For a small wine producing nation at the edge of the world, New Zealand punches above its weight on the global wine scene. This is due in part to it being the most united wine industry in the world, having one organisation, New Zealand Winegrowers, that represents both the growers and wineries. The industry has a long history of leaders whose vision, innovation and new world attitudes have driven exports to $2.11b in sales in 2024, representing 90% of production.
The New Zealand Winegrowers board has recently appointed two new leaders, Fabian Yukich (Chair) and Emma Taylor (Deputy Chair). Each brings distinct strengths and a passion for representation of members across the sector.
Fabian Yukich (Chair) holds a rich wine family legacy, growing up in a pioneering family that established the original Montana Wines winery in West Auckland. His father Frank Yukich made the bold move of planting the first large scale vineyards in the Marlborough region of the South Island of New Zealand. Frank is famous for his proclamation in 1973 “Wines from here will become world famous”. His foresight is now recognised as a pivotal moment for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and its subsequent meteoric rise to fame around the world.
With his family roots firmly in the wine industry, Fabian’s professional career has spanned winemaking, sales, project management and executive leadership positions. He has served on the Board of New Zealand Winegrowers since being elected in 2012 and more recently has held the role of Deputy Chair since 2020. His passion for sustainable innovation is evident, steering the New Zealand Winegrowers Environment committee since 2016. He was the recipient of the Sustainability Champion Award at the NZ Sustainable Business Network Awards and led the team at Villa Maria, that won Parliament’s Supreme Green Ribbon Award in 2012.
“Underpinned by the consistent high quality and consumer acceptance of its products, New Zealand wine has seen extraordinary growth in the past three decades. It is one of the country’s most successful export industries. As Chair of the Board, I believe we need to bring a strong focus on providing the necessary support for our members to remain at the forefront of quality, innovation, and sustainability in winegrowing” says Yukich.
Emma Taylor (Deputy Chair) brings a wealth of expertise and experience from a growers’ perspective. Emma quickly rose to prominence in 2007 after winning Young Viticulturist of the Year and Young Horticulturist of the Year. For the next 17 years her career has gone from strength to strength, with various viticulture roles at Villa Maria and later Vineyard Plants Ltd. In 2020 Emma launched a Viticulture consultancy business and currently works with a range of clients as well as being Viticulture Business Manager for Craigmore Sustainables. Giving back to the industry has always been a priority. She has spent significant time and energy on the Young Viticulturist committee, pan sector water allocation committees, and was heavily involved in the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery. In recognition of her services to the region, Emma was inducted as a Fellow of Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers this year. Emma is also a Director of Bragato Research Institute (BRI), New Zealand Winegrowers’ research arm. “The future of New Zealand wine lies in our ability to protect our borders through vigilance with biosecurity, and to invest in research and development to provide innovative solutions for our members’ long-term sustainability” she says.
ENDS –
For further information contact:
Chrissy Powlesland
Communications Manager, New Zealand Winegrowers
chrissy.powlesland@nzwine.com
Philip Gregan
Chief Executive Officer, New Zealand Winegrowers
philip@nzwine.com
+ 64 21 964564