PLANTAGENET Wines winemaker and chief executive officer Gavin Berry will take on the role as managing director of West Cape Howe Wines at the conclusion of this year’s vintage.
The move comes after West Cape Howe Wines founders Brenden and Kylie Smith sought to leave the wine business in order to spend more time with their young family.
As part of his move, Mr Berry gains an undisclosed equity in West Cape Howe, while the Porongurup winery he and wife Gill established, Mount Trio, will join the West Cape Howe production stable.
“We planted the vines when we first came down here and at some stage we were going to have to make a decision as to whether to set up our winery or invest in something, and working out whether there were conflicts with Plantagenet,” Mr Berry said.
“We wanted to let Mount Trio grow and this opportunity came up. West Cape Howe is a serious young brand and Brenden and Kylie have done a fantastic job.
“Mount Trio will come down to West Cape Howe but it will be a different operation. Gill looks after that and does that well.”
Mount Trio grapes will be crushed at West Cape Howe’s facilities.
Mr Berry said West Cape Howe’s winemaker, Dave Clearly, would remain in his current position.
Mr Berry has a long association with Plantagenet.
“I’ve been with Plantagenet for 16 years and I’ve watched it grow from a 150 tonnes to 2,500 tonnes and gone from a part-time junior winemaker to the general manager,” he said.
West Cape Howe Wines was established in 1997.
Existing equity partners in West Cape Howe Wines are: Ian Crockett; Rob Quenby; and Rinze Brandsma.
