Vasse Felix winemaker David Dowden has left the high-profile Margaret River wine producer after what is believed to be a disagreement over the appointment of Virginia Willcock late last year as the head of the group’s winemaking operations.
Vasse Felix winemaker David Dowden has left the high-profile Margaret River wine producer after what is believed to be a disagreement over the appointment of Virginia Willcock late last year as the head of the group’s winemaking operations.
Vasse Felix winemaker David Dowden has left the high-profile Margaret River wine producer after what is believed to be a disagreement over the appointment of Virginia Willcock late last year as the head of the group’s winemaking operations.
Mr Dowden had assumed Vasse Felix’s top winemaking job after Clive Otto was made redundant in 2005. Mr Otto had been with Vasse Felix for more than 15 years.
The Heytesbury-owned Margaret River winery appointed Ms Willcock as its group winemaker in October, with Mr Dowden as senior winemaker.
Ms Willcock was formerly the group winemaker for Australian Wine Holdings, which last year was forced to sell its assets, including Hay Shed Hill, to repay debts.
Heytesbury chief executive Paul Holmes a Court said Mr Dowden had decided that he wanted to be in the most senior winemaking position.
Mr Holmes a Court said Mr Dowden had left with the company’s “best wishes”.
Vasse Felix is in the midst of harvesting grapes for this year’s vintage.
WA Business News understands that Mr Dowden tendered his resignation on Friday and left the winery on the same day.
Mr Holmes a Court said Vasse Felix had made an internal promotion to the winemaking team and would wait until the end of the vintage to decide whether to recruit another winemaker.
Mr Dowden was with Vasse Felix for six years, with the company affirming his role as the group’s hands-on winemaker when news about Mr Otto’s redundancy surfaced in September 2005.
Following his departure from Vasse Felix, Mr Otto accepted a winemaking role with millionaire Perth businessman Nigel Gallop.
Mr Gallop hired Mr Otto to develop wines from his state-of-the-art winery at Fraser Gallop Estate in Margaret River, which was commissioned early last year.
Ms Willcock said she was surprised by Mr Dowden’s sudden departure, however she said Vasse Felix had enough resources to cope with this year’s vintage.