Hills winemaker thinks 'out of the box'

 

Bird in Hand winemaker Andrew Nugent is setting up new income streams at his 30-acre site at Woodside. Picture: Tait Schmaal   Source: The Advertiser

The group will launch Bottle in Hand - a new distribution business focused on introducing Australians to family-made wines from around the world - next week.

It will be followed by Stars in Hand - an events management business that will manage international and national stars in concerts at the Woodside 30-hectare, winery, function centre and cellar door site.

Bird in Hand Wines founder Andrew Nugent says the group is doing what a modern family-owned winery should - thinking out of the box in the changing market conditions.

"The culture of winemaking in the region has changed as competition has increased and we need to keep pace.

"Oversupply and the rising Australian dollar have also made things harder across the industry. Our goal is to be innovative and courageous in our choices as we develop new revenue streams for the business and offer our customers new experiences.

"Some Australian wines are considered ``heavy and hot'' overseas, but Bird in Hand makes ``tight and elegant'' wines that have less alcohol, cellar well and are more European in style, Mr Nugent said.

The $8 million turnover company exports to about 32 countries, including the key markets of US, UK and China, through a network of international distributors, producing more than 60,000 cases of wine every year.

They recently planted a new vineyard in the Clare region to extend their range of Riesling and Shiraz wines.