Goundrey Gears Up

Successful Perth radio owner Jack Bendat is undertaking a major redevelopment of Goundrey, with an ambition to become the largest producer of quality WA wine. Owner of both 94.5FM and 92.9PMFM, which command over 70 of the Perth airwaves, Jack Bendat is a businesslike operator in his 70s who is wasting no time in getting a handle on the wine industry.

Experienced Perth-based wine industry consultant Ted Avery is Bendat’s development consultant, currently overseeing the reshaping of Goundrey Wines. His dual goals are to develop the company’s own total vineyard area to 200 ha within 3 years and to crush 3,000 tonnes by 2000. With 60 ha of producing vineyard, Goundrey crushed around 1,000 tonnes in 1996. 50 ha are being planted in each of this year and 1997, while the balance will be planted in 1998. The winery is presently being extended to handle the projected crop increases. Bendat’s total investment, including the purchase price of the business, will comfortably exceed $10 million.

Central to Goundrey’s future will be its ability to increase its market share and its retail prices at the same time. Few people could argue that the present prices, which have seen first-class wines like the Reserve Shiraz 1994 sell for as low as $14 in Melbourne, hardly do justice to the wines.

Following a minor increase in February, prices did rise from August 1. Ted Avery says that although they are unlikely to be of major consequence, Goundry’s future price increases will depend on how the new prices are received. It is imperative, he says, that Goundrey is positioned above where it is now.

The basic Goundrey range will continue to include a Cabernet Merlot, an Unwooded Chardonnay and a Classic White semillon and sauvignon blanc blend and will sell around the $12 mark. The Reserve range will consist of a Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 1994 Reserve Pinot Noir was accepted well enough for it to continue in the range, with the 1995 vintage to be released in 12 months. Ted Avery says that a top-class merlot currently in the winery could be added to the range, or else be presented separately as a flagship wine. The Reserve range is heading towards the $17-20 area, at which price I firmly believe it will continue to offer great value.

Howard Park Finally Gets a Winery

Ubiquitous consultant John Wade is finally getting the chance to build his own winery. Certainly excited at the prospect of making wine for his numerous consultancies and for his Howard Park label in a purpose-built environment, John Wade says all will be in readiness for next vintage.

Interestingly, Howard Park also becomes one of the few Australian wine brands without a single vineyard to its name to employ a vineyard manager. Chris Duffy joins fellow Roseworthy graduate, winemaker Mike Kerrigan, under Wade’s employ. Both, incidentally, won first-class honours there. Chris Duffy will however be active enough, assisting in the development of the new vineyards under contract to Howard Park and by consulting to its existing suppliers.

More Exotics for Pipers Brook

In addition to spending $1.7 million to extend its winery, Andrew Pirie’s Pipers Brook is in the process of developing a 10ha vineyard largely planted to gewurztraminer, pinot gris and sauvignon blanc for a cost of $500,000.

The new vineyard, which extends the company’s Strathlynn vineyards on the Tamar, is expected to help Pipers Brook meet its anticipated demand in the late 1990s for more cool-climate fruit from exotic varietals. Andrew Pirie says the new vineyard will take the company-owned area under vine to 77ha, crushing between 500 and 1,000 tonnes each year, depending on the vagaries of the northern Tasmanian climate.

Andrew Pirie is also continuing his scrutiny of the various Pipers Brook sites as he matches specific ‘terroirs’ with varieties. The Summit Chardonnay is now onto its third release 1994, while Pirie is firmly convinced that the original 1974 plantings of riesling on Pipers Hill warrant similar status. I will keep you posted with news of future special releases. Please login to post comment