Last year’s 40under40 First Amongst Equals winner Darren Haunold recently celebrated the opening of cellar door sales at his winery, Wills Domain.
In the past year Wills Domain has acquired a neighbouring property, doubling the size of the vineyard in Margaret River, and has appointed a distributor on the east coast.
“We are really going ahead in leaps and bounds, and with the cellar door opening we have a huge branding opportunity on our hands,” Mr Haunold said.
“Consumers appreciate something unique and boutique, which is great, because that’s the game I’m in; we don’t just want to be another wine label.”
Mr Haunold said winning the 40under40 First Amongst Equals acknowledged his business over and above the wine it produced.
“Having won has given a certain amount of backbone and weight to what we do,” he said.
“Given we deal a lot with international business, it is great to show we have been recognised over and above the wine.
“We have always wanted to have a strong corporate following and the 40under40 award has given us access and exposure to people we wouldn’t otherwise be able to.”
