In the past six months or so, many exciting developments have occurred in the Elderton ranks at Nuriootpa.
Cameron and Allister Ashmead, as Co-Managing Directors and second generation owners, are proud to be carrying on the traditions and successes of their parents, whilst continuing to seek improvements across the business.
Board expansion
With Lorraine Ashmead (first generation co-founder) wishing to step back from the board of the company, Cameron and Allister, as Co-Managing Directors, decided to take the board to another level.
They created three new non-executive board member positions which have been filled by Paul Evans (Ironbridge Capital) as the new Chairman; Steve Smith MW (NZ’s first Master of Wine, and most famous for his work setting up Craggy Range) and James Hooper (Managing Director of Elderton’s external accountancy firm, HLB Mann Judd Stephen).
The newly expanded board is set to inspire and challenge the second generation of this family owned and operated business, charged with steering the winery towards a long and successful future, and to help lead the way for an eventual third generation succession.
Staff changes
In somewhat surprising news, after 17 vintages working together, the Ashmead family has accepted the resignation of Richard Langford from the position of Senior Winemaker.
Richard resigned in early June to take up a new opportunity with Michael Twelftree and the crew at Two Hands.
Richard has given his all at Elderton.
He entered the fold after a tumultuous 2003 harvest in the then new winery on Railway Terrace in Nuriootpa.
In the 16 years since, he has helped Cameron and Allister to steward and evolve the wines of Elderton to reflect the uniqueness of their three estate Barossa vineyards in Nuriootpa, Craneford and Greenock.
Richard is leaving with the absolute blessing of the Ashmead family, who believe this is a great opportunity for him.
It has been a remarkable journey - Richard will always be a friend, and be remembered favourably in the history of the Ashmead family wine company.
They are also excited about the opportunity that has therefore arisen at Elderton, which is now rapidly approaching forty years since Lorraine’s father, Wellington helped Neil and Lorraine to buy the property in 1980.
With Richard’s departure, the family are delighted to announce that Julie Ashmead will take the newly created position of Head of Production, overseeing both viticulture and winemaking at Elderton.
Along with raising half of the third generation of Ashmeads with Cameron, Julie is the fifth generation winemaker at Campbells of Rutherglen, has worked vintages around the world and previously held positions at Two Hands and Turkey Flat.
She has helped Richard in the winery at Elderton over many years and is excited about the opportunity of this new position.
Julie will be aided in the vineyards by head Viticulturalist, Peter Wild, and his new understudy Conrad Pohlinger.
Conrad is a graduate viticulturalist/winemaker from Adelaide University who has recently joined the Elderton team to help take the vineyards to the next level.
