Conference”. In addition I wrote a number of technical publications and was creator and founding editor “The Grape Vine Management Guide”. In recognition of my contributions I have been honoured with Life Membership of the Mudgee Wine Grape Growers Assoc (one of only three life members). Over a ten year period from, 1985, I served as Chairman and Chief Stewart of the Annual Mudgee Wine Show Committee. I was invited, in 1993, by the Hunter Valley Vignerons Assn to be associate judge at the Hunter Valley Wine Show. In 1990 I purchased a vacant block of land on which I have developed a 20hectare vineyard and built our family home. To help finance the vineyard development I, between 1989 and 1995, ran a vineyard contracting business, which employed up to 60 casual employees. In 1994 as a contractor I hand picked 600t of grapes and pruned 120 hectares of vines. In addition during this period I established a small consulting business assisting growers with irrigation and nutrition monitoring. My consulting, while small had excellent support from the better Mudgee growers. My major clients included; Wyndham-Orlando, McGuigans, Mudgee Viticultural Services, Sargent, Rothbury Estate and many others.Consultancy practice continues today. In 1995 I was head hunted by Southcorp (then the Penfolds, Lindermans, Seppelts, Wynns etc group) To manage their vineyards and grape supply in NSW and NE Victoria. In this role I managed 2500acres of company vineyard, at five different sights, and was responsible for intake of up to 100,000tonnes of grapes per annum from contracted growers, some of these grapes ended up in some of Australia’s greatest wines. This included responsibility for the effective establishment and management of contracts with external growers within broad parameters and the management of Viticultural services to external growers within the region. The maintenance of sound relationships and ongoing business partnerships with external growers was a critical accountability of the position. In this position I was also responsible for the transfer of viticultural research and technical information to sites via a regional viticulturist leading to commercial adoption of viticultural best practice. The position embraced a wide scope of responsibility and as such necessitated regular liaison with other personnel in Operations, Finance, Human Resources and Marketing. Interaction with Industry outside the organization was necessary, to foster an improved Industry profile, to monitor competitor activity and keep abreast of current technology. My time with Southcorp allowed me to develop excellent skills in; leadership, teamwork and co-operation, planning and organizing, financial management skills, viticulture, customer service focus, interpersonal relations, results focusing and the developing others.