The Grapevine: Wine industry updates from South Australia
In this edition of The Grapevine: a Clare Valley icon buys The Rising Sun Hotel, leadership changes at Taylors Wines, and Stoke Wines’ Nick Dugmore launches a new podcast.
- SA winemaker launches new inspirational podcast
- The Rising Sun changes hands
- Taylors Wines leadership transition
- Cult SA drops pop up in wine royalty auction
- Tasting Australia downs thousands of bottles of Seppeltsfield
SA winemaker launches new inspirational podcast
The director of Kangaroo Island’s Stoke Wines, Nick Dugmore, has launched a new podcast sharing stories about life’s toughest experiences while raising awareness for the impact of bowel cancer on young Australians.
The podcast is inspired by Dugmore’s personal journey with bowel cancer and will be launched on 24 May at Stoke Wines, Mount Jagged.
Motivational speaker and big wave surfer Mark Mathews will feature at the event and on the debut episode of the podcast, where he talks about a surfing incident that almost killed him.
A Mark Mathews-signed surfboard will be auctioned off at the event, with proceeds donated to the bowel cancer research team.
Dugmore said the podcast came to life after connecting with co-host Alana Dales about their shared experience of navigating life with cancer.
“What became clear very quickly was the power of connection and the importance of community in going through life changing and traumatic experiences,” Dugmore said.
“Alana and I wanted to create a platform for education and to support people going through tricky situations in their own lives. We are keen to motivate and inspire.
“We also want to raise awareness that bowel cancer is a young person’s disease and is the number one cancer killer of people between the ages of 24-34 years.”
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The Power of Awareness podcast launches on 24 May at Stoke Wines, Mount Jagged. Tickets are available here.
The Rising Sun Hotel. Photo: Supplied
The Rising Sun changes hands
Skillogalee Estate has acquired Clare Valley institution The Rising Sun Hotel, which will temporarily close while upgrades are made to the venue’s facilities.
This will include the poker machines being removed, while the rest of the venue will receive a “light refurbishment and essential upgrades”.
It is a new chapter for both the 175-year-old venue and Clare Valley wine producer Skillogalee, which has been making wine in the region since 1970.
“We love Auburn, the Clare Valley and the community that makes this region so special,” Skillogalee owner Simon Clausen said.
“The Rising Sun has always been a community meeting place. We’re really looking forward to honouring that and creating a warm, generous and local experience built on great food and drink, and great company.”
Once reopened, Clausen said the Hotel will offer a “revitalised take” on the classic country pub, and the drinks list will showcase Clare Valley wines alongside a rotating tap of South Australian-only beers, anchored by Coopers.
The same team behind Skillogalee will be in charge of the new venue, with the kitchen overseen by executive chef Dan Moss, front of house managed by Priscila Cunha, and operations by general manager Guy Parkinson.
Incoming Taylors Wines chairman Mitchell Taylor and incoming CEO John Freeman. Photo: Taylors Wines
Taylors Wines leadership transition
After a quarter of a century, Taylors Wines managing director Mitchell Taylor will step aside as managing director and into the role of chairman of the board.
He will be replaced by John Freeman from 21 July, who will help steer the longstanding family-owned Clare Valley winery forward.
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Current chairman David Ansell said the transition aligned with the company’s long-term strategy and said Taylor’s new appointment would “provide the continuity and insight we need to unlock the next chapter of this Australian success story”.
Taylor said it was a “privilege and honour to lead our family business through great change and growth over many years”.
“I will shift my focus and energy to family business ownership, overall strategy, vision and succession planning for Taylors, while mentoring the next generation of leaders within the business,” he said.
He added that incoming CEO Freeman had “years of experience in wine industry leadership and working in family-owned wine businesses, having recently spent 16 years with Delegat Group in New Zealand and Australia”.
“He has a strong track record in delivering growth, knows what it takes to compete successfully and consistently, and is well-positioned to drive Taylors Wines’ next stage of development.”
Wine icon James Halliday AM. Photo: Nick Cubbin
Cult SA drops pop up in wine royalty auction
A slew of South Australian wines from producers like Charles Melton, Penfolds, Henschke, Seppeltsfield, Rockford and Yangarra are included in James Halliday AM’s wine cellar auction.
The wine icon is auctioning off the remainder of his impressive Yarra Valley cellar online before he relocates to Sydney.
Also included are 100 lots of Halliday’s favourites from French producer Domaine Armand Rosseau, with each bottle personally signed by the wine critic.
“My Rosseaus are the best wines in my cellar, led – of course – by the Chambertins from top vintages,” Halliday said.
The James Halliday’s Private Collection is open online now on the LANGTONS website until 9pm AEST, Sunday 25 May.
Tasting Australia 2025 Town Square. Photo: Meaghan Coles.
Tasting Australia downs thousands of bottles of Seppeltsfield
More than 4500 bottles of Seppeltsfield wine were enjoyed across Town Square at Tasting Australia this year in its 18th edition.
The drops were paired with more than 2000 meals served to guests inside the Dining Galleries and with dishes enjoyed by 65,000 people from 15 food vendors.
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said more than 280 local businesses were supported via Tasting Australia.
“Good food and wine are the top driver of interstate visitation to our state, and the real credit goes to all the hard-working vendors and businesses that worked tirelessly for months to bring to the forefront the best SA has to offer,” she said.
