Wednesday, 06 June 2018 13:54

From gap year to Executive Officer

Written by  Tessa Nicholson
Sue Binnie new Executive Officer for NZSVO. Sue Binnie new Executive Officer for NZSVO.

Daunting is the one word that Sue Binnie uses to describe how she feels about taking over the role of New Zealand Society of Viticulture and Oenology’s (NZSVO) Executive Officer.

Not surprising really, given she is following in the footsteps of a man who held that position for 17 years.

The NZSVO, was established by Dr Richard Smart back in 1988 to assist New Zealand grape growers and winemakers with the dissemination of technical information. In 2000, committee member Nick Sage took on the role of Executive Officer, to ensure that dissemination continued, only retiring last year.

When the job was advertised, Binnie wasn’t too sure whether she could take it on. The former owner of Lake Chalice Wines, (along with husband Phil, friend Chris Gambitsis and winemaker Matt Thomson) had been rather enjoying her year away from the wine industry, after selling the company and assets to Saint Clair Wines in 2016. She describes it as her “gap year”, where she got to take a breather, having been involved in the industry for 28 years.

“But I was looking for something part time that would keep my hand in, because when it comes down to it, wine people are fun people. I love being around them. On the whole they are funny, engaging, passionate about they do and interested in what everyone else is doing.”

When the advertised job was pointed out to her by a friend, her initial reaction was; “What does the NZSVO do?”. After some research, she was more than keen to apply.

“I love the idea that its primary function is dissemination of information. It’s technical, the growing side of the industry and how can we do it better, smarter. I would like to help in raising the profile of what they do, because it is an important part of the New Zealand wine industry.”

With her past experience, it is not surprising that she understands the value of such an organisation. When her and Phil first became involved in wine, they knew nothing about the industry, how to grow grapes, or even what grapes to grow.

Good friend Gambitsis who had owned a restaurant in Wellington had announced to the couple that he was moving to Marlborough to buy some land and grow grapes.

“We went, that’s nice, you go do that,” Binnie says. “Then we started going down to help him and one day Phil came to me and said; “That’s it, I am done with the police. I have been talking to Chris and I am going to retire from the police, go to Marlborough and grow grapes with him.”

So a few months later, with a three-month-old baby in tow, the pair made the move south. Lake Chalice Wines was born and the pair have been an integral part of the wine scene ever since. Phil undertook the one-year Polytech viticulture course, “and learned some valuable things about growing grapes that we hadn’t known before-hand”.

The era of information being shared over the fence or over a bottle of wine, is something Binnie remembers strongly from those early years. It is something that she readily admits helped them long-term, and is just one of the reasons she is now passionately taking on her new role.

With a strong committee behind her, she is trying to get “up to speed” as quickly as possible.

“Nick has done it for 17 years, he created the role and could do it with his eyes shut.”

There will be no rest for her, given the NZSVO is planning two major workshops for the near future. A sparkling workshop will be held just prior to this year’s Bragato Conference, while a Sauvignon Blanc workshop is planned prior to next year’s International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration, being held in Blenheim in January.

Binnie is not the only new face within the Society. The committee has undergone a major change as well. Jeff Sinnot is the new Chair, and committee members include Dr David Jordan, Andy Petrie, Helen Morrison, Jenny Dobson, Mark Krasnow and Roland Harrison. 

For more information on the NZSVO, visit the website; www.nzsvo.org.nz

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