Steady as she grows

THE future is looking positive for Gisborne wine company GroCo, with overseas exports and a new domestic wine label planned.

Since being formed last year, the company - made up of 34 winegrowers from this district — has made steady progress in spreading its message to key markets around the world, under the governance of a new board.

Hugh Ammundsen was contracted to help set up GroCo, along with a steering committee, and as the company moves into its next phase shareholders have elected their board of directors - Allan de Lautour, Steve Voysey, David Quinn, Peter Briant and Reid Fletcher

The purpose of GroCo was not to generate its own profit, but coordinate supply to achieve a fair return for all shareholders, said spokesman Reid Fletcher.

Mr Fletcher has teamed with Marcus Griffin in a new venture that will support GroCo, wine logistics and marketing company Fletcher Griffin.

Fletcher Griffin has sole responsibility for the marketing, production and sales of all GroCo products, which includes grapes, juice and finished product.

It is nearing completion of this year's vintage, which is likely to produce a below-average yield of about 2200 tonnes of mixed varieties.

Former Pernod Ricard viticulture manager Warwick Bruce has been employed to oversee all the viticulture operations for GroCo, while processing will go through Gisvin. The next step is to develop a wine label for GroCo, which Mr Griffin said would be primarily targeted at the local and domestic market.

Kim Crawford, one of the most respected winemakers in the industry, will direct the winemaking process.

"Kim has had a lot to do with this district and has a long association with many of the growers that are a part of GroCo. He is incredibly confident about the grape industry in Gisborne and we are pleased to have him on board," Mr Fletcher said.

They hope to have the yet-to-be-named wine bottled and ready by August, and also have a presence at the Wine and Food Festival in October.

Quality was one of the biggest selling points GroCo had to offer and Mr Griffin said they were putting in place the highest-quality parameters to ensure they delivered a premium product.

He and Mr Fletcher recently returned from a market research trip in Asia, Europe and the United States and attracted strong interest in the concept.

Mr Fletcher and Mr Griffin have confidence in the future of the company.

"All of our shareholders are pretty enthusiastic about what's happening," Mr Fletcher said.

"After being in the face of having nowhere to go, we're trying to turn a negative situation into a positive.

"We now have 34 of Gisborne's best growers with a supply platform to the rest of the world."